I know I am not the only one. I am not the only pastor who in earlier years thought that he might be a part of bringing healing to the Southern Baptist Convention. I never felt I could do it alone.
Some people called my Dad a denominational statesman due to his serving as State Missions Director for over 25 years. That kind of longevity, along with the refusals to consider what some would call more "ambitious" positions, brought about opportunities for trust. The times were different then and with time he developed trusting relationships with Hispanics, Afro-Americans, Asians, WMU and many laypeople and pastors with diverse perspectives.
However, the time of the honored statesman, the diplomatic person who commands the trust and the respect of all sides is sadly gone. Men like Winfred Moore, Richard Jackson and Daniel Vestal could not bridge the gap. Those with good intentions need to consider that historically, diplomatic styled methods have not worked. The day of cooperation at the national level, as in the days of the old SBC, has been broken.
Some who are new to the schism between the BGCT and Fundamentalists are asking, "Why can't we put this all back together again?"
Read the articles in this newsletter by William Stephens and note the theology behind the driving force of Fundamentalists. Compare that to the actions described by Luther Peak from articles in 1956. The attitudes, actions, attacks and mind-set are in parallel to what is happening today. The Fundamentalist attacks on the SBC in 1956 are aligned to the attacks being made on the BGCT today.
Who in Texas is attacking the BGCT? Those who are forming a separate state convention, Southern Baptist of Texas. It is a separatist action with the support of the leadership of the SBC, which is also dominated by like-minded Fundamentalists.
One reason diplomacy will not work is theological differences. According to the last Plumbline, a publication of the SBT one would ask, "Are those who disagree with these people considered to be wicked and of the devil?" History teaches the sad truth that some consider cooperation as compromise and compromise is unacceptable.
Luther Peak's evaluation is just as true today, "Fundamentalism supposes itself to be right doctrinally. Therefore people who are not aligned under its banner are wrong." Prayer changes things. But all the prayer in the world will not enable diplomacy to work if one group decides so much is non-negotiable.
A second reason is differences of world view regarding diversity. We live in a world of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, ethnic origin and languages. The Fundamentalist view follows the path that basically says "we are right, you are wrong" and seeks separation in the name of God or purity or some righteous sounding reason. Their mind is set, not open. It perceives itself as already having learned and therefore has little to gain by listening. It opposes tolerance and demands conformity.
A conservative/moderate view understands the inherent rewards offered by diversity. This view seeks common ground upon which to build relationships and fellowship rather than reasons to fight and separate. Listening develops learning and developing better ideas for a changing world. Cooperation in the midst of diversity provides a means to reach more people for Christ than any one group could do alone.
However, even those who are not Fundamentalists have a way to go when it comes to relating to the diversity of humankind. In our fervor to "draw the line" on values we have been willing to send away the very ones we need to reach with the gospel. No group of people because of their differences or even because of sin are expendable in the eyes of the Great Commission.
A third reason diplomacy will not work is because our differences are like a gap that has been entrenched too long and keeps growing too fast. It is not just how multiple misunderstandings, misperceptions, false accusations, intentional misdirection and lies have taken its toll on the level of trust for the last 20 years, it is how the direction of the SBC continues to move away from the BGCT at such a high rate of speed. It is like trying to negotiate with a train who just blows its whistle at you at it takes another hard turn to the far right.
The whistle blew when Fundamentalists formed the Southern Baptist of Texas with the encouragement of SBC leadership. The whistle blew when Paige Patterson was selected to be the nominee for president of the SBC, a way of rewarding one who was instrumental in creating this mess.
The whistle blew when Texans selected by the SBC president and SBC committee on nominations to serve on SBC boards and committees were persons, with a few exceptions, more involved with Southern Baptists of Texas than with the BGCT. Ten of the 21 listed to serve from Texas are members of the board of directors of the new Southern Baptists of Texas convention. One of the nominees is a woman.
According to Toby Druin in the May 6 issue of The Baptist Standard, "Pastors dominate the group, taking 15 of the 21 positions, and 12 are from churches that now send most of there Cooperative Program support to the SBC rather than the BGCT. Three are from churches that gave nothing to the Cooperative Program during the first quarter of 1998, according to the statistical recap published in the April 29 Standard."
The whistle blew when Jerry Falwell became the new norm for the direction of the SBC (compare this to how Peak describes the SBC in 1956). The whistle blew when Richard Land spoke clearly of the political direction in which the SBC is being led. Southern Baptists are not Republican or Democrats, we are a diversity of political expression. It is dangerous to the cause of missions to allow ourselves to be polarized by seeing each other through a political lenses.
As the train continues to move full steam ahead down the track some will feel the train has gone too far and surmise that it is not slowing down in its turn.
I believe there are a number of Texas Baptists who have aligned with the Fundamentalist movement because of their conservative theology, but at some point will realize that conservative theology is not the same as Fundamentalism. They were well intentioned, but they do not have a Fundamentalist spirit.
They understand that Fundamentalism is not who they are but they don't know if they can trust those "moderates." The challenge will be cooperation in the midst of diversity. New patterns of cooperation must be built to further cause of Christ.
We need to prayerfully be seeking a vision for Texas Baptists that reaches beyond the year 2000 that will stir the imagination and challenge us to depend on each other to reach our world with the good news of Jesus Christ.