Having served as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, I have spent a good amount of time in the Baptist Building. I know how hard our denominational employees work to assist local churches and associations in carrying out the Great Commission. I know how difficult the task can be at times.
Recently I was reflecting on what it must be like in the Baptist Building these days. Certainly there must be some anxiety about a new state convention being formed by persons disgruntled with the manner in which we Texas Baptists do things, but that movement will never amount to much.
There is simply no reason for another state convention because of the fair way we Texas Baptists treat everyone and the emphasis we give to Baptist principles in all we do. It is hard to build a movement when your main emphasis is your anger toward all Texas Baptists who are free to give money and relate to other Baptist entities as they choose. It seems like the Southern Baptists of Texas slogan is "Stop Being Fair! Exclude all who disagree with us!" That is a pretty weak battle cry.
What excites me and should excite all Texas Baptist individuals, churches, and denominational workers is the tremendous unity that is evident among Texas Baptists in carrying out the Great Commission.
If you read the reports of what is happening in other state conventions you are aware that there truly is a battle going on in many of them akin to what happened in the SBC in the 1980s. Some years other state conventions elect fundamentalist leadership and other years they elect traditional Baptist leaders. The battle goes back and forth. There is no clear direction.
In Texas, we have consistently held to our traditional emphases on missions, evangelism, starting churches, and supporting our educational, medical, elderly and child care institutions. In Texas we have consistently elected officers who support our denominational leadership and our denominational emphases. We have stayed the course.
Think about last year's convention in Austin. Was that not exciting? Texas Baptists, with more than 70 percent of the vote, and without amendment, supported the Effectiveness and Efficiency Committee report that outlined a bold direction for Texas Baptists into the 21st century. In a time when other state conventions are in turmoil, we continue to move forward with tremendous unity and vision.
It must be as exciting to work for Texas Baptists in the Baptist Building as it is to pastor a local, traditional Texas Baptist church. What other state convention, outside of possibly Virginia, is so united in its vision and its ministries? So long as we stay on course our BGCT leadership can focus on their work rather than worry about being fired by a "takeover" group as happened in the SBC and in other state conventions.
Sure we have a few folks disgruntled and spreading lies. That has been going on since at least the first century church. It is nothing new. What is exciting is how united we really are -- how supportive we Texas Baptists really are of our leadership, ministries and institutions.
I can hardly wait to see the full E&E Committee report implemented and see the Hope for Home family program helping families, the new Bible school and the Theological Education for the Laity program teaching thousands, the new literature that is solidly Baptist in theology and promotes our innovative BGCT programs and the new partnerships we enter on mission projects.
Texas Baptists have much to be grateful for and excited about. It must be exciting in Dallas.