When David Currie (whom I consider to be a contemporary Baptist prophet) asked me to write an article for the Texas Baptists Committed Newsletter I gladly consented.  It is my first opportunity to do so.

The Baptists Committed movement has been an important part of the Baptist family, seeking to interpret historic Baptist principles and calling our folk to act on those principles in their churches, institutions and conventions.  I commend it with deep appreciation.

My roots are in the soil of Southern Baptist life.  They led me to faith and nurtured me as a Christian in a Southern Baptist church.  I received my formal education in a university and then a seminary associated with Southern Baptists.

My pastorates have been in Southern Baptist churches.  My mission involvement has been in a Southern Baptist context, therefore, I owe a great deal to the Southern Baptist family.  Out of that indebtedness, I became involved in efforts in the early 1980s to resist fundamentalism and to reclaim the Southern Baptist Convention and seek reconciliation within it.

I spoke out privately and publicly, served on the Peace Committee and sought the presidency of the Convention twice.  Although it still grieves me that these efforts failed, in retrospect I can see more clearly why  and how the grace of God has transformed them into a new vision for Baptist Christians and churches.

Now, I no longer consider myself a Southern Baptist.  With the successful completion of the fundamentalist takeover, the SBC has become for me a cut-flower organization. Its bloom still exists for some. Nevertheless, as I see it, they have destroyed its roots of integrity, trust, openness and love that made it a living organism.

Or, to borrow the analogy of Findley Edge from several years ago: the celebration continues on the deck of the ship, while they have ripped open a gaping hole beneath the waterline.  They have altered not only the direction, but the very character of the SBC ship. Many good and godly people serve in the system meaningfully contributing to the kingdom. The New SBC is so different from the convention I knew and loved that I can no longer say I am a Southern Baptist.

Is there any hope for repairing the damage and redirecting the course? If one believes in the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, one never gives up hope for miracles, but that is exactly what it would take, a miracle.  What would such a miracle look like?

It would require and result in the private and public repentance of those who planned, organized and started the takeover.  It would require and result in an awakening of the Baptist conscience such that Baptists would repudiate the actions that led to the firing of presidents, professors and administrators.

It would result in so great a revulsion to the present context of Southern Baptist life that they would try to make every effort to restore broken relationships, damaged reputations and wounded lives.

The Present Context

Let me suggest some reasons why I believe that, unless God works in such a dramatic way, the present course of the SBC will not change in my lifetime.

First, the leaders of the New SBC are firmly entrenched.  Honestly believing they have accomplished the will of God, these "true" believers consider their past and present destiny is to protect the Bible and to guard Baptist people from liberalism. As a matter of conscience they consider the actions of the previous 20 years, though perhaps regrettable, were  necessary "course corrections" to preserve doctrinal integrity and theological correctness.

Second, the culture of the New SBC is isolationist in nature.  The fundamentalism that pervades the SBC system is not only theological but also psychological and spiritual.

The prevailing attitude is not unconditional love and inclusive grace, but legalism and denial. Since the takeover, the overwhelming voice from the New SBC heard repeatedly in the public square is a negative and exclusive "no" to everything and everyone that does not fit the new creedal standards of conformity. Lost along the way is God's loving "yes" to any who are open to God's grace.

Third, the connectionalism of the New SBC is hierarchical in spirit and practice.  The Convention attempts to dictate to state conventions, associations and churches.

Of course, they protest loudly to the contrary that each is autonomous and free.  However, the pressure from the top is intense. Leaders value loyalty to and support of the system above everything.

 Thousands of non-fundamentalist pastors remain denominational loyalists, although the denomination they support has radically changed. Money continues to flow into central headquarters in Nashville while only a minority of churches and associations  and an even smaller minority of state conventions  refuse to relinquish the autonomy and freedom that have identified us as Baptists.

Fourth, meanness continues.  With full knowledge and often the encouragement of the SBC leadership, there are those who continue to malign and attack.

In state after state, they are carrying out well financed and systematic misinformation campaigns.  Their one purpose is to discredit and demean fellow Baptist Christians.

A blatant example is the work of Roger Moran, leader of the Missouri Baptist Laymen's Association.  He was placed recently on the Executive Committee of the SBC despite relentlessly attacking CBF, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist Joint Committee, among many others.

Fifth, courage among Baptist leadership is rare. The few voices of concern that are heard are tentative and timid. I lost count years ago of the number of pastors and denominational employees who have said to me, "I don't like what has happened, but I have to be careful what I say or do."

Fear to speak honestly, act openly, and even to attend Baptist meetings outside the SBC system or sanction is the norm.  Pastors are afraid of controversy and afraid for their careers. Staff members are afraid of their pastors.

So, despite 20 years of meanness and damage the silence among Southern Baptists is deafening.   I remember in the early 80s when Charles Wade and I were serving on the board of directors of the Texas Baptist Standard, he said to me, "Daniel, there aren't two sides in the crisis; there's only one side and it's trying to destroy what we treasure and hold."  His voice, and the voices of many others, was prophetic.  I hear fewer and fewer of those voices.

Sixth, the agenda of the New SBC is firmly entrenched and will continue to shape the future for Southern Baptists.  With new presidents and new professors in place, seminaries are now training leadership for the New SBC.

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (formerly the Christian Life Commission) has become a strident voice of provincialism and partisan politics.  Jerry Falwell has a higher profile and a greater influence than ever before. Annual meetings ratify only what leaders want.  Even the cherished Baptist Faith and Message statement is being reviewed by a committee headed by none other than Adrian Rogers.

The Future

All this may sound depressing, but let me hasten to say that I am not depressed.  In fact, though I can no longer call myself a Southern Baptist, I have never been more confident and more hopeful about the future. I have never been more proud to call myself a Baptist than today.

In the past three years, my role as coordinator of the CBF has taken me to hundreds of churches and to mission fields in many areas of the world.  I can testify that the Baptist witness is still alive.  People still treasure Baptist heritage, and a new Baptist vision is emerging.

Baptist Christians and Baptist churches all over the globe are finding new and creative ways to express their Baptist identity and to cooperate for the cause of Christ.

God is not finished with Baptists, and though I believe in the West we are living in a post denominational era, this faith tradition that we call Baptist is still alive. Because it is rooted in Scripture, Baptists will find new forms and new patterns that will fit in the 21st century.  Let me offer seven reasons why I have hope for the future.

First, the principles that we call Baptist are biblical truths.  People are convicted about the priesthood of all believers, about the voluntary nature of faith and about religious liberty for all persons.

They are still passionate about local church freedom, local church autonomy, soul competency and separation of church and state.  Since there are Christians who are committed to soul freedom, Bible freedom, church freedom and religious freedom, Baptist witness will flourish.

Second, a new generation of Baptist leadership is emerging.  Many boomers, who never knew anything but the controversy, are keenly aware that we are living in a post-modern, post-Christendom and post denominational culture.  They simply will not give allegiance to a bureaucratic hierarchy, a narrow creedalism, and a neo-colonial missions program.  The busters are even less inclined to do so.

Third, women are claiming a greater role in Baptist life. God is calling women, and they are responding. Increasing numbers of churches are waking up to this work of the Spirit and are recognizing the calling and giftedness of women. Many barriers still exist for women, but increasingly they are overcoming them.

Fourth, organizations like Baptists Committed will continue to have a prophetic influence in Baptist life.  The importance of those who speak the truth, even when it is painful, cannot be underestimated.  Their courage will result in liberation and freedom for greater numbers of Baptists.

Fifth, exciting new Baptist organizations and networks are being formed.  In only 10 years, for example, we have witnessed the emergence of 11 schools for theological education.  They are training a new generation of leaders, and their influence will increase.  Other Baptist organizations are emerging that will foster greater commitment to Baptist ideas and shape a new Baptist vision.

Sixth, cultural changes, globalization and technology will impact Baptists in the 21st century.  Some see these factors as cause for alarm. I see them as cause for hope. Provincialism is less an option. We can more easily expose prejudice. Societal changes will cause many to see that fundamentalism simply cannot meet the changes of the new millennium.  As the world continues to shrink, it will force Baptists to think and act in new ways.

Seventh, and most important, God is sovereign. He is still at work in the world. Jesus Christ is Lord. The Holy Spirit broods and breeds in the church.  The triune God remains the foundation and source of my hope.

Final Challenge

My prayer for Baptists is two-fold.  First, I pray that Baptists will act like Christians, speaking and acting the truth, but always in a spirit of grace, humility and love.

Second, I pray that Baptists will act like Baptists, daring to live out of conviction rather than convenience.  The bedrock principles that Baptists have championed through the years are still relevant for the 21st century.  Now, more than ever, both laity and clergy must have the courage to act out of conscience.

Above all, as Baptist Christians, let us offer forgiveness, compassion and kindness to all.  Let us seek to be like Christ, "who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God"  (Heb. 12:2, KJV).

October 1999