Let the BGCT Speak for Itself on Controversial Issues
By Billy Spencer,
Pastor, FBC Brady

Lies continue to circulate in fundamentalist rhetoric about the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Using guilt by association fundamentalist publications paint BGCT leaders as not believing the Bible and as supporters of homosexuality and abortion. These publications, however, do not present the truth. The BGCT has taken positions on each of these issues. Those who want the truth instead of propaganda should let the BGCT speak for itself.

As churches make decisions about partnerships in reaching our state and our world for Christ, they will need to consider trust. Can we trust what they say? Can we trust they will do what they say?

I cannot trust groups like fundamentalists, who make blatantly false, misleading and self serving accusations.

I also find it hard to understand other non-aligned leaders who remain silent knowing rumors against BGCT leaders are false. I am glad to be a part of TBC because it has the integrity to respond. These are Baptists whom I can trust. I can serve beside them to reach our world with the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

To help those who do not know what the BGCT has said on some controversial issues, perhaps statements from the Committee on Baptist Integrity will help.

Statements from the Committee on Baptist Integrity may help inform others about the BGCT’s position on controversial issues. Excerpts from their report in the October 6, 1999 issue of The Baptist Standard follow.

2. The BGCT view of scripture.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas always has given reverence and respect to Holy Scripture, believing it to be divinely inspired and authoritative for faith and practice for Christians and churches. In 1980 the BGCT passed a motion that affirmed the Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963 as the guideline for doctrinal beliefs. It is noted that the preamble to the 1963 statement states, “the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Confessions are only guides in interpretation, having no authority over conscience.”

The first item listed under Values in the Texas 2000 plan is “Biblical Authority.” The BGCT is committed to the truth of the Bible. The statement about the Bible in the l963 “Baptist Faith and Message” is as follows: “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is a record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error for its matter.” Charges that the BGCT lacks commitment to biblical authority are unfounded.

3. The BGCT stance on homosexuality. The Baptist General Convention of Texas has spoken very forthrightly on the matter of homosexuality.

In l982 the convention approved in annual session the statement, “The homosexual lifestyle is not normal or acceptable in God’s sight and is indeed called sin.”

In l996, the convention approved a committee report on homosexuality that declared, “The Bible teaches that the ideal for sexual behavior is the marital union between husband and wife and that all other sexual relations—whether premarital, extramarital, or homosexual—are contrary to God’s purposes and thus sinful. Homosexual practice is therefore in conflict with the Bible.”

In l998 the BGCT Executive Board subsequently approved a recommendation from the Administrative Committee that financial contributions from a church that had endorsed a practicing homosexual as a deacon be declined.

The BGCT, while advocating ministry to homosexuals, has stated clearly “the homosexual lifestyle is not acceptable behavior for Christians.”

Several Texas Baptist leaders have been maligned through guilt by association tactics. The views of these men are readily available with a telephone call or letter. They are as follows:

Jerold McBride, Pastor of First Baptist Church of San Angelo; president, BGCT, 1994-95: “God’s Word strongly condemns homosexuality as a sin. Both Old and New Testaments make it crystal clear that such conduct is unacceptable to God. Our Christian response should be one of uncompromisingly opposing homosexuality while at the same time unquestionably loving the homosexual and unceasingly seeking to lead the homosexual to Jesus Christ who alone can rescue that person from this sin.

“I firmly believe that a person chooses this lifestyle rather than being a helpless victim of circumstances, genetics or any other factor. I do not believe one who follows this lifestyle should serve in any place of leadership in the church, be it pastor, staff member, deacon, Sunday School teacher or any other place of service. I also hold this view in reference to any person who is living in such a manner as to bring reproach to the cause of Christ.

“With all my heart I believe that the things that are impossible with man are possible with God and that if the person (homosexual or heterosexual) is in Christ Jesus, old things are passed away and all things become new. Christ alone is the answer to this problem and to every other problem.”

Russell H. Dilday, Jr. President of the BGCT: “According to the Bible, God’s ideal for sex in marriage is one man, one woman in a monogamous relationship for life. Any divergence from ideal is contrary to God’s will and therefore sinful. Homosexual practice is a perversion of God’s plan and is described in the Bible as an abominable sin. Of course, there are other perversions, such as adultery and premarital sex, which the Bible also condemns as sexual sins.

“Churches are to be commended for witnessing and ministering to gays and lesbians, but should never condone homosexual lifestyle or behavior as legitimate. Churches should offer hope to homosexuals and all sinners that there is forgiveness, restoration and new life through faith in Jesus Christ. The scripture says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God... but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Herbert H. Reynolds, chancellor, Baylor University: “I believe that each of us has various propensities that are sinful, unwise and unhealthy. An individual may have homosexual tendencies, but he or she has a choice to either repress those urges or give expression to them. Their decision will determine their destiny. In other words, I believe that if an individual chooses to be an active homosexual that he or she is acting in a sinful, unwise and unhealthy fashion; whereas, if an individual does not give active expression to his or her homosexual urges, then they have acted wisely and are without sin in this area of their lives.”

James R. “Dick” Maples, coordinator, Office of Minister/Church Relations, BGCT; president BGCT, 1992-93: “I believe all homosexual practice to be outside the will of God and unacceptable in both male and female relationships. It clearly violates the teachings of Scripture and should be identified as a sin against God. I reject completely the notion that homosexuality is an acceptable alternative lifestyle and believe it to be a perversion of the gift of God in human sexuality.

“There are individuals who are latent homosexuals who chose to remain sexually chaste, just as there are heterosexuals who have made similar commitments. The sin is not in having sexual thoughts or urges, but in the practice of immoral behavior. Being physically attracted to others is not evil, but sexual relationships outside of the marriage relationship of one man and one woman are clearly forbidden by the Scriptures and should be rejected by all Christians.

“We must never lose sight of the basic truth that Jesus died for all, and it is our responsibility to share the gospel of salvation with all people, both heterosexual and homosexual, and to seek to lead them to redeeming faith in Jesus Christ.”

Charles R. Wade, pastor, First Baptist Church of Arlington; president, BGCT, 1996-97: “The statement that we approved in 1996 while I was president of the convention fairly states my position. I have preached and believed that homosexual behavior is sinful. I believe in a gospel of forgiveness and in the power of God’’s Spirit to give courage to overcome temptation and in the power to change. Christians must always reach out to those who do not live by scriptural standards, which includes us all.

“Our church has opened our facilities to Living Hope Ministries, which is affiliated with Exodus International and is led by a dedicated core of men and women who are strugglers in their bout against homosexual behavior. We are convinced that even as we identify homosexual behavior as sin we also want to create a safe, nurturing environment where those who struggle with these temptations and isolations it brings can have a place to recover and to find strength and courage to live full and confident lives.”

W. Winfred Moore, director, Center for Ministry Effectiveness, Baylor University; pastor emeritus, First Baptist Church of Amarillo; president, BGCT, 1984-85: “My preaching from the pulpit of First Baptist Church of Amarillo was, I think, clear and strong against homosexuality—that it is a sin. I take the Scripture very seriously (for example, Lev. 18:22-23; Romans 1).

“At no time have I ever held or expressed a different view on homosexuality. At the same time, I have always believed and so expressed in sermon that God forgives this sin as He does all other sins; and in sermon I offered help from professionals in my city to anyone who wanted it and would call for the names of the professionals who would help them.

“I believe that homosexuality is, according to my understanding of scripture, a sin. I believe these sinners, like all others, are the objects of God’s love and He will forgive. I have never held or stated any other view.”

David R. Currie, director, Texas Baptists Committed: “Homosexual activity is sinful as I understand the written word of God. All persons are sinful as I understand the written word of God. Practicing homosexuals should not be elected leaders nor should persons practicing greed, hatred, anger and prejudice (as a lifestyle) be church leaders. The church must balance Christ’s call and example of treating sinners with grace and love while affirming biblical morality and the truth that things are clearly right and wrong.”

Phil Lineberger, pastor, Williams Trace Baptist Church of Sugar Land; president, BGCT, 1990-91: “I do not believe homosexual activity is natural or biblically acceptable, but I do believe people who have these tendencies need to be treated with respect as human beings created in the image of God.”

Phil Strickland, director, Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission: “I believe that the Bible teaches that homosexual practice is inconsistent with Christian living. The Bible teaches the same about adultery, vengefulness, greed, self-righteousness and an unforgiving spirit. This is to say that while homosexual practice is sin, it is not the only sin, but one sinful practice among many which estrange us from God. We follow Jesus as we welcome all sinners to repent, to receive the forgiveness of God and to enter into the fellowship of God’s people.”

11. The BGCT position on abortion. Texas Baptists are opposed to abortion. In 1980, the convention passed a resolution reaffirming the “view of scripture of the sacredness and dignity of all human life, both born and unborn, and...that we favor appropriate legislation prohibiting abortion except to save the life of the mother or in cases of incest or rape.”

In l982, the convention reaffirmed the l980 position, adding, “and that we also support and will work for legislation which will prohibit the practice of infanticide.”

In l986 a convention resolution encouraged “all Texas Baptist institutions, cooperating churches and members to work diligently to support counseling, housing, adoption placement services and appropriate health care for women in crisis pregnancy, emphasizing a reconciled relationship with Jesus Christ…”

In 1991, a resolution stated, “…the messengers of this convention urge Texas Baptists to oppose the practice of elective abortion; and…that we urge Texas Baptist individuals and members to communicate effectively the Biblical instructions concerning sexual responsibility and sanctity of life.”

In 1996, a resolution stated, “Whereas abortion as a means of birth control violates the sacredness of human life; and…Whereas more recently the procedure of partial birth abortion and the development of new drugs that will induce spontaneous abortions compound the tragedy of abortion as a means of birth control; Therefore be it resolved that we strongly urge this convention and Texas Baptists to continue to publicly oppose any type of abortion as a means of birth control.”

In 1997 a motion was approved to “condemn partial birth abortion.”

In 1998, the convention approved a resolution on parental notification, stating, “Whereas under current Texas law…abortions can be performed on children without their parents’ knowledge…Be it therefore resolved that the Baptist General Convention of Texas…express support for legislation which would require parental consent 48 hours before any abortion could be performed on a minor child; and…Be it finally resolved that Baptists teach our children the values and biblical mandate of chastity before marriage, the sanctity of life and the tragedy and sin of elective abortion.”

May 2000