Texas Baptists Committed is dedicated to reaching people for Christ through local churches; promoting and defending historic Baptist principles; spreading an understanding of Baptist heritage and distinctives through education; and cooperating with the mission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and its related institutions.

TBC PARTNERING WITH THE BGCT IN UPCOMING MEETINGS

(Originally published on March 5, 2009)

I usually write these Rumblings columns to either express a devotional thought or to get across my concerns and thoughts about a specific Baptist issue. This week, however, I have quite a bit of important information that I need to share with you.

TBC's Unique Role

In recent years, TBC has focused on building support for the BGCT. The disturbing news is that January 2009 receipts to the BGCT were just 78.9 percent of budget requirements and 88.2 percent of January 2008 receipts.

This decline is partly a result of our uncertain economy, but a significant part of it is a result of the behind-the-scenes attacks being carried out by the Fundamentalist Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC). Here is an example of the types of attacks they are making on the BGCT.

I recently received a copy of materials that the SBTC is distributing to persuade churches to leave the BGCT. Among other things, they make the following claims about the BGCT:

As TBC and Mainstream Baptist supporters, you should recognize a number of lies – as well as distortions and innuendos – contained in these statements. Folks, Fundamentalists have not changed their stripes. They have not abandoned the attitudes and practices that have always characterized them. These materials are typical of Fundamentalism, trying to scare people and churches into joining them through out-and-out lies, character assassination, and guilt by association.

If we learned one lesson from the Fundamentalist takeover of the SBC, it is that their tactics – unChristian though they are – are nevertheless effective unless committed traditional Baptists stand up and take them on, combating their lies with the truth.

And what is the point organization helping churches deal with these lies? Texas Baptists Committed!

Hope for the Future: Supporting the BGCT

In response to these challenges, we at TBC are launching a prolonged effort of support for the BGCT by holding a series of meetings around Texas under the theme, Hope for the Future: Supporting the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

(NOTE to our friends living outside of Texas: Though you may not be able to attend the meetings that I’m announcing here and later in the column, most of you have a lot of friends and acquaintances in Texas. I urge you to pass this on to them so that they can attend. Thank you.)

We have already scheduled the first three of these meetings and the speakers for them:

We plan for these meetings to be just the beginning of a series of meetings across the state for many years to come.

Will they be successful? That depends on you. We need you – as laypersons and pastors – to attend. If you are a layperson, we need you to bring your pastor and church leaders with you. If you are a pastor, we need you to bring your church’s leaders with you. You – faithful TBC and Mainstream supporters – must take the initiative to be the key persons in your church, standing up for support of the BGCT and its ministries and institutions. When others say, “Let’s cut this Cooperative Program thing and pave more parking lot,” you need to stand up and explain why the church should increase – not reduce – its support of the BGCT and its ministries.

We need you to stand up in your church’s business meeting and point out that the BGCT supports nine universities, three seminaries, numerous child care ministries, retirement ministries, and hospitals, as well as the River Ministry and university ministries on over 200 college campuses. Then you need to make the point that the SBTC supports none of these things in Texas.

My motto all these years has been simple: “Leadership solves everything.” Texas Baptists need you to be the leaders in your churches to create a future of which we can all be excited to be a part. We have to move on beyond the SBC, but we cannot do that as a state convention unless our churches understand that. You know that, but you are the key to making it happen in your church. I urge, plead, beg you to show more leadership and push to tell your church’s people the truth.

Please give us names to add to our mailing list and our email list. A Rancher’s Rumblings, Baptist Reflections, and other materials go to only 2,000 people. If you are reading this on our Web site but are not yet receiving it by email, PLEASE send your email address to carolscott@txbc.org. Friends, we have some important things to communicate here at TBC, and all of you need to get these weekly writings.

Save the Dates for Three Other Exciting Meetings

The second annual Currie-Strickland Distinguished Lectures in Christian Ethics will be held on the campus of Howard Payne University in Brownwood on Monday, April 27, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.

The theme this year is: Ethics and Evangelism and the Problem of Hunger. Speakers are as follows:

There is no charge or registration required to attend these lectures.

You’ll note that the TBC/BGCT meeting at First Baptist Church, Brownwood is earlier that same day.

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly, Houston

This year’s theme is Embrace the World: Welcome to your neighborhood. The meeting will focus on extending Christ’s compassion to our neighbors down the street and around the world.

New Baptist Covenant regional meeting in Norman, Oklahoma

We will have a TBC breakfast as a part of this meeting. President Carter will be speaking at the meeting. We are planning for a strong Texas attendance.

Please attend these meetings and bring others if you possibly can. Thank you.