December 1, 1999

EDITORIAL:
Here's what churches are rejecting
___Churches that reject the Baptist General Convention of Texas turn their backs on far more than politics and doctrinal statements.
___If you've read this newspaper and any major daily newspaper across Texas, you know one of the largest Baptist churches in the state recently voted to "dually align" with the BGCT and its new ultra-conservative competitor, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
___About 260 churches reportedly have taken similar steps. Some are splitting their affiliation between the two conventions; others are electing to "uniquely align" with Southern Baptists of Texas and leaving the BGCT altogether.
___This process got under way a year ago, when the new convention began. Southern Baptists of Texas founders faulted the BGCT for refusing to walk in lockstep with the increasingly rightward march of the Southern Baptist Convention, so they walked out on the state convention.
___The tension heightened this fall, especially after the BGCT voted to reaffirm the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message doctrinal statement--not the controversial 1998 article on the family and not the upcoming to-be-revised 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.
___One prominent church used that vote as a final excuse to "loosen" its ties to the BGCT and sign up with the new convention. More churches are expected to follow.
___Churches that take such action exhibit tunnel vision. It will direct them down a path that will diminish their ministries for generations. It will lead them to focus on divisive issues that exclude, rather than include, fellowship. And it will deny them participation in ministries that are vital both for Texas and for the kingdom of God.
___You see, churches that reject the BGCT because of its stand on the Baptist Faith & Message will leave for a dubious reason. As Baptist congregations, they have full autonomy to leave, of course. They also have full autonomy to affirm any faith statement they choose. They don't have to go off and join another convention to stand up for what they believe.
___Moreover, churches that reject the BGCT turn their backs on countless non-controversial ministries. These are the irreplaceable backbone of Texas Baptists' kingdom work.
___So, churches may vote to withdraw or curtail support for the BGCT. Their actions may make them feel better, but they will have the net effect of forsaking God-inspired, Christ-honoring, Spirit-led ministries, such as:
___ Texas 2000, the bold campaign to start 1,400 churches, minister in Jesus' name across the state and proclaim the gospel to every person in Texas.
___ River Ministry, the embodiment of Christ's presence to impoverished residents along both banks of the Rio Grande.
___ The disaster relief and church-construction programs conducted by Texas Baptist Men, which provide tangible evidence that Texas Baptists take seriously the mandate to reach out to others in need.
___ Christian Women's Job Corps, a program operated by Woman's Missionary Union of Texas to help disadvantaged women get off welfare and raise their families well, while receiving a strong mentored message of faith in Christ.
___ Numerous helping ministries that serve children, broken families and the aged.
___These include the childcare ministries of Baptist Child and Family Services, Buckner Baptist Benevolences, South Texas Children's Home and Texas Baptist Children's Home. They include retirement and nursing centers operated by Baptist Memorials Ministries, Baptist Community Services, Buck-ner, Golden Palms Retirement and Health Center, and Hendrick Retirement Center.
___ The Christian education of tomorrow's Texas leaders--about 30,000 students, all of them required to study the Bible and attend chapel and all of them exposed to Christ-following teachers.
___They're studying at Baylor University, Dallas Baptist University, East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Houston Baptist University, Howard Payne University, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Wayland Baptist University, San Marcos Baptist Academy, Hispanic Baptist Theological School and Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center.
___Churches that are being led to reject the Baptist General Convention of Texas because of its relationship to the Southern Baptist Convention would do well to examine the big picture. Is the satisfaction of venting anger over a doctrinal statement worth forsaking a multitude of ministries?
___ --Marv Knox

E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

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