February 17, 1999

Forum embraces reconciliation,
but it's hard to define
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___DENTON--A peaceful spirit prevailed at the first gathering of the Texas Baptist Reconciliation Forum, even though a precise definition of "reconciliation" proved elusive.
___About 50 members of the forum, a 70-minister multi-partisan facilitating group of the "reconciliation movement" within the Baptist General Convention of Texas, met for prayer and discussion Feb. 4-5 at North Texas Baptist Conference Center near Denton.
___"This is a worthy effort. Everybody in this room is here because we love Texas Baptists," observed John Hatch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lake Jackson. "I pray we can find a way to walk together, shoulder to shoulder."
___The reconciliation movement started last year, launched primarily by a group of Southeast Texas pastors concerned about what they perceive as BGCT polarization.
___Most votes at recent BGCT annual sessions have been divided. About one-third have taken stands affirming the so-called "conservative resurgence" in the Southern Baptist Convention during the past 20 years. About two-thirds, while not necessarily unanimous against all SBC positions, have affirmed the state convention's own autonomy.
___Last fall, a group that criticized the BGCT for not walking in step with the national body split from the state convention, forming the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The division galvanized many Texas Baptists' desire for healing within the state.
___"What we're doing here is deathly serious," stressed Bennie Slack, pastor of First Baptist Church in Gainesville and co-moderator of the Reconciliation Forum. "We must be aggressive about peacemaking--in the right spirit and attitude."
___"My greatest

"Reconciliation and unity are not the same thing. We're never going to agree on every theological agenda or principle." --Leroy Fenton

concern is not the denomination but the local church as it is impacted by the denominational conflict," added D.L. Lowrie, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lubbock and the other co-moderator. "I can name church after church that has been infected. I hope we can find common ground. Ö We've grieved the Holy Spirit."
___Unfortunately, Baptists don't have a strong track record with reconciliation, reported James Leo Garrett, emeritus professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and theological adviser to the forum.
___"Reconciliation is a concept clearly delineated by the Apostle Paul," he said, adding it has been "widely neglected" by Baptist theologians and writers.
___But reconciliation is not optional for Christians, he said. "Those reconciled to God are commanded and expected to be reconciled to others. Ö I plead with you; I beg you in Jesus' name: Let us take up the word and ministry of reconciliation."
___ Reconciliation is connected to grace as "part of the Christian life," noted Jimmie Nelson, emeritus professor of preaching at Southwestern Seminary and the group's spiritual adviser. "Reconciliation takes place when peace happens between two people."
___Reconciliation is viewed through three qualities of graceññacceptance, intentionality and unselfishness, he added. "In experiencing God's acceptance, I can accept others as they are," he explained. "People have already split off from us. Our job is not to get them back; it's to accept them as they are."
___Since God took the initiative to offer grace to Christians, Christians should take the initiative to offer graceññand extend reconciliationññto others, he said.
___And unselfishness is vital in that endeavor, he insisted. "It is an act of will to be self-giving instead of grasping, to not insist on my way. Grace is that attitude that is tender-hearted and compassionate, forgiving."
___Forum members broke into three groups for dialogue and prayer three times and reconvened to discuss the issues together. They talked for 10 hours over two days. They agreed they would not be "political"ññthey would not propose candidates for BGCT office.
___They characterized their talks as open, straightforward and even warm-hearted, but they did not reach consensus on the meaning and implications of reconciliation.
___"You cannot reconcile without dealing with the issues," said Pete Freeman, pastor of First Baptist Church in The Woodlands, reporting for one of the small groups.
___"What does reconciliation mean? What is the issue around which we can reconcile?" asked Wayne Allen, pastor of First Baptist Church in Carrollton and moderator of another small group.
___Seeking to answer the "issue" question, some participants spoke of theological differences that launched SBC-wide controversy as much as 40 years ago and fostered the SBC "conservative resurgence." Others cited pain caused by that movement and the divisiveness that has seeped into state Baptist conventions, including Texas.
___Younger ministers described a lifetime of denominational infighting that threatens to drive their peers from the ranks of Baptists. Others pointed to the "denominational process" and battles over funding, particularly concerning how Texas Baptists will participate in supporting the SBC. Some noted the gulf between laypeople and the denomination. And some talked about the breakdown of reconciliation within individual congregations.
___Participants spoke passionately about their views of reconciliation and its impact
___"If we didn't have any institutions, we wouldn't have any differences," Lowrie claimed. " We're not as different as we say we are. There are no two of us who would agree about everything, but we don't have to if we're brothers in the Lord."
___"We've got to tolerate diversity," said Leroy Fenton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Waxahachie. "Reconciliation and unity are not the same thing. We're never going to agree on every theological agenda or principle."
___"I love them," he said of denominational adversaries. "I accept them, and I want to be accepted as well."
___"Reconciliation is 'the abolition of enmity between two parties that have quarreled,'" said Dale Gore, director of missions for Austin Baptist Association, citing Canadian pastor Bruce Mill, who was quoted by Garrett.
___"And we can still enjoy diversity," added Paul Stripling, director of missions for Waco Baptist Association.
___The Apostle Paul "centers it in the Cross," Lowrie said. " But for what Christ did on the Cross, we'd all go to hell. As we affirm brothers as recipients of God's grace, we're reconciled."
___"Being reconciled is accepting each other as brothers in Christ," defined Montie Martin, director of missions for Rehoboth Baptist Association.
___"There's no rejection," Lowrie

What's next? ___The Reconciliation Forum outlined five activities it intends to sponsor during the balance of the year: ___ Regional prayer/dialogue meetings, to be held in up to 20 churches in March and April. ___ A second meeting of the forum in late April or early May to study "Unity," a book about reconciliation written by Blake Coffee of San Antonio. ___ Participation in a "reconciliation track" at the National Prayer Conference at Glorieta Baptist Conference Center Aug. 1-4. ___ A statewide meeting to study Coffee's book. ___ A meeting between forum members and political leaders of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and perhaps the Southern Baptist Convention.

noted.
___"Or manipulation," Freeman added.
___"What if we are estranged? Isn't there an inner yearning to be healed?" asked James Miller, pastor of Park Heights Baptist Church in San Angelo.
___"We need relational reconciliation," one-on-one restoration of fellowship, stressed Pepper Puryear, pastor of First Baptist Church in Mount Vernon. "This is what will give witness to the world that we love each other--that we're different" from the world.
___"We're surrounded by a satanic fog that prevents us from seeing we're pretty much alike," Slack observed. "We must recognize a comradeship in Christ. We must realize we're more alike than we know."
___The practice and process of reconciliation is important, added Steve Washburn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pflugerville. "It never is enough to do the right thing," he said. "We have to do the right thing the right way. If we do it the wrong way, we've done the wrong thing. Loving each other takes priority."
___"To me, the issue is personal revival," said Nolan Duck, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lufkin. "If we take seriously revival in our lives, then God has a way of working out the details."
___Toward the end of a long discussion on the role of forgiveness, Harry Lucenay, pastor of First Baptist Church in Longview, pointed out, "Forgiveness is learning a lesson that there is something bigger than our differencesññwho we are in Christ."
___"I still think we don't have the people sitting down talking who need to be talkingññthe people who make the agendas," Hatch said. "It's going to have to be a miracle of God for it to happen. We cannot orchestrate it."
___"We're not asking anybody to give up their convictions," noted Bruce Webb, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville. "We're saying, 'Let's sit down and work this out in a spirit of acceptance.'"

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