November 5, 2001

EDITORIAL:
Will annual session mark new
chapter in BGCT history?
___What's next?
___Last week, the Baptist General Convention of Texas held a quiet, harmonious annual session after a decade of discord and division. Now that we apparently have laid down our political guns and grenades, can we pick up our spiritual hammers and trowels? Have we closed the door on denominational controversy, opening yet another to kingdom-building and progress?
___Baptist history has been written in blood drawn from ideological, theological and political battles. The latest chapter contains two parts: The first began in the late 1970s, when fundamentalists mounted a charge to take over the Southern Baptist Convention by capturing its political apparatus. A series of narrow victories accumulated, and the fundamentalists consolidated control in 1990. The second part opened as attention turned to the affiliated state conventions, and the battles moved closer to home.
___Baylor University executed the earliest highly visible strategy. Vowing to protect the university from fundamentalist control, Baylor's board moved to elect the majority of its own trustees. That launched a series of steps that collectively defined the BGCT's evolving relationship with the national convention.
___Among the highlights: Changes in the BGCT Cooperative Program budgeting procedure, which gave churches more flexibility in determining how their state and national contributions would be channeled. Adoption of effectiveness/efficiency initiatives that assigned to the BGCT several tasks previously reserved for the SBC. Repeated refusal by the BGCT to adopt the SBC's newly amended and fundamentalist-inclined faith statement. More BGCT budget changes designed to channel funds to selected BGCT causes and away from some SBC agencies and institutions.
___Although these changes received strong approval by messengers to BGCT annual sessions, the state convention did not universally embrace them. Some churches, disappointed with the BGCT's refusal to go along with the SBC's new fundamentalist leadership, formed a competing state convention. Since 1998, surrogates for the new Southern Baptists of Texas Convention have kept the battle fires hot in Texas. They have sought to lead churches out of the BGCT and into their new convention by leveling numerous guilt-by-association charges and several outright lies against the BGCT. That strategy has generated some success for the rival convention. The BGCT has approved a 2002 budget that is 8.8 percent smaller than the current budget, due in part to the defection of churches.
___In time, we may see last week as the opening page in a new chapter of the BGCT. Both Texas conventions held their annual sessions simultaneously, with the BGCT meeting in Dallas and SBTC convening 30 miles away in Fort Worth. The tone and substance of BGCT business discussions indicated the vast majority of Texas Baptists who disagree with the BGCT have moved on and no longer come to the annual session, either out of affinity with the SBTC or apathy with the BGCT. For example, two motions that previously would have caused considerable debate and division--proposals to adopt the SBC's 2000 Baptist Faith & Message statement and to retain a Cooperative Program option many see as favorable to the SBC--generated mild discussion and only a smattering of favorable votes.
___The division among Baptists in general and Texas Baptists in particular is tragic. It would be inconceivable inside the perfect will of God. But the seeds of division were sown two decades ago by those who set out to control the SBC. They were fertilized by 22 years of divisive debate. They were watered by falsehood and guilt-by-association poured upon Texas. And they have born fruit. Now a new convention is going its way. We can pray that inside God's permissive will this new convention will be blessed, especially if it ceases to seek growth by proselytizing BGCT churches.
___A word of encouragement: Let them go. We do not wish any churches to leave the BGCT. We wish all churches to remain connected and cooperative, building up God's kingdom through the institutions and ministries with which God has blessed the BGCT. But enough of civil war. Both conventions will be better off when both focus forward, promote programs based on vision and merit, and follow God's glorious guidance into a new century.
___Back to the original question: What's next?
___Half of Texas' 20 million residents claim no church membership and face eternity apart from God. Our demographics are churning; very soon, we will be a population with no ethnic/racial majority but an exciting plural mixture of peoples and groups. Texas is home to hundreds of thousands of people in need. And speaking of need, we need more churches to reach more communities, touch more families, change more lives. The list goes on and on.
___We're left with the thrilling opportunity to define a denomination for the 21st century. Let us do so peacefully, positively. We know denominations cooperate to engage in missions, education and benevolence ministries congregations could not do on their own. We know they provide resources to help churches be all God wants them to be. Now, we will be blessed to figure out how to do all this in ways that meet the unique needs of Texas today.
___This year, the BGCT has adopted a strategy for the coming years. A major challenge will be to follow the steps necessary to complete the strategy requirements. But the greatest challenge will be to embrace the vision, join forces and move forward together.
___Twenty years of battling have made Texas Baptists ill and fatigued. We're sick and tired of fighting. Some churches have used the battling as an excuse to turn inward. However, as strong as many of our churches may be, we will not reach Texas for Christ unless BGCT churches stand together, face outward and work cooperatively.
___So, lay aside excuses. The BGCT must not remain a fractured, fighting convention. Let those who remain in the BGCT remain united to see God's vision for Texas and to do their part to fulfill it. We do not need to look back in anger or longing. We do not need to look sideways in rage or jealousy. We must look forward in eager anticipation of God's blessing. We've got a state that needs the gospel. We just had a peaceful convention. Let's go.
___ —Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com


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