February 19, 2001
SBTC churches challenged to support SBC
___ARLINGTON--Three Texas Baptist churches have pledged to set the pace for a campaign to restore Southern Baptist Convention funding likely to be decreased from the Baptist General Convention of Texas this year.
___Prestonwood Baptist Church of Plano, First Baptist Church of Dallas and East Paris Baptist Church of Paris each have pledged to give an additional $10,000 to the SBC Cooperative Program this year.
___The pledges were made during a Feb. 7 luncheon sponsored by the breakaway Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, according to a Baptist Press report. The event was designed as a rally for SBC funding. About 575 people attended the luncheon, where a number of SBC agency leaders spoke.
___Prestonwood Pastor Jack Graham issued a challenge to other Texas Baptist churches to follow his congregation's example by giving an additional $10,000 to the Cooperative Program this year.
___"This is a time for those of us who are supportive of the Southern Baptist Convention to stand tall, take the high road," Graham told the crowd. "I believe this plan is not reactive or negative. What we're seeing with a rallying of support of the Southern Baptist Convention is very, very positive."
___SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman told the Texans they should obey God by giving to the SBC.
___"Men must choose their God," he said. "They must choose to what degree to be obedient. They must choose how to believe. That's every man's choice and every church's choice."
___Chapman expressed regret that the political and theological battle that has raged in the SBC "is being driven into the churches."
___"We worked for a long time not to even debate the authority of God's word except on the plane of the national convention," said Chapman, who was a leader of the now-successful effort to gain control of the SBC over a 20-year period.
___Mac Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, introduced representatives from SBC agencies. Those speaking included Larry Cox, vice president for mobilization with the International Mission Board; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley; Jerry Johnson, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary assistant development director; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Ken Hemphill; Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary President William Crews; Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land; and O.S. Hawkins, president of the Annuity Board.
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