Even Christian school backers uneasy about SBC resolution_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Even Christian school backers
uneasy about SBC resolution

By James A. Smith Sr.

Florida Baptist Witness

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)–A proposed resolution calling for a Southern Baptist exodus from public schools found little support at a recent meeting of Baptist backers of Christian schools.

T.C. Pinckney of Alexandria, Va., and Bruce Shortt of North Oaks Baptist Church in Spring are circulating the proposed resolution for consideration at the Southern Baptist Convention. It calls public schools in America “officially godless” and urges Southern Baptists to remove their children from “government schools.”

The resolution, which will be presented to the SBC Resolutions Committee, has garnered major media attention across the country. The committee meets in Indianapolis prior to the SBC to consider submitted proposals and determine what resolutions it will present for the convention's consideration June 15-16.

In an e-mail interview, Pinckney said the most important reason for the resolution is that “in the Bible, God assigns the responsibility for the education of children to the parents, not to the government. When we relinquish that education to any other agency, including the government, we are not following God's commands.

“Government schools are and now must be in the United States officially godless.

“This amounts to an artificial compartmentalization of life. … We believe it is time for the SBC to take a biblical stand on this issue.”

Pinckney said if the Resolutions Committee fails to report the resolution for consideration by the Southern Baptist Convention, someone–perhaps himself or Shortt–will attempt to get the two-thirds support necessary to bring the matter to the floor for a vote.

Even among strong Christian school advocates meeting in Orlando for the Florida Baptist Kingdom Education Summit, support for the resolution was limited.

Although James Kibelbek, pastor of First Baptist Church in Port Charlotte, supports the “essence” of the resolution, Kibelbek said the wording “is a bit harsh” and “sounds too rebellious.” He would prefer to express support for Christian education in a “more positive light.”

Glen Schultz, director of LifeWay Christian School Resources–the office of LifeWay Christian Resources tasked to support Christian schools in the SBC–said he would prefer Southern Baptists say what they are for, rather than what they are against. Schultz added the resolution focuses too much “on something out there, outside Christianity, what the world's doing. … We've got to focus on biblical principles and let that guide us, rather than saying let's run away from here.”

Jim Henry, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said he is uncomfortable with a blanket statement condemning all public schools.

“To call for all Southern Baptists (to withdraw children from public schools), that's a pretty wide brush stroke, and it may not be applicable to everybody,” he said. “Take a stand, yes; but there's another way to do it.”

Even the head of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools called the resolution “ungracious” and “inflammatory.” Ed Gamble, executive director of the association, said he “probably” would vote against the resolution if it came to the floor for consideration in Indianapolis.

More than just being bad public relations or setting the wrong tone, Gamble said, “It's a matter of basic, biblical philosophy. What is it we are trying to achieve with our children?

“If a parent can choose a public school system and give their child the kind of education that results in their child being given a kingdom education, go for it. And I know parents who have done that.”

Prompted by the Pinckney/Shortt resolution, a Tennessee pastor has filed a resolution expressing support for public education. Jim West, pastor of First Baptist Church in Petros, told the Baptist and Reflector, newspaper of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, that his concern is theological.

“Christians aren't supposed to withdraw from the world. They are supposed to minister to the world,” he said.