Texas Baptist Forum

Posted: 3/14/08

Texas Baptist Forum

Positive 1st impression

Randel Everett made a positive impression the day he was elected executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

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“What we evangelicals should have known before and have now demonstrated again … is that we aren’t quite as popular in the public square as we like to think. We may carry a pretty strong Word, but we also carry a fairly limp stick.”
Joel Belz
World magazine founder, writing about the need to “end the illusion” about the political force of evangelicals (World/RNS)

“There is a tendency on the part of some religious folk to see God with human characteristics, and then they assign to God some of the most damaging and destructive of human characteristics. I think there is a danger of having God conform to our image, rather than trying to conform to his.”
Ted Strickland
Governor of Ohio (RNS)

“The separation of church and state is like oxygen to the fire of religious liberty.”
Jon Meacham
Newsweek editor (CBS News Sunday Morning)

I was impressed by his strategy, which will allow us to direct our focus on our genuine passion for the lost people of Texas. I sensed we have elected an authentic leader who can guide us without hesitation.

His convictions help me define what type of leader he will be for this moment—a leader whose focus is God’s priority to save the lost ones.

The Holy Spirit caused me to ask, “In what way can I help my brother implement this noble project?” Then I realized this is a great opportunity to unite all Texas Baptists for a common cause to spread the gospel of Christ.

This can be the time to set aside our differences and small distractions and regain our attention on the people who live around us who are spiritually desperate and in great need.

I congratulate the search committee, and also I would like to express to new Executive Director Everett a warm welcome and tell him, “Here we are, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, to help you in any way to accomplish the vision God put in your heart.”

Baldemar Borrego, president

Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas

Wichita Falls

Personal problem

Joe Worley had an interesting slant in his letter (February 18). His statement, “It is apparent that their CBF affiliation was important in order for them to be on the (BGCT executive director search) committee” has no foundation.

Did he attend even one of the hearings this committee hosted across Texas? I did, and members of this committee were open, listening and gracious to all who cared to have input.

Worley’s bias is clearly chronicled by his openly excusing the “fallible Southern Baptist Convention,” while implying those affiliated even nominally with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are somehow tainted with no substance to support his claim.

We are all fallible, but having an obvious bias against all but the SBC is a problem for Worley, according to his own words.

Nancy Rooney

China

High-order hypocrisy

The New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta (Feb. 18) was hypocrisy of the highest order.

Clinton, Gore and Carter talked about how we should love each other and be able to disagree agreeably, then they go out on the campaign trail and slam and take verbal shots at President Bush, John McCain or anyone else who doesn’t agree with them.

I wish the Baptist Standard would stand up and call this meeting what it was, an effort to make the Democratic Party more palatable to evangelicals. When it comes to politics, these guys pay lip service to what they say they stand for at these so-called Christian gatherings.

Steve Kent

Dallas

Where was SBC?

The New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta sounded like a breath of fresh air.