Submitted by Staff on
This is my last opportunity to address Louisiana Baptists from the position as editor of the Baptist Message. I would not express my heart if I did not say that being editor of the Baptist Message has been an incredible privilege. Looking back over the last twenty-seven and one-half years, from this vantage point, there are certainly things I would do differently. And, there are some issues I would have editorialized more strongly about. But, I believe that at the time issues arose and actions were taken, I tried to do what I thought best, and right. I am sure I did not do both all the time or even most of the time, but I am not going to second-guess myself now. My decisions are in print, so they stand for whatever they were, and others can judge if for some reason they choose.
This is my last opportunity to address Louisiana
Baptists from the position as editor of the Baptist Message. I would
not express my heart if I did not say that being editor of the Baptist
Message has been an incredible privilege. Looking back over the last
twenty-seven and one-half years, from this vantage point, there are
certainly things I would do differently. And, there are some issues I
would have editorialized more strongly about. But, I believe that at
the time issues arose and actions were taken, I tried to do what I
thought best, and right. I am sure I did not do both all the time or
even most of the time, but I am not going to second-guess myself now.
My decisions are in print, so they stand for whatever they were, and
others can judge if for some reason they choose.
My tenure as editor of the Baptist Message has
coincided with the controversy that arose among Southern Baptists in
1978. My involvement in Southern Baptist life began before the
controversy. I had the privilege of serving as a trustee of
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was on the presidential
search committee before there was a formulated controversy. I served on
the SBC Committee on Committees before the controversy and on the
Committee on Nominations during the controversy. I was on what was then
the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission and served as chairman
and was on the search committee for a new executive director when the
controversy was in full steam. I also met with the Southern Baptist
Peace Committee twice. I have had the privilege of knowing personally
most of the key players. My knowledge of the controversy is personal
and vocational.
During these years, I have seen clearly that there
are godly folks on both sides of the issues of the controversy. And, I
have also seen clearly that folks on both sides have acted arrogantly,
stubbornly and even cruelly. Some folks have acted like the enemies of
God were not the forces of the flesh in the world, but brothers and
sisters in Christ Jesus who disagreed with them on some point of church
polity, style or theology. I have witnessed the malignment of wonderful
Christian people because they “were on the wrong side.”
The effect these actions have had on any editor of
any Baptist publication during these years is this: Every action, every
word, was judged not by how well it reported the truth, by what it
reflected on the controversy. A publication could have 99 pages of
wonderful reporting on what God was doing through Baptists, and if that
publication had one word on one page that did not suit someone on some
side, then the whole publication was only to be a target of criticism
by that side.
And, if a publication did not “support” one side or
the other, that side would judge the publication “unfaithful to the
cause” and therefore unfit for support, or even existence.
So, in many instances, fair and balanced was not as
important to many as its leaning, slanting or giving support to one
side or the other.
It also seems that after all these years of the
controversy, Baptists have become overly sensitive to criticism,
especially from within their own ranks. Any criticism, regardless of
how kindly and appropriately expressed, is taken as an attack upon the
theology of the institution or group criticized. This shortsighted over
sensitivity robs a convention of its self-correction and needed
adjustments. Every criticism is not justified, but rejecting all
criticisms as unchristian is certainly wrong and robs any organization
of a needed element of growth.
As I come to this last page of my time as editor of
the Baptist Message, my hope and prayer is that Southern Baptists in
general, and Louisiana Baptists in particular, would learn how to move
forward together. For years, the more conservative Baptists said they
were excluded from positions of leadership. Today, Baptists who do not
agree with the new leadership say they are excluded from positions of
leadership. The danger is that one “good ole boy system” replaces
another “good ole boy system.” In either case, exclusion is wrong. We
have had, and do have, churches that give hundreds of thousands of
dollars annually to the Cooperative Program excluded from leadership
positions on boards and agencies because their pastors “are on the
wrong side.” Wrong, wrong, wrong, before the controversy or now.
Sometimes, an analogy of this situation comes to mind. I think we act
like we were in the Alamo together and while fighting the Mexicans for
freedom, and fighting the enemy, we start shooting at each other.
The challenges ahead for Louisiana Baptists, and the
Southern Baptist Convention, are too great to continue mired in
controversy, or “my side, your side.” Exclusion from leadership brings
about withdrawal of support and involvement and we need each other more
today than ever. The energy spent on denominational politics should be
far better spent in furthering the Kingdom of God. Hopefully, the
controversy has run its course. Certainly the Louisiana Baptist
Convention has set its theological course and we should trust God to
guide us, and not politics.
Again, the greatest joy I have had over the years is
relationships with Louisiana Baptists. I have found that the better I
know a Baptist brother or sister in Christ, the more I have to agree
with him or her than disagree with him or her. I have been enriched
spiritually and theologically by listening to both sides.
May we lay aside our differences that are
hairsplitting, and join more strongly than ever on the major themes of
our cooperative life. That is my prayer, and as a grassroots Louisiana
Baptist, that is what I will continue to strive for.
In parting, I must note that the staff of the
Baptist Message has made my job a greater joy. Polly Ussery has worked
in some aspect with the Baptist Message for 43 years. Her enthusiasm
and determination to keep the Baptist Message on the straight and
narrow financially has been superb and given us a “clean” audit for 27
years. Joanne Brechtel has answered the phone and tried to keep me
current on calls and letters for 23 years. Rhonda Havens has kept the
books and mailing list updated and written People/Places/Events for
nine years without receiving a significant complaint. And, for 20
years, Lacy Thompson was the most trusted, capable associate any editor
ever had. Brian Blackwell, as the new kid on the block for four years,
has become more and more effective as a writer and composer of our
pages. Jim Lofton has kept me alive, literally, as we drove around
Louisiana to all kinds of meetings. I am leaving family as I leave
their assistance.
My wife Leah, my son Ron and daughter Stephanie have given up a
significant amount of time with their husband and dad so that I could
drive 30,000 miles a year to be with Louisiana Baptists in their
churches and homes. In a few months, they may wish for me to hit the
road again!
God willing, I will continue as an involved,
informed Louisiana Baptist, reading the Baptist Message each week and
using its Add-On service for my church. The wonderful folks at New Life
Baptist Church, DeRidder, have been kind to invite me to be their
pastor. Leah and I will live in Alexandria and DeRidder until things
line out, and then we plan to move to DeRidder.
May God’s richest blessings be upon you, and the
Baptist Message, and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. I will, to
paraphrase the Apostle Paul, thank my God in every remembrance of you.