After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took
less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention
entities.
By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent
Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations
that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries
beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee.
After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took
less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention
entities.
By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent
Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations
that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries
beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee.
The actions mark the most severe reallocation of funds by a
state Baptist convention since the launch of the Cooperative Program in 1925.
Proponents of the funding changes said they were precipitated by theological
and political changes brought about in the Southern Baptist Convention during
the last 21 years. Opponents decry the action as a dismantling of the unified
approach to supporting missions and ministry.
Despite the actions, Texas Baptists signaled they did not wish
to break completely with the national convention. Indeed, the 6,664 messengers
to the annual session overwhelmingly defeated a floor motion that would have
cut all Baptist General Convention of Texas funding for national convention
agencies, including the two mission boards.
The latter motion was made by a messenger who apparently did
not support the other funding changes and said the convention might as well
go ahead and cut all funding in order to give churches a clear choice.
“I believe our vote here destroyed the Cooperative Program,”
said Greg Smith, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Denison. “It appears where
were headed is a national convention apart from the SBC.”
The motion received only a smattering of support.
Nevertheless, the approved actions do signal a clear
and significant change. Texas is the largest state denomination in the
Southern Baptist Convention and accounts for about 13 percent of national
Cooperative Program funding.
Its recent action affects more than $5 million in funding.
A total of $4.3 million will be diverted from Southern Baptist
seminaries next year and given to three Texas Baptist schools Truett
Seminary at Baylor University, Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons
University and Hispanic Baptist Theological School. Messengers approved that
cut on a show-of-hands vote
Meanwhile, $736,291 is to be diverted from the SBC Executive
Committee and allocated to “Texas priority” projects such as Hispanic ministry
and human welfare programs. Another $364,582 is to be cut from the Ethics and
Religious Liberty Commission and sent to the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission.
Messengers approved these moves on a ballot vote of 4,194 (74 percent) to 1,426
(26 percent).
The votes came after considerable buildup in recent weeks as
both state and national leaders engaged in a war of words and sought to influence
Texas messengers on the issue.
However, at the convention itself, debate was limited.
Discussion of the seminary proposal opened with a 15-minute
presentation of the work of the study committee that recommended the funding
cut.
Committee Chair Bob Campbell pointed out that 46 percent of
all the ministerial students attending Baptist universities are enrolled in
Texas Baptist schools.
“If any of those 3,623 students decides to go to either Truett
Seminary or Logsdon School of Theology, they will pay more tuition than it will
cost them to go to one of the six SBC seminaries. That is not right; it is not
fair,” Campbell said.
In addition, the six Southern Baptist seminaries have changed
theologically, Campbell reported. “That is a fact. It is true. Nothing illustrates
that better than the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement.”
For the first time, the Baptist doctrinal statement has been
made into an “instrument of doctrinal accountability,” he said. “It demands
a rigid adherence. You cannot be a professor (at the Southern Baptist seminaries)
unless you adhere only to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.”
It is not good enough for a person to sign the Bible itself
but not affirm the Southern Baptist document, he charged. “You cannot be a professor
there, nor can you serve on any board, commission or committee of the SBC unless
you are willing to adhere to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement. That
means a large number of you cannot serve,” Campbell told messengers. “They want
your money. They do not want you.”
In the subsequent 30-minute period allotted for discussion,
messengers soundly defeated two offered amendments.
One motion would have spread the seminary funding changes across
a three-year period. Bubba Stahl of Boerne said that would allow Texas Baptists
to accomplish what they want to do but allow it to be done in a more courteous
way.
However, Rick Davis of Midlothian, disagreed. “I guess its
always better to cut a dogs tail off an inch at a time, but its
not all that courteous,” he said. “The SBC reports a surplus this year of $18-plus
million. Theres no reason for anybody to have to suffer at any of the
SBC seminaries, if they use the money correctly.”
Another amendment would have created a Plan A and Plan B for
state giving, with one option embracing the new theological funding plan and
the other retaining the old plan.
The state convention already has five giving plans, which led
parliamentarians to say the motion was out of order since it did not propose
anything not already possible. Nevertheless, state President Clyde Glazener
allowed L.A. Murr of Sunnyvale to speak.”Weve got the greatest organization
in the world for the Great Commission,” Murr pleaded, choking back tears. “Dont
destroy it. Dont tear it down.”
Glazener also allowed messengers to vote on the motion, which
was overwhelmingly defeated.
Apart from the attempted amendments, only two messengers spoke
to the seminary recommendation itself.
One argued against the funding cut, noting that 90 percent
of some 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries were “equipped” at the convention
seminaries. “It sounds like Gods hand is on the graduates of the Southern
Baptist seminaries.”
However, another messenger urged passage of the proposal so
the state convention can support schools that do not require faculty members
to sign “an un-Baptistic statement.”
Other messengers were waiting at microphones to discuss the
funding changes when the allotted time for debate expired, including Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary President Ken Hemphill and Golden Gate Baptist
Theological Seminary President William Crews. However, messengers rejected a
request to extend debate, then voted to adopt the changes related to the seminaries.
The subsequent proposal to redirect funding from the Executive
Committee and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission sustained little debate
before gaining approval.
Baptist General Convention of Texas leaders have said these
cuts were needed because they have routinely been criticized and “slandered”
by the Executive Committee and its news service and because the Ethics and Religious
Liberty Commission has turned into a partisan political organization. National
leaders deny both charges.
Meanwhile, during discussion, state convention Treasurer Roger
Hall explained no church will be force to give in a manner it finds objectionable.
“We do respect and do have the church-directed giving approach,” he said. “If
there is any question at all, we call or contact your church. That has been
the case. That is the case. The church has the choice.”
Following the votes, national leaders voiced concerns.
Approval of the seminary proposal was not a surprise, said
Crews, chair of the council of seminary presidents. “We thought it would pass,”
Crews told reporters. “All of us are concerned. Its a significant amount
of money. But more significant is the partnership (that will be lost).”
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler agreed
he was “profoundly disappointed” by the action but not surprised. “Were
talking about a significant amount of money,” he said. “It will take time to
assess the impact but I am convinced Southern Baptists will generously
support the six SBC seminaries.”
Hemphill said he is grieved for Texas Baptists, who no longer
will have an opportunity to relate to the ministerial students being trained
by the six Southern Baptist seminaries.
However, Hemphill said he does not believe Texas Baptists in
the churches will forsake the seminaries. “This will be an opportunity for local
churches to work. I think many Texas Baptist churches will continue to support
the Southern Baptist seminaries. … I believe our churches and alumni will
see this as an opportunity to speak for themselves.”
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is one of the schools
affected by the Texas action. However, at press time, New Orleans Seminary President
Chuck Kelley had released no statement regarding the official Texas action.
Despite the clear votes, the issue of state and national convention
ties continued into a subsequent convention session, which featured consideration
of two motions on seeking “unity and restoration of Christian love and trust.”
One motion proposed that leaders of the state and national
denominations assemble for three days of fasting and prayer prior to the 2001
Southern Baptist Convention. “I have seen peace committees, but no prayer committee,”
James Heffington Jr. said. “God can do this. It is not too late to bring us
together.”
A second sought to create a mediation task force to employ
a professional, non-Baptist Christian counselor to facilitate reconciliation
between the parties.
Messengers were asked to refer both motions to the state Executive
Board for consideration, a move opposed by some.
“Motions to refer are just a delaying tactic,” one messenger
noted during discussion of the motion on a time of prayer and fasting. “Whether
the SBC wants to cooperate or not, we ought to make the statement that we favor
reconciliation.”
Another messenger urged Texas Baptists to “make a unilateral
commitment to a time of prayer and fasting, no matter what the SBC does.”
Meanwhile, other speakers urged referral of the motions, noting
that the call for a reconciliation committee previously had been turned down
by Southern Baptist leaders.
Both motions were referred easily on show-of-hands votes.
(This article and the accompanying briefs include information from various
Associated Baptist Press, Baptist Press and Texas Baptist Standard news releases)
In addition to approving funding cuts for some Southern Baptist Convention
entities, Baptist General Convention of Texas messengers also gave final approval
to changes that allow churches outside Texas to affiliate with and participate
in the state body. The change was approved with only scattered opposition.
Non-Texas churches always had been allowed to affiliate with the state convention
and about a dozen do. The approved changes allow members of those churches
to serve in state posts as well.
In his first report as Baptist General Convention
of Texas executive director, Charles Wade charged that the approved funding
changes were prompted by “rigid limitations” imposed by national leaders.
Wade criticized Southern Baptist Convention leaders for creating a “non-Baptist
confession of faith” in revising the Baptist Faith and Message statement.
“And they have proceeded to use it in a non-Baptist fashion as
a creed rather than as a confession of faith. … Never before have we called
a confession of faith an instrument of doctrinal accountability. Accountable
to whom? Some religious authority? Some ecclesiastical committee?”
Wade noted that national leaders allow only those supportive
of the 2000 version of the Baptist Faith and Message to serve in denominational
posts. “Any pastor or layperson who might be asked to serve in a position
of shaping policy or making important decisions on behalf of the rest of us
who will have to sign on to the new confession of faith. That makes it either
a creed or a loyalty oath or both,” Wade said.
The recent funding cuts notwithstanding, the
Baptist General Convention of Texas still will fund other Southern Baptist
causes in next years budget. The 2001 budget calls for about $12 million
to be forwarded to the SBC International Mission Board, $5.6 million to the
North American Mission Board, $186,000 to the Annuity Board and $59,000 to
the SBC Historical Library and Archives.
Following the Texas actions, observers quickly
began speculating about what could happen next. For instance, a Baptist General
Convention of Texas committee now is studying the denominations relationship
with the SBC International and North American Mission boards. A report is
due next year. Also, Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director
Charles Wade has said he likely will contact SBC Executive Committee President
Morris Chapman to talk about the future. Meanwhile, observers are unsure now
what Texas Baptist churches will do. Wade predicted the vast majority of churches
would remain loyal to the state convention. Others suggest many churches could
shift allegiance to the fundamental/conservative Southern Baptists of Texas
group.
The fundamental/conservative Southern Baptists
of Texas convention recently announced a “Great Commission Partners in the
Harvest” plan to help offset national funding recently cut by the Baptist
General Convention of Texas. The plan calls for the convention to deliver
half of all in-state undesignated receipts above the annual budget to Southern
Baptist agencies impacted by the Baptist General Convention of Texas action.
In addition, Southern Baptists of Texas leaders plan to issue a challenge
for 100 churches to give $10,000 above their current Cooperative Program gifts
to provide a $1 million gift to the Southern Baptist Convention to offset
the cuts.