Any Baptist has the right, if electedas a messenger by his or her church, to
present a resolution or motion to the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist
Convention.
Any Baptist has the right, if electedas a messenger by his or her church, to
present a resolution or motion to the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist
Convention. And, hopefully, the Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee
this year will exercise its right by rejecting a possible resolution by T.C.
Pinckney,
if he does, in fact, present a resolution urging all parents to withdraw their
children from public schools, as news reports indicate he will. Word is that
he will be joined in presenting this resolution by Bruce Shortt of Texas.
The resolution reportedly calls public schools “a dark and decaying”
system that is “godless” and “anti-Christian.” It also says
that the public school system is “run by the enemies of God.”
Such broad, sweeping condemnations make this editors blood boil. Some
of the finest Christian people serving God in Louisiana Baptist churches work
in the Louisiana public school systems. Committed Christians work at every level
of public school service from board members to administrators to bus drivers
and custodians as a fulfillment of their call to ministry and evangelism.
Even presenting a resolution that calls public school officials “enemies
of God” is despicable demagoguery. If the Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions
Committee passes on this proposed resolution to messengers, the presentation
alone will insult thousands upon thousands of dedicated Christians who serve
on boards of education out of a conviction to be the salt of the earth in those
positions.
There are countless educators who serve God by serving in the public school
system. They know the system is not perfect – they know the problems better
than anyone else. But they also know that the loving, Christian thing to do
is not abandon the students and employees of public schools, but to stay and
serve on what is possibly the greatest mission field in America.
Obviously, parents have the freedom to withdraw their children from public
schools and home-school them or place them in private, Christian schools. And,
many parents believe that is best for their children and do exactly that. But,
that does not discount the ministry and commitment of those who chose for just
as godly reasons to keep their children in public schools.
A much better, wiser resolution would be one that encourages parents to become
involved in their childrens public education. There is absolutely no doubt
that students whose parents are significantly involved in their childrens
education do much better in their work. Also, those good Christian teachers
are encouraged when parents step forward and say, “I want to help in whatever
way you need help” and follow that commitment with actions.
If someone wants a better public school system, that person should get involved
in making it better, not abandoning it.
Public schools do need help. For too long society has burdened public schools
with all kinds of assignments and expectations – everything from social
engineering to providing community entertainment. All of this while the schools
are expected to make every student into an Einstein.
There is tremendous need for servant-minded Christians to be involved up to
their elbows in public school systems. This editor can point specifically to
situations where parents refused to abandon their schools and committed themselves
to better the schools. In every way their work was rewarded among their children
and the other children who attended the school, and the teachers and the administrators.
If the public schools are as bad as the writers of this proposed resolution
imply – and I cannot believe they arecan we walk away from them like
the Jewish priest and Temple assistant walked past the injured man beside the
road in the parable of the Good Samaritan? Hardly.
Through the years, few resolutions passed by messengers to the Southern Baptist
Convention have made any real, redemptive difference in society. But, several
resolutions have damaged Southern Baptists image and efforts to make a
positive difference in the world. Mr. Pinckneys and Mr. Shortts
resolution should not be allowed to be one of those resolutions.