'Mainstream' Networking against 'Fundamentalism' Vol. XIV, No. 3, March 2001
[The current permutation of liberal once-Southern Baptists is their widespread attempts
to organize and network with kindred groups all across the country. The following article
draws on several Baptist Press and Associated Baptist Press releases and attempts to place
the information in one understandable framework. Bold print added for emphasis. Comments
in square brackets are mine. TCP]
National Mainstream Meeting in Dallas
After more than two decades of denominational infighting, the vast majority of Southern Baptists remain "largely uninformed" about causes of the conflict, said Houston layman John Baugh. He spoke at a national consultation of the Network of Mainstream Baptists Feb. 5-6 in Dallas. Baugh, founder of the Sysco food company and longtime critic of fundamentalism, co-convened the meeting with Baylor University Chancellor Herbert Reynolds.
Of the 13 million "mainstream" Baptists he estimated are still on the sidelines of the Southern Baptist Convention controversy, Baugh said "it is unlikely that even 10 percent" are keenly aware of the dangers of "fundamentalism" facing their churches and the nation. Mainstream Baptists, meanwhile, "are only four or five major decisions away from arresting the progress of and breaking the fundamentalist hold," Baugh said. [Baugh's estimate is grossly too large. My guesstimate is that there are less than one million, quite likely less than 500,000 truly "Mainstream" and potentially Mainstream Southern Baptists. And his statement that they "are only four or five major decisions away from arresting the progress of and breaking the fundamentalist hold" while probably true is irrelevant. It is analogous to someone saying "I only need to become omniscient and then I would know everything." True but irrelevant.]
The network has been holding annual consultations for "three or four" years, said Reynolds. "These consultations have proven to be helpful to us, and I think have helped our efforts throughout the states to preserve soul freedom," he said.
New Mainstream organizations formed last year in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, said David Currie, head of Texas Baptists Committed, the organization after which the Mainstream groups are modeled. [I have also been told very recently that Texas Baptists Committed has changed its name to adopt the "Mainstream" title.] Those bring to 11 the number of Mainstream organizations working to mobilize Baptists in their states against what is termed alternately the "conservative resurgence" or "fundamentalist takeover" of the Southern Baptist Convention. Many Mainstream leaders are active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an Atlanta-based alternative missions organization that avoids overt politicking.
Mainstream founders, however, believe they can appeal to churches the Fellowship can't reach. Representing Virginia's new Mainstream group, Bill Wilson [pastor, First BC, Waynesboro] described a number of churches in his state that "know they aren't fundamentalist, don't know what they think about the CBF, and we believe are the vast majority." "We believe there is a vast untapped potential among laypeople and pastors who don't feel comfortable in either group and have nowhere to go," he said. [Wilson is accurate in saying that there are many, many Southern Baptist churches and individuals who do not know the issues and the facts, but my observation is that the great majority of them (90% +) once given the facts are naturally biblical conservatives.]
The media and other observers of the prolonged struggle for control and direction of the SBC since the late 1970s typically describe competing factions as "moderates" and "conservatives." Baugh eschewed the use of those terms in describing a new grassroots movement aimed at halting the advance of fundamentalism through political processes in Baptist state conventions. One term has been used to imply "that we are merely 'moderate' in our commitment to Christ and God's Holy Word," Baugh said. And while the term conservative "gains favorable impression" among those opposed to change, Baugh said, SBC fundamentalists weren't out to "conserve" anything. In fact, he charged, they are "revolutionaries" who have imposed a "new religion" on Southern Baptists.
[Baugh redefines "conservative". In his view the theology he has known in his lifetime is the true and historic Baptist position. But that is not correct. Baptists of the 17th, 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries were virtually uniformly biblical inerrantists. What the conservative resurgence has attempted to do is return the SBC to its historical, biblical roots. It is Baugh and his soul-mates who are the revolutionaries, though he does not recognize it.]
"It is as erroneous to imply that mainstream Baptists are moderate about their beliefs as it is to describe fundamentalists as theologically conservative," Baugh said. He called on the denominational and secular press to "forego" the use of those terms in reporting about Baptist life. "Mainstream" Baptists, Baugh said, "are the people who prayerfully determine and hold fast to our commitments. We adhere to the 1963 'Baptist Faith and Message.'" [Yes, because the '63 BFM contains neo-orthodox elements.]
"We mainstreamers must engage them on every front," Baugh said. "I think we can and believe we will break this fundamentalist stranglehold on Baptist life." While any conflict has two sides, Baugh said, "the actions of some fellow Baptists create a third side that inadvertently aids the cause of fundamentalism and impedes our efforts to arrest the growth of that movement." Some non-fundamentalist Baptists "seemingly wish us to be mute in spite of all that has been seen and heard in 20 years," Baugh said. "Their demand is don't be unkind and don't be strident. Don't talk about the Baptist mess to anyone."
"Some of the very finest of our fellow Baptists have worked for reconciliation among our people," Baugh said. "I wish reconciliation were possible," but "our capitulation is the only response acceptable to fundamentalists."
Perry Sanders, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lafayette, LA, urged churches to enlist their full quota of messengers for their state convention and to enlist others to do the same. "One victory is not enough," he said. "We've got to persevere 10 years at the minimum." "We've got enough people if we simply have the perseverance to stay with it and not to falter and hold back." "Neutrality is complicity with the opposition," Sanders said.
Organizational Status
The Mainstream Baptists Network, a loose coalition of state groups modeled after the highly successful Texas Baptists Committed, has named co-chairmen to lead the year-old national network and is developing a mission statement and structure. "We are turning a corner as a Mainstream or a Baptists Committed organization," said co-chairman Bill Wilson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, VA. "This is a new day. We are in effect closing down a chapter and starting a new chapter in what will be a pretty long story. By organizing and being a little more deliberate about our structure, we're sending a message about this organization we want to be sure is heard clearly across the country."
One part of that message, Wilson said, is in choosing a Virginian as co-chairman. Texas pastor Phil Lineberger is the other co-chairman. "This is not a Texas organization," Wilson said. "For the Mainstream organization to be successful, it must be a partnership from every part of this nation."
Second, Wilson said, "This is not a movement or an organization that is either in competition or aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship." The Atlanta-based Fellowship is a 10-year-old organization supporting alternative missions, theological education, and church-resource programs to Baptists disaffected by the SBC's leadership change. "Some of us are ardent supporters of the CBF," Wilson said. "Others are not. That is not prerequisite for being involved or not being involved in this organization. Our intent is helping people be Baptist."
The Network's main objectives for the coming year are to publish a national newsletter, grow its mailing list, and add members. Nearly half of a $207,000 budget for 2001 has been pledged.
Another message is that the group is not at present seeking to form a new Baptist convention, according to a draft of the Network's plan of operation. However, leaders acknowledge no one knows what the future may hold. David Currie, who heads Texas' Baptist Committed and now assumes administration of the Network of Mainstream Baptists as a part-time consultant, told a Feb. 5-6 consultation of about 170 invited leaders he is confident that the voice of non-fundamentalist Baptists in America will prevail in the long run.
"The Network of Mainstream Baptists isn't even an organization," Currie said. "It is simply a network to say, 'Folks, fight fundamentalism where you are.' We're not going to send any missionaries," Currie said. "We're not going to give any money to theological education. We're not any sort of a movement, per se. [We're saying], Go fight fundamentalists in your state. Don't let those beggars do in your state what they did in the Southern Baptist Convention."
[Conservatives should not make the mistake of thinking "mainstreamers" are charlatans. I have no reason to believe they are insincere. But sincerity in support of a wrong cause simply makes it more effective in leading people astray. While praying for the Lord to enlighten them and while remaining loving in our conduct, we must strive unflaggingly to set forth the biblical and historical truth. TCP]