Learning Lessons the Hard Way

by T.C. Pinckney                                                                                              Vol. IV, No. 2, March 1991

We conservative Virginia Baptists can learn much if we apply the lessons learned in the SBC struggle during the last 12 to 15 years. Today I will comment on just one: who attends conventions.

Our January issue carried a review of Nancy Ammerman's book, Baptist Battles. You will recall that Ammerman is strongly on the moderate-liberal side but has done a lot of valuable research on the controversy and reports her results honestly. Her data regarding convention attendance is significant.

First, a bit of review. Southern Baptists do our business in a democratic, inherently political way. That is, when someone is to be chosen for a position or a question needs to be settled, we vote. Any way you crumble that cookie, it comes out political. Don't equate "political" with "dishonest" or "bad." No such thing. The political process of majority rule is one of the most civilizing inventions in history. It provides an agreed way to solve disputes other than by violence.

But a funny thing often happens on the way to the ballot box. If a lot of us don't participate, a few control the outcome. Works that way in national and local governmental elections; works that way in the SBC and in our local church.

Now let's get back to Nancy A. On pages 197 and 198 she writes, "Antifundamentalist clergy were more likely to attend than either the profundamentalists or those who were undecided. ... Combined clergy and laity on the antifundamentalist side reported that their churches, on average, sent more messengers each year than did either the undecided or the profundamentalist respondents. "The net result of all this was that moderates were actually showing up at conventions in numbers slightly ahead of their proportions in the denomination... While 35 percent of our respondents disagreed with the fundamentalists, 44 percent of those who went to Dallas did.... [Note: That 9% difference is more than "slight." It really means that moderates were over-represented by 25% (9% is 25.71% of 35%).]

"The moderate advantage in sending messengers was more than just political organizing or even resources. It was also a matter of tradition and habit."

Some very interesting points here. In the book the chart accompanying this passage shows that in 1985 "antifundamentalist" churches averaged 1.87 messengers per church; "profundamentalist" churches only 1.15; a difference of 0.72 messengers per church. That means that moderate churches were 63% more effective in getting their people to attend the Dallas Convention than were conservative churches.

That translates into a major handicap facing conservative efforts to win elections. And here in Virginia, the moderate-liberal heartland, one would suspect the turn-out disparity to be even greater.

Note in the last paragraph quoted above, "It was also a matter of tradition and habit." Right on. In Virginia, moderate-liberals have a tradition of going to the state convention; conservatives have a tradition of staying home. Naturally enough moderates always win; conservatives always lose.

BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY!

If conservative pastors and lay leaders will work (starting right now) to interest others in attending the state meeting in Salem this November, we can take a giant step in equalizing our attendance ratios. As a matter of fact, why should we be satisfied with mere equality. If conservatives are really convinced we stand on and for God's perfect Word, shouldn't we be more faithful, more committed than anyone else in working for what we believe?

What would happen if conservative churches in Virginia were 63% more effective in taking messengers to Salem than moderate churches? We would win every vote! God has been and continues to work in Virginia. Increasing numbers of search committees understand the issues and are intentionally seeking inerrantist pastors. In fact, the number of moderate and conservative pastors around the state is almost precisely even.

Of course, just being in the convention city does no good if you aren't present for all the votes. Last November on Tuesday we did pretty well. We had between 1,500 and 1,700 folks vote with conservatives on the budget Tuesday afternoon. But we were not faithful. Many, many of our people didn't come back Wednesday. Between the budget vote Tuesday afternoon and the vote for state president Wednesday afternoon, 42% of our messengers left. And between the presidential vote and that for second vice president another 44% went home. Altogether, from Tuesday afternoon to the vote for 2VP Wednesday, exactly two-thirds of the conservatives departed.

Lesson #1: We must realize we are not isolated, not alone.

Lesson #2: We must overcome our stay-at-home habit and take our maximum authorized messengers to Salem November 12-13.

Corollary: To provide for unforeseen problems, a church must not only line up its quota of messengers, but also some alternates to fill in if someone gets sick or can't go for any other reason.

Lesson #3: Once at the convention we must stay through all the voting.

This year the budget was the high interest item. But budgets can be changed from year to year. The impact of who is elected president and the two vice presidents lasts for many years because of the appointive process. By our constitution appointments are made by majority vote of any two of the three officers. Therefore, each of these three offices is critically important. You may have to get someone else to handle prayer meeting that night, but stay and vote.

Does your church have its November messengers and alternates signed up yet?