State Wrap 2003

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                           Vol. XVII, No. 1, January 2004

Judging by state convention results last November, the conservative resurgence continues to move ahead among the 41 state or regional conventions. Keep in mind the three basic concepts of Southern Baptist polity: (1) Each of the four major portions of SBC denominational life is autonomous. (2) Authority is decentralized. Among Baptist organizations ultimate authority flows from the bottom up, not the top down. Messengers from churches instruct the local association, the state convention, and the SBC. There is no hierarchy that can order a church to do anything. And (3) we work with each other through the Cooperative Program to fund and implement missions. The CP makes possible the most effective and efficient use of time and funds for preparing pastors, planting churches at home, and sending missionaries abroad.

Five Focus States

With the passing of each year liberal-conservative competitions grow fewer as more states come to share the biblical vision for the SBC. Immediately below find a summary of those states where the struggle continues or is just completed.

Missouri: The state meeting was the most united convention in decades. This is the sixth straight year that all elected officers were endorsed by the conservative movement in MO. Messengers approved the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as the confessional statement for MBC staff and noted that each church has the right to adopt whatever doctrinal statement it wishes. The one lingering aspect of the strenuous liberal-conservative battle is the lawsuit the MBC has brought against the five state agencies which declared themselves independent. The vote was more than 8:1 to establish an Agency Restoration Fund to cover legal expenses of the suit. Messengers also voted overwhelmingly to defund William Jewel College of more than a million dollars due to the school’s tolerance of homosexuality and hosting of sexually promiscuous theatrical presentations.

Kentucky: Conservatives lost the vote for president, but the 1VP is a solid conservative, and he may well be elected president next year. “Moderate” leaders are aging and very few younger men are coming along behind them. Biblically sound seminary graduates from Southern and other SBC seminaries are filling open pulpits and beginning to make a difference. While the struggle is far from over, there is cause for long-term optimism, though CBF-Mainstream is active.

Mississippi: A real problem for conservatives. Though there are only about 20 CBF churches in MS, conservatives lost everything. In fact, the situation seems worse for conservatives than last year. The problem seems to be the state office rather than CBF. A constitutional amendment which would have barred the state convention from employing, electing, or appointing “anyone currently serving in an employed, elected, or appointed position with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship” was defeated 66% to 34%. Conservatives are encouraging churches to send donations directly to the SBC rather than to the state.

North Carolina: A key victory! Conservative David Horton, pastor of Gate City BC, Greensboro, defeated moderate David Hughes, pastor of First BC, Winston-Salem, 59.48% to 40.52%, the strongest win for a non-incumbent since 1987. All three winning officers were endorsed by Conservative Carolina Baptists; the three who lost, by Mainstream Baptists of North Carolina. The victories mark the eighth year in the past nine that conservatives have controlled at least two of the top three BSC posts. The president and the two vice presidents form a committee to nominate members of the powerful BSC Committee on Committees, which must be approved by the General Board.

After the election Hughes said he expects the conservative sweep would likely cause moderates to "prayerfully reflect" on their role on the BSC. He noted there have been some "informal hallway" discussions about whether some new type of organization might be formed. He said he thinks the ninth consecutive election of a conservative president seems "very definitive" and shows that the BSC is "lining up squarely behind the Southern Baptist Convention."

Messengers were nearly unanimous in approving the state executive committee decision to remove McGill Baptist Church from the convention for baptizing two homosexual men.

Tennessee: Remains a problem for conservatives. Conservative judgments varied from “We had a conservative majority at the convention. The new president is a good guy. CBF is marginally active.” to “We just got killed. CBF is pretty strong. The new president is a theological conservative but a compromiser.” The conservative-endorsed candidate for 2VP did win.

State Budgets

Two states continue to send at least 50% of all undesignated receipts to the SBC: The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention gives 52%, and the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia 50%. Georgia gives 50% after deducting some funds to cover shared responsibilities and ministers’ retirements. Seven states contribute in the 42.3% to 40% range: AL, IL, AR, Maryland-Delaware, FL, OH, OK, & SC. Fifteen give between 37.75% and 30%: Mo, TN, WV, KY, LA, DC, MS, AK, IN, WY, Northwest (Oregon & Washington), HW, NM (after deducting $81,000 for retirees and their insurance), Kansas-Nebraska, & MI. Eleven states fall within 29% to 20%: CO, NV, CA, NY, AZ, P-SJ, MT, NE, Baptist General Convention of Texas, U-I, & IA. In the BGCT, 21% goes out of state, and each church chooses whether it wants its funds sent to the SBC or CBF. Three states contribute less than 20%: DK 14%, MW (Minnesota-Wisconsin) 13%, and the Baptist General Association of Virginia 7.74% (see discussion below under VA).

Six states changed the percentage to be given to the SBC in their 2004 budgets. LA & NV increased their percentages by 0.25%. NY upped its giving by 0.5%. And P-SJ edged up 0.1%. Two states reduced the SBC percentage: KN dropped 1.75%, and CA slashed the SBC by 3.0%. Both decreases were attributed to reduced gifts from churches.

Resolutions:

Ten states passed anti-gambling resolutions (AL, KN, KY, LA, Md-De, NW, OH, OK, SC, WV). Nine supported a federal marriage amendment (AL, AR, IL, KN, KY, Md-De, MS, SC, TN, SBTC), In other resolutions also dealing with marriage, seven conventions affirmed biblical marriage between one man and one woman.(Md-De, MI, MO, NE, NM, OH, WV). Seven states Affirmed President Bush, Congress, and/or our armed forces (AL, AZ, AR, MS, NW, OH, WV). Six states also supported religious liberty (IN, KN, MI, NM, OH, WV) and three others expressed support for public display of the Ten Commandments (AL, CA, SC). Five meetings expressed appreciation for the partial birth abortion ban and one affirmed the sanctity of human life (AL, NE, NW, OH, SBTC, WV). Messengers at four meetings opposed homosexuality, usually with the additional resolve to evangelize homosexuals (LA, NM, OK, SBTC). Four states urged support for the Cooperative program (OK, SBTC, Md-De, MS). No other topic was the subject of more than two resolutions.

State Roster

As I use the terms in the following comments, “conservative”, “moderate”, and “liberal” refer to the individual’s denominational or organizational stance, not his theology. Someone who is conservative theologically may identify with liberals organizationally.

AL: All officers are active conservatives. The Mainstream meeting only had about 70 present. Conservatives are making good progress. The problems are the state paper and colleges.

AK: With only 60 churches and in a very new work area, Alaska seems to be a “go-along to get-along” state. There has been no discernible change over the last year. Divorced pastors are accepted. The church of the 1VP supports CBF.

AZ: Some improvement. The president may be solid. The 1VP is definitely solid. CBF activity is not obvious. The state is still healing from the serious Baptist Foundation problems of four years ago.

AR: Continues on its conservative direction. All officers are once again conservatives. CBF is working but declining nevertheless.

CA: National Baptist politics play little or no role in CA. The president is a conservative. But the state convention is in serious trouble. While there is some CBF activity, it is mainly under the radar screen, and CBF supporters did not attend the 2003 state meeting where it was business as usual. But of 1,800 churches only 1,200 contribute to the CP. Many ethnic churches have joined but do not really participate.

CO: Remains solidly conservative. All officers are conservative, and CBF has no presence. The state meeting removed fellowship from First Southern BC, Hudson, because its pastor “has a lifestyle inconsistent with the Bible.”

Dakotas: Until this meeting the Dakotas were a Baptist fellowship. But in November messengers approved the move from fellowship to state convention status. DK has c. 90 churches. As in most new work states, liberals are few; there is no CBF presence. The president is a conservative.

DC: The District of Columbia Baptist Convention is unique in that it is trilaterally aligned with the SBC, American Baptist Churches/USA, and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Because the DCBC had moved increasingly liberal, NAMB ceased subsidizing its budget effective June 2003. Their budget had been c. $1.5 million of which $475,000 had come from NAMB. The 2004 budget is now $1.27 million, 16.4% less. And at the November convention DCBC adopted a minimum church contribution of $500 per year for convention embership.

FL: Continuing its conservative stance. This was the first time the state president was re-elected, under a new constitutional amendment.

GA: Remains conservative. A moderate sponsored motion to divide the state executive committee evenly between clergy and laity was defeated. CBF is weak, although trying.

HW: Has 121 affiliated churches, missions, and language congregations. The three senior officers were characterized as: one a movement conservative, one a strong conservative, and one conservative though he doesn’t like politics. All by acclamation. The state has become more conservative over the last 12 months, in part becasue of the influx of recent seminary graduates. And consequently churches are growing. Notably, HW entered a 5-year partnership with Japan, the first time HW has been a giving partner.

IL: President is liberal. VP is a strong conservative. IL has some 20 CBF churches plus some with moderate leanings. However, a bigger problem is that many ethnic churches are dually aligned and give very little to the CP. Messengers installed Wendell Lang as the new state executive director. Lang is a strong conservative. Other actions included affirmation of the Baptist Faith and Message 1925, 1963, 1998, and 2000 ... thus avoiding the issue.

IN: All officers are solid conservatives. Only two churches lean CBF.

IA: As is common in new work states, CBF presence is very slim; only two churches support them. Also usual in such states, denominational politics is largely absent. All officers are theological conservatives.

KN: Another new work state. There is only one church known to be with CBF, and it is dwindling. The president is a very strong theological conservative.

KY: The conservative-endorsed candidate lost the presidential vote, but the 1VP is a solid conservative and should be elected president next year. Moderate leaders are aging with very few younger moderates coming along. Southern Seminary graduates filling pulpits. Over a few years this will make a big difference.

LA: All three top officers are conservatives endorsed by the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship and all elected by acclamation. This is the first time since the mid-80's that an “open” year election has not been contested. Conservatives won all the votes.

Md-De: Maryland-Delaware continues its stroll down the “middle muddle”. All three officers are theologically conservative, but the president is in the political middle. the 1VP is a solid conservative. Messengers approved an operating document affirming churches that adopt the BFM 2000, 1963, or other similar statement, thus attempting to avoid facing up to the issue. Conservative churches are more numerous, but the large churches are more moderate. CBF, just a few, maybe half a dozen. Again, as our seminary grads enter the state, it is having a beneficial effect ... though slowly.

MI: Officers are either unknowns or uninvolved. MI remains conservative but with little denominational involvement. There are no known CBF churches. One good resolution affirmed the BFM 2000 “in word and spirit” and said that “all individuals or churches receiving assistance must approve the Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.”

Minn-Wisc: Another new work state where national denominational politics are almost entirely absent. No CBF presence reported.

MO: See comments on MO in the Five Focus States discussion above. All officers were endorsed by conservatives and elected by acclamation. This was the sixth straight year of electing all conservatives and the most united convention in decades.

MS: Again, see comments on MS in the Five Focus States discussion above. The president is reportedly a theological conservative but in the pocket of the Baptist Building. The 1VP is liberal.

MT: Another new work state with 130 churches and missions and approximately 7,500 resident members. The most notable development is that MT is changing its form of leadership to a team concept which will hopefully invigorate church planting.

NV: The president is solid, VPs unknowns. More conservative pastors are coming to the state. And there is no known CBF presence.

NE: The president is an inerrantist, the VP theologically conservative but not involved. There is some CBF influence, especially in MA, but the state became somewhat more conservative over the last twelve months. Recent seminary graduates are helping.

NM: The president is a theological conservative. Messengers amended the bylaws to specify that a cooperating Baptist church must give to the convention in the twelve months immediately preceding the call to order of an annual or special meeting.

NY: President and 2VP are strong conservatives. The meeting overwhelmingly amended the state constitution to adopt the BFM 2000 as their statement of faith. No churches give to CBF through the state, though some give directly. A number of key liberals have left the state.

NC: See the Five Focus States section above. There was a motion to cut $200,000 in funding to the state’s Baptist newspaper, The Biblical Recorder, which evoked the longest and most heated discussion of the entire meeting. However, ultimately about 70% of the messengers voted against the motion. Because of a motion last year, it had been expected there would be a long debate regarding giving in the state, specifically Plan C. However, the NC general board reported that Plan C does not violate the state constitution, and no action was taken.

NC has an extremely complicated giving structure. Plans A and D give 32% to the SBC. Plan B gives only 10% to SBC. Plan C gives nothing to the SBC, 10% to CBF, 10.9% to theological education in state colleges and universities, and 11.1% to special overseas, home, and other missions, nothing to SBC entities. The numbers of churches giving to each plan are interesting: Plan A (SBC) 1951. Plan B (10% to SBC) 274. Plan C (naught to SBC) 142. And Plan D (SBC) 500. Further, there are 831 churches that do give through any of the plans, and 275 that give through a mixture of plans: A & D, B & C, etc.

Numbers of conservative pastors are coming to pulpits in NC from Southeastern Seminary. I suspect we will see more efforts to change NC giving in the future. If NC liberals are sufficiently discouraged by their repeated losses so that they effectively withdraw from BSCNC life, perhaps even forming their own mini-convention, reformation of NC giving may come as early as next November.

NW: All three officers quite conservative. No CBF activity evident. Both Oregon and Washington Southern Baptists are quite conservative though “not caught up” in political strife.

OH: 636 congregations including 32 starts in 2003. CBF has almost no presence. OH is a conservative state.

OK: One of, if not the, most conservative SBC states. All officers are conservatives. There is only very minimal CBF activity. One concern is weak support for the Cooperative Program. This was a theme repeated in many states, and it suggests a pressing need to educate our people about the advantages of cooperative giving. How much do YOUR fellow church members understand and appreciate this remarkably effective arrangement?

PA-SJ: 362 churches, chapels, & Bible fellowships. CBF has tried in the state but has made no progress. The president and 1VP are quite conservative. 2VP is an unknown. The state is becoming much more conservative as seminary graduates bring about that change. Messengers approved a resolution unanimously adopted by the executive board in May describing “the most recent Baptist Faith and Message as a resource for better understanding and teaching of Southern Baptist beliefs and practices.” It also describes the Bible as “God’s totally true and trustworthy Word, our sole authority for faith and practice.” The executive board noted that “Board-elected staff [will] be asked to affirm the current Baptist Faith and Message. statement and to explain any points of disagreement and, if elected, to work within the parameters of the current Baptist Faith and Message.”

SC: All officers are conservatives. CBF is somewhat active but quite minor. Dollar giving has grown over the last ten years by $9 million, but the average percentage of undesignated receipts given by churches has declined from 9.4% to 8.2% This is a common experience throughout the SBC.

TN: See coverage under Five Focus States above. Conservatives challenged 7 of 10 nominations to the state Committee on Committees and the Committee on Boards, but all failed by 56% to 67%. The budget was cut 4.4% or $1.6 million. TN remains a state where the conservative-liberal contest is far from decided.

BGCT: The Baptist General Convention of Texas continues to distance itself from the SBC. The liberal organizations Texas Baptists Committed and the Texas chapter of CBF continue to go very liberal. Both the new state president and 1VP head BGCT entities, a questionable arrangement. Moreover, the president’s entity, Buckner Benevolences, has an agreement with CBF and has co-sponsored events with Planned Parenthood. BGCT churches complete a form on which they can choose to send 21% of their undesignated donations to either the SBC or CBF. This means that the BGCT gives something less than 21% to the SBC, how much less depending on how many churches opt for CBF.

At the November 2002 state meeting messengers approved a new missions network called WorldconneX. The WorldconneX leader, Bill Tinsley reported to this convention.

The BGCT meeting format followed CBF practice of holding a number of “breakout sessions”. At one of these the BGCT executive director, Charles Wade, was asked, “Are you leaving the SBC and IMB?” His answer, “We can’t afford to leave. Right now we’re not leaving, but we can’t promise what we’ll do in the future.” After such an answer can there be any doubt where the BGCT is heading?

SBTC: The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is 100% conservative, both theologically and denominationally. As of their annual meeting they counted 1,371 churches. A month later they had already grown to 1,400. They are building debt-free an office building in Grapevine, near Dallas, which will save the convention $200,000 per year. Needless to say, all officers are strong conservatives.

UI: All officers are solid. There is no liberal activity and so there is no denominational battle. But imagine the challenges in these heavily Mormon states.

BGAV: The new president is Don Davidson, pastor of Mount Hermon BC, Danville, a known theological conservative. His church contributes to mission causes primarily through the SBC. Consequently, election is widely interpreted as a signal that churches sympathetic to the SBC are welcome in BGAV life. For a more complete treatment of the BGAV budget see “BGAV Receipts Down, SBC UP” in this Banner. In summary, the BGAV budget was reduced $700,000 or 4.3%. Messengers escrowed more than $350,000 that would have been contributed to Averett University in 2004 unless a conflict over homosexuality and biblical authority is resolved. They also increased the dollar allocation to the liberal John Leland Center in Falls Church by over 340%.

WV: All officers conservative. There is no liberal activity, and the state remains conservative. The budget was reduced slightly, by $7,032.

WY: Another new work state where the denominational struggle does not play. The state has some 90 churches and missions. Three new churches were welcomed to the convention.