Quo Vadis: BGCT?

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                             Vol. XII, No. 2, February 1999

In Texas the most active liberal group is Texas Baptists Committed (TBC), and they publish a newsletter of the same name. In a recent issue Jerold McBride, one of the two co-chairmen of TBC, presented his views on the future of TBC and the Baptist General Association of Texas (BGCT). Here are excerpts:

“Our educational purpose is far from over. There are thousands of churches which affiliate with the BCGT in which the majority, if not all, of the church members still do not understand what has happened in Baptist life over the past 20 years. Most of these churches could be led into fundamentalism if they called a strong fundamentalist pastor. With all six SBC seminaries having fundamentalist presidents, as Jerry Falwell recently acknowledged, there is the increasing danger that many churches will call fundamentalist pastors.

“The BGCT path for the future is far from set. Most BGCT affiliated churches are still using SBC literature, sending their money to SBC agencies and programs, and think of themselves as an SBC church. The BGCT will not be safe until the majority of churches in Texas know what has happened and is happening and no longer feel an emotional connection nor have a strong financial tie to the SBC. We are years from getting to this point.

“The BGCT still must make many critical decisions. How are we going to fund the Bible college, the lay theological education program, etc.?

“What kind of literature program are we going to have? Supplemental literature is not enough. We need a full alternative literature program to replace the SBC Sunday School Board literature.”

He who eyes to see and ears to hear, let them see and hear. (Reference Ezekiel 12:2)