Challenges to Conservatives

by T.C. Pinckney                                                                                      Vol. IV, No. 9, December 1991

The 1991 BGAV convention was, on balance, gratifying to conservative Virginia Baptists. We succeeded in turning back the attempt to disfranchise conservative churches, to try to force us to violate our consciences by supporting with large donations causes to which we object, or to lose the great majority of our messengers. (See "Critical Victory Won" in this issue.) The resolution assuring the Sunday School Board and SSB president Jimmy Draper of our prayers and high expectations passed. We succeeded for the first time in getting a ballot vote on an issue where the chair had initially called a decision by eyeball estimate. And we moved up approximately 2 1/2 percentage points above last year in votes for conservative nominees for state office. We praise God for these results, especially the first.

The results of this convention, however, point out two important challenges facing us as conservative Virginia Baptists: education and discipline.

Before the BGAV convention next November we must educate conservatives all over the state as to just what we are about, what our expectations are, and the long-term timeframe in which we operate. Our messengers must understand that though we intend ultimately to win votes, we are still in the rebuilding phase of our team and aren't quite yet at the point of having a "winning season."

My wife and I are reading From Ashes to Glory, a book by Bill McCartney about his career as head football coach at Colorado University. His experience is instructive to us. Bill was hired in June 1982 to take over a floundering CU football program. That season was a disaster, as was the next and the next. In fact 1984 was 1-10! But all during those years Colorado was building a foundation, and the 1985 season began to reflect that hard, committed work when the Buffaloes ended 7-4. Yet the work wasn't over. The next year wins and losses split about even, and 1987 was another 7-4 year. But in 1989 CU played in the Freedom Bowl and in 1990 in the Orange Bowl.

Okay. So how does all this Colorado football stuff apply to conservative Southern Baptists in Virginia? I'm glad you asked. In 1987 and ‘88 our "program" was floundering. We were an inconsequential, isolated, insignificant group at the state conventions. We didn't offer any motions; we didn't nominate anyone. We were just getting organized, just getting our feet on the ground. In football terms, we were only beginning to hire a new coaching staff and in the very early stages of establishing our recruiting program.

In 1989 we began to make an effort. We nominated for president and the two vice presidents. And our nominees received just token numbers of votes: 13.0% to 18.0%. Perhaps comparable to McCartney's 1984 1-10 season. But it was a start.

In 1990 we nominated again, and this time our men received 26.64% to 31.33% of the votes cast. But we didn't win any votes. (Sound familiar?) A more respectable showing but one that still left us with a long way yet to go. Let's call this "season" as 2 to 9.

Now we come to this year, 1991. The amendment was crucial, and we staved off defeat. If we hadn't, that may well have been the end of the contest. But we did. Praise God. So now we have the PRIVILEGE of continuing the spiritual struggle. And our nominees received from 29.0% to 33.85% of the votes. But a funny thing happened on the way to the elections. LOTS of our people went home! Proportionately more of our folks left than moderates! Between the ballot for president and that for second vice president 27.0% of the moderates left, but 41.6% of the conservatives vanished! Since it wasn't the rapture, one can only assume they couldn't even wait another hour and a half to vote for 1VP and 2VP. Well, what would have happened if everyone who voted for Howard Baldwin for president had stayed and voted for Bob Jackson and Bob Sherrill? Jackson would have gotten 35.8% instead of 31.6%, and Sherrill would have received 41.2% rather than the actual 29.0%.

So what, you may ask. They would still have lost. What difference does it make? Again, I'm glad you asked. Gives me a chance to help expand your perspective. We're laying a foundation. When the house is finished, you can't see the foundation, but that doesn't mean it's unimportant. The whole structure rests on it. Bill McCartney's losing years were essential forerunners of his championship years. Here at Virginia Baptist U. we are still in the rebuilding phase. The foundation stone we laid this year is labeled 29.0% to 33.85%. How much easier to encourage other conservatives to come next year if we could point to a much larger stone marked 33.85% to 41.2%, and how much more discouraging to those who oppose us. So our 1991 record turns out to be about 3 and 8, whereas if just 371 folks had been willing to stay only an hour and a half longer it could have been around 4 to 7.

We need to educate our folks as to the long term nature of the effort, that just because we do not win this vote does not mean we have missed our goal for THIS YEAR. Of course we will win eventually. But that will come in God's time. We do not set the agenda nor establish the. schedule. He does. Take the long view. Keep each year, each convention, each vote in perspective. The Holy Spirit is opening the eyes of more and more Virginia Baptists, and conservative strength is steadily growing. Take the long view and hang in there.

What kind of a football team would you have without discipline? Suppose that with ten more minutes of playing time on the clock three of your defensive linemen, a couple of your running backs, and your leading pass receiver decided they were tired, really needed to get home because of plans for that night, and just walked out of the stadium! What would happen?

And discipline is important not just during the games. Suppose half the players don't report in shape for the first practice, suppose they seldom come to team meetings, suppose they don't talk to the high school athletes about the program at your university so recruiting suffers, suppose they don't learn the plays. How successful will that team be?

Well, how does all this apply to us in this spiritual warfare? For one thing, we need to understand that this is not a once a year problem. We need to be working it year round. Have you started talking to folks in your church about being messengers next November 10-11 in Virginia Beach? Get them thinking about it NOW. We know its coming like clockwork. Start getting them lined up.

For another thing, have you given a report to your congregation explaining what we accomplished and where we fell short. They need to understand the problem, and you, pastor and lay leader, need to stand openly (not obnoxiously, just openly).

Have you sent in the names and addresses of folks you know both in your own church and others to receive the Baptist Banner? We need to reach more people with conservative views.

Have you contributed to the Banner yourself? Have you gotten the Banner placed in your church's budget for 1992? A football team can't continue without lots of healthy food, proper equipment, and good instruction ... and those things cost money. Just 23 churches contributing $50 a month would cover the costs of sending the Banner to 5,000 readers for a year. Forty-five churches sending $25 a month would do the same. If every reader would send in just $5 a year, costs would be more than covered. Realistically, not everyone will, so if you can, send a $10 donation to The Baptist Banner, 4009 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, to cover yourself and one other reader. If the Lord leads you to send more, it will be most gratefully received.

Are you cultivating and being open to others (especially pastors) who may not have been voting with us in the past. Some Virginia Baptists have made a personal decision and know exactly where they stand, but most are in the process of coming to a firm conclusion about the controversy. Not everyone is called at the same time. We are not members of a closed club, and we must keep our arms and hearts open to all those who are open in turn to understanding the struggle and standing openly for the inerrancy of God's Word and with those of us struggling to uphold it. Be willing to talk and willing to listen. Work lovingly with those who are undecided.

Have you purposed in your heart that next year you will be present at every business session and stay until all voting is complete Wednesday afternoon? Are you encouraging others to come and stay? How can we hope to win if 40% of our team leaves before the end of the game?

Footnote: One very positive factor at this year's convention was the clear, fair way the chairman, Dr. Mike Oblinger, conducted business. Mike is strongly committed to the moderate side of the Virginia Baptist spectrum, but in presiding he carefully and effectively kept all messengers informed as to what was being discussed and exactly what we were voting on. In recognizing floor speakers, he was careful to move to each of the six microphones in succession and to alternate between speakers for and against the question under debate. Only once did he, by mistake, recognize two successive speakers for the same point of view, and he immediately acknowledged his error and compensated by recognizing two of the opposite viewpoint. Chairman Oblinger's execution of his office was in marked contrast to several of his recent predecessors, and if the same equitable approach were carried through by others in influential BGAV positions, it would do much to reduce acrimony in BGAV affairs.