Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs

                                                                                                                     Vol. IX, No. 10, Nov/Dec 1996

           “Anti-Heritage” continues to present the views of those who question the authority of God’s Word because until the average Southern Baptist reads them for himself, he cannot believe some Baptists actually hold such views. Therefore, we bring you direct quotes whenever possible and as fully as space permits. In addition the source is always cited so that readers can check it out for themselves.

           This issue’s selection is from Whatever Happened to the Southern Baptist Convention by Grady C. Cothen (Smyth & Helwys, 1993) p. 355. Cothen is discussing the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs.

“... It has been the opinion of many that this was one of the most effective organizations for religious liberty on the national scene.

           “With the coming of the fundamentalist takeover, the situation changed dramatically. During the preceding years, under the directorship of James Wood, the committee had taken a position that favored pro-choice on abortion. The contention was that abortion was a church-state issue. This was not a serious public issue in the SBC until the fundamentalist coalition took charge. ... The fundamentalists wanted the Joint Committee to take a strong stand against abortion.”

[Editorial Comment: The first item of note is the background of Grady Cothen. The back cover of his book states, “Grady C. Cothen has been directly and intimately involved in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention for over forty years as a pastor, state convention executive secretary (director), university president, seminary president, and president of the Baptist Sunday School Board.” With his own book having established his credentials, consider carefully the above quote.

           First, the Baptist Joint Committee had been in favor of abortion.

           Second, this was not even an issue in the SBC until conservatives began to elect SBC presidents when “the situation changed dramatically.”

           Third, “fundamentalists” wanted the Joint Committee to take a strong stand against abortion.”

           Compare Proverbs 6:16-17 “These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ...”

           Here is a graphic example from the pen of a leading moderate of just how far from biblical orthodoxy Southern Baptist institutions and some supported by the SBC had strayed before the changes brought about by the conservative resurgence. Note that (1) the Baptist Joint Committee still maintains the same pro-baby-killing policy, (2) the SBC no longer supports the Joint Committee, but (3) the Baptist General Association of Virginia contributed $37,536 to the BJCPA during the 1995-96 BGAV fiscal year. TCP]