Report of the 1987 Peace Committee
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
PEACE COMMITTEE
Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention
St. Louis, Missouri
June 16, 1987
Introduction: During
the 1985 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, June
11-13, 1985, a special committee was created to attempt to determine the
sources of the current controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention and
to make findings and recommendations to resolve it. The motion, overwhelmingly
adopted, says:
"With gratitude for God's bountiful blessings on us as Southern Baptists
and with recognition of our unparalleled opportunity to confront every
person on earth with the Gospel of Christ by the year 2000 and with acknowledgment
of divisions among us, which if allowed to continue, inevitably will impede
our progress, impair our fellowship and imperil our future, and alter much
prayer, we offer the following motion:
That a Special Committee be authorized by this Convention, in session,
in Dallas, June, 1985; and
That this Committee seek to determine the sources of the controversies
in our Convention, and make findings and recommendations regarding these
controversies, so that Southern Baptists might effect reconciliation and
effectively discharge their responsibilities to God by cooperating together
to accomplish evangelism, missions, Christian education and other causes
authorized by our Constitution, all to the Glory of God. "By this shall
all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another"
(John 13:35) (John 17:2 1); and
That this Committee follow the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message Statement
in regard to theological issues, and operate within the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Southern Baptist Convention; and
That to accomplish its work, this Committee shall recognize the role
of trustees and shall work with and through appropriate Boards, Commissions
and Agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention. This Committee shall report
on the progress of its work to each meeting of the Executive Committee.
The Trustees, Boards, and Agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention,
and their officers and employees, shall fully cooperate with the Committee
to accomplish the purposes outlined in this motion; and That staffing and
professional advice for this Committee shall be In accord with the Business
and Financial Plan of the Southern Baptist Convention. Funding shall come
from Cooperative Program funds received by the Executive Committee as a
priority item before the percentage division and allocation of the Southern
Baptist Convention Cooperative Program Allocation Budget; and
That the Committee may conduct its business in open sessions, and may
hold public hearings, but, the Committee may also hold executive sessions
to accomplish its work; and
That any vacancy, or vacancies, on the Special Committee be filled by
the Executive Committee at its next meeting after such vacancy occurs.
In the filling of any such vacancy, balance of representation shall be
maintained; and
That the Committee may make its final report and recommendation to the
1986 Southern Baptist Convention and request that it be discharged, or
the Committee may make a preliminary report to the 1986 Convention and
may recommend that the Special Committee be continued in existence for
an additional year, in which Instance, the Committee shall make its final
report arid recommendations to the 1987 Southern Baptist Convention; and
That all Southern Baptists be urged to exercise restraint, to refrain
from divisive action and comments, and to reflect Christian love, while
this Committee is doing its work; and
That the following persons be designated to serve on the Special Committee:
Charles G. Fuller, Chairman
Harmon M. Born
Doyle E. Carlton, Jr.
Mrs. Morris H. Chapman
*William 0. Crews
Robert E. Cuttino
Mrs. A. Harrison Gregory
Jim Henry
William E. Hull
Herschel H. Hobbs
Albert McClellan |
Charles W. Pickering
William E. Poe
Ray E. Roberts
Adrian P. Rogers
*Cecil E. Sherman
John Sullivan
Daniel G. Vestal
Jerry Vines
Edwin H. Young
*Charles F. Stanley
*W Winfred Moore |
*NOTE: William 0. Crews was elected president of Golden Gate Baptist
Theological Seminary October 13, 1986, but was asked to remain as a member;
Cecil E. Sherman resigned from the Special Committee Oct. 22, 1986, and
was replaced by Peter James Flamming; Charles F. Stanley and W. Winfred
Moore served by virtue of office as president and first vice president
of the Convention, and were asked to remain after their terms of office
expired.
|
Since Its creation, the Peace Committee has met 14 times. Following
each meeting, a report was given to Southern Baptists by Chairman Charles
G. Fuller through the denominational news service, Baptist Press.
In keeping with its assignment, the Peace Committee has determined what
it believes to be the primaly sources of the controversy, has made findings
in reference to those sources and. in this report, Is making recommendations
as to possible ways to effect reconciliation.
I. Sources of the Controversy
During Its first meeting, the Peace Committee determined the primary
source of the controversy is theological differences, but found there are
political causes as well.
Theological sources: In meeting after meeting of the Peace Committee,
talk turned to the nature of inspiration of the Scriptures, often to the
point of preempting the committee s established agenda. Gradually, It became
clear that while there might be other theological differences, the authority
of the Word of God is the focus of differences. The primary source of the
controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention is the Bible; more specifically,
the ways In which the Bible is viewed.
All Baptists see the Bible as authoritative; the question is the extent
and nature of Its authority. The differences in recent years have developed
around the phrase in Article I of the Baptist Faith and Message Statement
of 1963. that the Bible "has... truth without any mixture of error for
Its matter.
The action which created the Peace Committee instructed it to follow
the Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963 in regard to theological
Issues. Although the statement includes a Preamble and seventeen articles,
the committee has focused primarily on Article One, "The Scriptures:"
"The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record
of God s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine
instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for Its end, and truth,
without any mixture of error, for its matter. It reveals the principles
by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of
the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard
by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ."
Dr. Herschel Hobbs, a member of the Peace Committee and chairman of
the committee which wrote the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message Statement,
explained the phrase "truth without any mixture of error for its matter..."
by reference to II Timothy 3:16 which says, "all Scripture is given by
inspiration of God." He explained: "The Greek New Testament reads 'all
--without the definite article--and that means every single part of the
whole is God-breathed. And a God of truth does not breathe error." Dr.
Hobbs made the comments during the 1981 annual meeting of the Southern
Baptist Convention in Los Angeles, California.
Using Article I of the Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963 as
a yardstick, Peace Committee subcommittees visited each of the Southern
Baptist seminaries and five other agencies: the Foreign Mission Board,
the Home Mission Board, Baptist Sunday School Board, Historical Commission
and Christian Life Commission. Following those visits, the committee adopted
a "Statement on Theological Diversity."
"The Peace Committee has completed a preliminary investigation
of the theological situation in our SBC seminaries. We have found significant
theological diversity within our seminaries, reflective of the diversity
within our wider constituency. These divergencies are found among those
who claim to hold a high view of Scripture and to teach in accordance with,
and not contrary to, the Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963.
Examples of this diversity include the following, which are intended
to be Illustrative but not exhaustive.
(1) Some accept and affirm the direct creation and historicity of Adam
and Eve while others view them instead as representative of the human race
in its creation and fall.
(2) Some understand the historicity of every event in Scripture as reported
by the original source while others hold that the historicity can be clarified
and revised by the findings of modern historical scholarship.
(3) Some hold to the stated authorship of every book in the Bible while
others hold that in some cases such attribution may not refer to the final
author or may be pseudonymous.
(4) Some hold that every miracle in the Bible is Intended to be taken
as an historical event while others hold that some miracles are intended
to be taken as parabolic.
The Peace Committee is working earnestly to find ways to build bridges
between those holding divergent views so that we may all legitimately coexist
and work together in harmony to accomplish our common mission. Please pray
that we may find ways to use our diversity to win the greatest number to
faith in Christ as Savior and Lord."
Early in its second year, the Peace Committee continued to discuss theological
concerns, including the fact that there are at least two separate and distinct
interpretations of Article I of the Baptist Faith and Message Statement
of 1963, reflective of the diversity present in the Convention. One view
holds that when the article says the Bible has "truth without any mixture
of error for its matter," it means all areas--historical, scientific, theological
and philosophical. The other holds the "truth" relates only to matters
of faith and practice.
The Committee discussed whether the faculties of the SBC seminaries
adequately reflect the views of many Southern Baptists who believe in the
first interpretation. A Peace Committee subcommittee met with the six seminary
presidents to communicate the need for the faculties to reflect the beliefs
of these Southern Baptists.
In October, 1986, the Peace Committee held a prayer retreat at Glorieta
Baptist Conference Center near Santa Fe, New Mexico, attended by the Peace
Committee and leaders of all national agencies. During that meeting. the
seminary presidents presented a statement of their intentions which has
become known as the "Glorieta Statement:"
"We, the presidents of the six SBC seminaries, through prayerful
and careful reflection and dialogue, have unanimously agreed to declare
these commitments regarding our lives and our work with Southern Baptists.
We believe that Christianity is supernatural in its origin and history.
We repudiate every theory of religion which denies the supernatural elements
in our faith. The miracles of the Old and New Testaments are historical
evidences of God s judgment, love and redemption.
We believe that the Bible is fully inspired; it is 'God-breathed (II
Tim. 3:16), utterly unique. No other book or collection of books can justify
that claim. The sixty-six books of the Bible are not errant in any area
of reality. We hold to their infallible power and binding authority.
We believe that our six seminaries are fulfilling the purposes assigned
to them by the Southern Baptist Convention. Nevertheless, we acknowledge
that they are not perfect institutions. We recognize that there are legitimate
concerns regarding them which we are addressing.
We commit ourselves therefore to the resolution of the problems which
beset our beloved denomination. We are ready and eager to be partners in
the peace process. Specifically:
(1) We reaffirm our seminary confessional statements, and we
will enforce compliance by the persons signing them.
(2) We will foster In our classrooms a balanced, scholarly frame of
reference for presenting fairly the entire spectrum of scriptural interpretations represented by our constituencies. We perceive this to be both good education and good cooperation.
(3) We respect the convictions of all Southern Baptists and we repudiate
the caricature and intimidation of persons for their theological beliefs.
(4) We commit ourselves to fairness in selecting faculty, lecturers
and chapel speakers across the theological spectrum of our Baptist constituency.
(5) We will lead our seminary communities in spiritual revival, personal
discipleship, Christian lifestyle and active churchmanship.
(6) We will deepen and strengthen the spirit of evangelism and missions
on our campuses while emphasizing afresh the distinctive doctrines of our
Baptist heritage.
(7) We have scheduled for Southern Baptists three national conferences.
A Conference on Biblical Inerrancy--* 1987
A Conference on Biblical Interpretation--1988
A Conference on Biblical Imperatives--1989
* NOTE: The first conference, focusing on biblical inerrancy, was held
at Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center May 4-7, 1987, with more than 1,000
in attendance.
We share these commitments with the hope that all Southern Baptists
will join us in seeking "the wisdom from above" in our efforts toward reconciliation:
"The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to
reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity"
(James 3:17)
The Peace Committee affirmed the Glorieta Statement and ceased its
official inquiry, referring unanswered questions and unresolved issues
back to the administrators and trustees of Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary, hoping the results of their actions would be satisfactory
to the Convention-at-large.
During the Committee's December, 1986, meeting, additional questions
arose as to the meaning and the implementation of the Glorieta Statement.
The seminary presidents report that their efforts to implement the Statement
have Included an effort to recruit conservative scholars to fill faculty
vacancies, expansion of reading lists, invitations to conservative scholars
to address chapel and other events, a commitment to treat all persons fairly
and expanded evangelistic and missions activities on campus.
The question for the majority of the Peace Committee, however, remains
not whether there is diversity in the Southern Baptist Convention but how
broad that diversity can be while still continuing to cooperate.
Political sources: In the opinion of the Peace Committee, the
controversy of the last decade began as a theological concern. When people
of good Intention became frustrated because they felt their convictions
on Scripture were not seriously dealt with, they organized politically
to make themselves heard. Soon, another group formed to counter the first
and the political process intensified.
The Peace Committee, primarily through its Political Activities Subcommittee,
has studied charges and counter charges regarding political activity. It
has looked at many issues, Including:
Restructuring the Constitution and Bylaws of the Southern Baptist Convention
to limit the appointive powers of the president; restructuring the way
in which the annual meeting is held, specifically shifting the pre-Convention
meetings to post-Convention meetings; cooperation between the Pastors Conference
and the SBC Forum; discussing the coverage of personalities and issues
In the controversy by the official and unofficial news media outlets; the
use of descriptive terms and labels for the various groups, "de-politicizing"
the Convention by asking the various groups to "stand down" from political
activities; instituting stricter means of messenger registration and voting
to prevent misuse of the registration and voting processes at annual meetings.
A primary area of discussion was changing the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Convention to restrict the appointive powers of the president. However,
the majority of the committee s members feel the basic Convention structure
has served Southern Baptists well and should not now be changed.
The Committee investigated numerous charges of political malfeasance
and voter irregularity. It heard a detailed report, complete with statistical
analysis, on messenger participation at annual meetings, presented by the
SBC Registration Secretary and Convention Manager, as well as the chairman
of a special study committee appointed by the SBC Executive Committee.
Although the reports included isolated instances of registration and ballot
abuse, there was no evidence of widespread or organized misuse of the ballot
by any political group and no evidence of massive voter Irregularities
related to annual meetings.
The Political Activities Subcommittee, as well as a special ad-hoc committee,
dealt with the question of a parliamentarian for the annual meeting. The
matter was deferred in 1986, because then SBC president Charles F. Stanley
appointed a certified parliamentarian to assist him at the Atlanta annual
meeting. The Committee is recommending a new bylaw be prepared concerning
the appointment of a certified parliamentarian and two assistant parliamentarians
for the annual meeting.
A special subcommittee also looked into the possibility of "negative
designation" or "selective support" of agencies through the Cooperative
Program, but concluded that a change in the basic structure of the unified
giving plan would not provide significant help in resolving the crisis.
Some of the issues have been brought forward as recommendations from
the Peace Committee. Others were not deemed sufficiently significant to
warrant recommendations at this time.
II. Findings
The Peace Committee has made findings on Scripture and on politics.
On Theology: The Committee found there is significant diversity
in the understanding of Article I "On Scripture" of the Baptist Faith and
Message Statement of 1963, The Committee found there are at least two separate
and distinct interpretations of the article. One holding "truth without
any mixture of error for its matter," means all areas--historical, scientific,
theological and philosophical. The other holds "truth" relates only to
matters of faith and practice.
The Committee, discussing whether the faculties of the SBC seminaries
adequately reflect the views of many Southern Baptists who believe in the
first interpretation, found there was not a theological balance represented
in the faculties at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary or Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary.
The Committee adopted two statements concerning its findings on theology,
one a "foundational statement, and the other a more elaborate statement.
The "Foundational Statement On Theology:"
The Committee agreed the following Scripture references should
be read as an introduction to the "Foundational Statement on Theology:"
Deuteronomy 4:2; Joshua 1:7: Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:18; II Timothy 3:16;
Revelation 22:10,
"It is the conclusion of the majority of the Peace Committee that the
cause of peace within the Southern Baptist Convention will be greatly enhanced
by the affirmation of the whole Bible as being 'not errant in any area
of reality.
"Therefore, we exhort the trustees and administrators of our seminaries
and other agencies affiliated with or supported by the Southern Baptist
Convention to faithfully discharge their responsibility to carefully preserve
the doctrinal integrity of our institutions receiving our support, and
only employ professional staff who believe in the divine inspiration of
the whole Bible and that the Bible is 'truth without any mixture of error."
The Committee also adopted the more elaborate statement on Scripture.
The "Statement On Scripture:"
We, as a Peace Committee, affirm Biblical authority for all
of life and for all fields of knowledge. The Bible is a book of redemption,
not a book of science, psychology, sociology or economics. But, where the
Bible speaks, the Bible speaks truth In all realms of reality and to all
fields of knowledge. The Bible, when properly Interpreted, is authoritative
to all of life.
We, as a Peace Committee, reaffirm the Baptist commitment to the absolute
authority of Scripture, and to the historic Baptist position that the Bible
has 'truth without any mixture of error for its matter. We affirm that
the narratives of Scripture are historically and factually accurate. We
affirm that the historic accounts of the miraculous and the supernatural
are truthful as given by God and recorded by the biblical writers.
We, as a Peace Committee, have found that most Southern Baptists see
'truth without any mixture of error for its matter, as meaning. for example,
that
(1) They believe in direct creation of mankind and therefore they believe
Adam and Eve were real persons.
(2) They believe the named authors did indeed write the biblical books
attributed to them by those books.
(3) They believe the miracles described in Scripture did indeed occur
as supernatural events in history.
(4) They believe that the historical narratives given by biblical authors
are indeed accurate and reliable as given by those authors.
We call upon Southern Baptist institutions to recognize the great number
of Southern Baptists who believe this interpretation of our confessional
statement and, in the future, to build their professional staffs and faculties
from those who clearly reflect such dominant convictions and beliefs held
by Southern Baptists at large.
However, some members of the Peace Committee differ from this viewpoint.
They would hold that "truth without any mixture of error" relates only
to faith and practice. They would also prefer a broader theological perspective.
Yet, we have learned to live together on the Peace Committee in mutual
charity and commitment to each other. We pledge our mutual efforts to fulfill
the Great Commission and we call on others within our Convention to make
the same pledge.
On Politics: The Committee has found that the sources of
the political aspect of the controversy are long standing. Historically,
Informal political groups or coalitions have emerged in Southern Baptist
life. Prior to the last decade, most of these groups operated informally
by word-of-mouth among mutual acquaintances interested in selecting the
leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention. More recently, these groups
have developed organized coalitions centered around theological perceptions
and committed to electing leadership committed to a particular viewpoint.
The effort has been largely successful but led to the formation of a counter-effort
which has increased hostility and turned up the heat on the controversy.
After its investigation, the Peace Committee found "that the extent
of political activity. . . at the present time creates distrust, diminishes
our ability to do missions and evangelism, is detrimental to our influence
and impedes our ability to serve our Lord."
The Committee adopted two statements, one a "foundational" statement
and the other a more elaborate statement.
The "Foundational Statement On Politics:"
It is the unanimous conclusion of the Peace Committee that
fairness in the appointive process will contribute to peace.
Therefore, we exhort the present and future presidents of the Southern
Baptist Convention, the Committee on Committees and the Committee on Boards
to select nominees who endorse the Baptist Faith and Message Statement
and are drawn in balanced fashion from the broad spectrum of loyal, cooperative
Southern Baptists, representative of the diversity of our denomination.
The more elaborate statement on politics also was adopted.
The "Statement On Politics:"
Politics are intrinsically a part of congregational policy.
i.e.. voting, public and private discussions, influencing others to share
one's view.
Historically, informal political groups or coalitions have emerged in
Southern Baptist life. Prior to the last decade, most of these groups operated
informally by word-of-mouth among mutual acquaintances interested in selecting
the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention. More recently, these
groups have developed organized coalitions centered on theological perceptions
and individual leaders committed to a defined viewpoint. These coalitions
have adopted political strategies for electing officers of the Convention,
appointing committees, and changing or preserving the character of accepted
institutions. These strategies have included extensive travel, numerous
informational and ideological meetings, mailouts, network of representatives
who share in this common strategy, and sustained efforts to recruit messengers
to attend the Convention.
We as a Peace Committee recognize that these political coalitions and
strategies were born in part, at least, out of deep conviction and concern
for theological issues.
But, we believe that the time has come for the Convention to move beyond
this kind of politics. We find that the extent of political activity within
the Southern Baptist Convention at the present time promotes a party spirit,
creates discord, division and distrust, diminishes our ability to do missions
and evangelism, Is detrimental to our influence and impedes our ability
to serve our Lord.
If allowed to continue unchecked, such political activity in the Convention
can have disastrous consequences affecting our ability to serve our Lord
and do His work.
Steps have been taken and additional steps are recommended In this report
to resolve the theological issues involved in our present controversy.
Because of our fear of the consequences of continued organized political
activity within our Convention, and since steps have been and will continue
to be taken to resolve theological issues, we feel that continued organized
political activity within the Southern Baptist Convention is no longer
necessary, desirable, or appropriate. We think the continuation of such
political activity in the future would be unacceptable and could be disastrous.
We recommend that the Southern Baptist Convention request all organized
political factions to discontinue the organized political activity in which
they are now engaged. We think the following specific activities are out
of place and request all groups to discontinue these specific political
activities:
(1) Organized political activity.
(2) Political strategies developed by a group with central control.
(3) Holding Information/ideological meetings.
(4) Extensive travel on behalf of political objectives within the Convention.
(5) Extensive mail-outs to promote political objectives in the Convention.
In 1986. the Southern Baptist Convention adopted the report of the
Peace Committee which found:
(1) Some spokesmen on both sides of the political spectrum
have used intemperate, inflammatory and unguarded language, i.e., "going
for the juglar," "Holy War," "independent fundamentalist," "flaming liberal,"
and other pejorative terms.
(2) Some spokesmen on both sides of the political spectrum and the autonomous independent journals on both sides of the issue have labeled and attributed improper motives to peopie with whom they disagree.
(3) Distribution of news is necessary in a democratic society. There
have been instances when news releases have been altered, distorting the
intent of the article and oftentimes creating confusion. In some denominational
papers and in some autonomous independent journals, there has been prejudice
against the conservative political activists and in some autonomous independent
journals there has been prejudice against the moderate side.
The Convention in Atlanta adopted the recommendations of the Peace Committee
as follows:
--That the Convention deplore the use of the type of intemperate,
inflammatory and unguarded language used by some spokesmen on both sides
of the political spectrum.
--That the Convention urge Baptist Press, the state Baptist papers and
the autonomous independent journals to be especially careful to be fair
and accurate in reporting events in the Convention and refrain from labeling
and attributing improper motives.
Despite these recommendations approved by the Southern Baptist Convention,
the Peace Committee finds that some of the state Baptist papers and the
autonomous journals--The Southern Baptist Advocate, SBC Today, Baptists
United News arid The Baptist Laity Journal--have continued to use intemperate,
inflammatory language and have labeled individuals and impugned motives.
We renew again our request to these papers and journals to contribute
to the process of reconciliation and the promotion of our cooperative work
together as we seek to do the work of Christ. We again call upon all state
Baptist papers and the independent autonomous journals to comply with the
action taken at the Atlanta Convention and outlined above. We call upon
individual Southern Baptists to use their influence to help stop these
divisive actions.
We, the Peace Committee, ask Baptist Press, all Baptist state papers,
Baptist publications and independent autonomous journals to refrain from
using terms and labels, specifically terms such as fundamentalist, liberal,
fundamental-conservative and moderate-conservative.
III. Conclusions
The enabling resolution of the Southern Baptist Convention at the 1985
Dallas Convention commissioned this special committee to determine the
sources of the controversies within the Convention and to make findings
and recommendations that would make it possible for Southern Baptists to
effect reconciliation and to continue to cooperate in carrying out evangelism,
missions, Christian education, and other causes.
Making peace among all Southern Baptists was not to be the work of the
Committee. Reconciliation was, and still is, the key word. Surely, there
must be peace; that is, there must be an end to hostility among us, which
is peace. Committed Christians must live in peace. No recommendation of
the committee is needed to effect peace--it Is found in the heart of the
believer.
Reconciliation may be a first cousin to peace. but it rests on a different
foundation. To reconcile is to harmonize, to cause to be friendly again,
to reunite, to accept our differences and to coop-crate In all undertakings
which enhance our mutual interests and goals. It was only through a subtle
process of reconciliation, taking place over 142 years of history, that
Southern Baptists have with God s blessing, and His help, achieved a preeminent
position in missions, education and evangelism. We have kept our differences
from creating hostility, until recently, and not only have we lived in
peace but with remarkable harmony and cooperation.
We must never try to impose upon individual Southern Baptists nor local
congregations a specific view of how Scripture must be interpreted. If
such an attempt is made then reconciliation is not the goal nor is It possible
to achieve.
There is but one way for us to survive intact as a denomination. It
Involves the recognition of some basic facts, among which are these:
(1) Changes are now taking place in the leadership of many
Southern Baptist Convention boards.
(2) These changes will impact these boards and agencies for years to
come.
(3) The role of many who have exercised leadership in the past will
change as colleagues of different persuasions will fill leadership roles.
(4) This change will mean that some who have been in general agreement
with Convention programs in the past will have less involvement, while
those who previously have had difficulty in agreeing with certain Convention
programs will have more Involvement.
(5) We have seen changes in Southern Baptist life in the past and we
will see changes in the future. The important issue is that we must continue
to be faithful stewards of the opportunities God has given Southern Baptists.
How then can we survive Intact or substantially that way?
First, the hostility must cease within the heart of each of us. That
brings peace.
Second, our leaders must have and must demonstrate a view of Baptist
life that reaches beyond the limits of their own personal theology. No
effort should be made or should be permitted to be made which would seek
to eliminate from Baptist life theological beliefs or practices which are
consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message Statement and which have
found traditional acceptance by substantial numbers of our people. Proponents
of extreme positions at each end of the current Baptist theological spectrum
should be encouraged to major on those things which lead to cooperative
efforts and to minimize divisive issues and controversies.
Third. and most important, nothing must be allowed to stand in the way
of genuine cooperation in missions, Christian education, evangelism and
our other traditional causes. While different leaders may arise, the nature
and work of our Christian cooperative enterprise must continue unabated.
Finally, we should recognize and freely admit that the greatest source
of our strength as a denomination lies in the thousands of local church
congregations that support our cooperative undertakings. Through long years
of experience, they have learned to trust our leaders, our agencies and
institutions and, because of that trust, they have provided magnificent
support and responded to that leadership.
We have proclaimed this to be God s way of doing His work. Through continued
cooperation in His enterprises, we can continue this mighty work. If we
insist on having our way, drawing lines which exclude from places of leadership
and responsibility those who do not hold our specific viewpoint, we can
destroy what God has created in the Southern Baptist Convention. If, however,
we can maintain a cooperative spirit and let our sense of Christian love
bridge the gap of the diversity among us, we can continue to bear effective
witness to His Kingdom enterprise throughout all the World.
IV. Recommendations
We make the following recommendations:
I. Although the Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963 is a statement
of basic belief, it is not a creed. Baptists are non-creedal, in that they
do not impose a man-made interpretation of Scripture on others. Baptists,
however, declare their commitment to commonly held Interpretations which
then become parameters for cooperation. Therefore, we recommend that we:
1. Reaffirm the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message Statement as
the guideline by which all of the agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention
are to conduct their work.
2. Request, respectfully, all Southern Baptists to continue their high
view of Scripture as "given by the inspiration of God (II Tim. 3:16), and
to diligently teach and proclaim the truthfulness, the reliability and
the authority of the Bible.
II. Although all Southern Baptists do not understand the Baptist Faith
and Message Statement on Scripture the same way, this diversity should
not create hostility towards each other, stand in the way of genuine cooperation,
or interfere with the rights and privileges of all Southern Baptists within
the denomination to participate in its affairs.
Because fairness in the process of making committee and board appointments
is essential to the process of reconciliation and peace, the Committee
recommends that the present arid all future presidents of the Southern
Baptist Convention, the Committee on Committees and the Committee on Boards
select nominees who endorse the Baptist Faith and Message Statement, and
are drawn in balanced fashion from the broad spectrum of loyal, cooperative
Southern Baptists, representative of the diversity of our denomination.
Recognizing the nature of our diversity and the rightful place of biblical
interpretation, we believe we can learn from each other and In the long
run, we can protect each other from unwanted extremes.
We, therefore. further recommend that the Southern Baptist Convention
continue In every attempt to remain a unified fellowship, rejecting the
notion of any official division of our body.
III. We recommend that the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee
study and report to the Southern Baptist Convention in 1988, a Convention
bylaw establishing an Office of Parliamentarian, and that the study include
the following considerations:
1. The president and two vice-presidents, acting together,
shall annually appoint a chief parliamentarian and two assistant parliamentarians
to advise the presiding officer of the Convention on matters of parliamentary
procedure.
2. The chief parliamentarian shall be a fully certified member of the
American Institute of Parliamentarians who has the experience to serve
effectively at annual sessions of the Southern Baptist Convention.
IV. In view of the fact that the Cooperative Program is the lifeline of
all that we are doing as Southern Baptists, we commend our churches and
state conventions for their increased giving to the Cooperative Program
and we recommend to our people that they continue their strong support
of the Cooperative Program.
We recognize the historic right of each Southern Baptist church to give
to the work of the agencies. in keeping with its deeply held convictions,
without intimidation or criticism.
We recommend that the Cooperative Program be continued unchanged.
V. We recommend that, in view of the intense public discussions of the
last few years, the trustees determine the theological positions of the
seminary administrators and faculty members in order to guide them in renewing
their determination to stand by their commitment to the Baptist Faith and
Message Statement of 1963, to the Glorieta Statement of their intention
to work toward reconciliation of the conflict in the Convention, and to
their own institutional declarations of faith as the guidelines by which
they will teach their students in preparation for Gospel ministry in the
churches, mission fields and service to the denomination.
The Bible is a book of redemption, not a book of science, psychology,
sociology or economics. But, where the Bible speaks, the Bible speaks truth
in all realms of reality and to all fields of knowledge. The Bible, when
properly interpreted, is authoritative to all of life.
We call upon Southern Baptist institutions to recognize the great number
of Southern Baptists who believe this interpretation of Article I of the
Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963, and, In the future, to build
their professional staffs and faculties from those who clearly reflect
such dominant convictions and beliefs held by Southern Baptists at large.
We, as a Peace Committee, recognize and respect those in Southern Baptist
life whose view of Scripture differs from this one and pledge to continue
to cooperate. We pledge the highest regard, charity and commitment to them
In our combined efforts to fulfill the Great Commission and we call upon
them to make the same pledge.
VI. We recommend that the Southern Baptist Convention request all organized
political factions to discontinue the organized political activity in which
they are now engaged. At this time, we think the following specific political
activity is out of place and we request all groups to discontinue the following
specific political activities:
(1) Organized political activity.
(2) Political strategies developed by a group with central control.
(3) Holding information/ideological meetings.
(4) Extensive travel on behalf of political objectives within the Convention.
(5) Extensive mailouts to promote political objectives in the Convention.
VII. We recommend that Baptist Press, all state Baptist papers, Independent
autonomous journals and individual Southern Baptists to refrain from the
use of intemperate and inflammatory language, labeling individuals and
impugning motives.
Specifically, we request that all Baptist writers and individual Baptists
refrain from characterizing fellow Southern Baptists in terms such as "fundamentalist,"
"liberal," "fundamental-conservative," "moderate-conservative."
We request all Southern Baptists to take a positive view of Southern
Baptist life, to use their influence to help stop the above divisive actions
and to contribute to the process of reconciliation and the promotion of
our cooperative endeavors as we seek to do the work of Christ.
VIII. We recommend that the Southern Baptist Convention request the
SBC Resolutions Committee to continue its policy of not presenting resolutions
that are divisive in Southern Baptist life for at least the next three
years.
IX. We recommend that the leadership of the Pastors Conference and the
SBC Forum take immediate steps to explore the possibility of "getting together"
in ways that will enhance and promote our mutually strong beliefs as expressed
in the Baptist Faith and Message Statement.
X. We recommend that the Southern Baptist Convention continue the present
22 members of the SBC Peace Committee to serve for up to, but not to exceed,
three years for the purpose of observing the response of all agencies,
officers and other participants to the recommendations of the Peace Committee
in an effort to encourage compliance and foster harmonious working relationships
among all segments of our Baptist family. The Peace Committee would meet
once each year at a time of its own choosing and would make an appropriate
report to each annual session of the Convention.
V. Acknowledgments
1. The Peace Committee wishes to acknowledge the assistance provided
us by the office and staff of Dr. Harold C. Bennett, president-treasurer
of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. Special
appreciation is due Mrs. Martha T. Gaddis, administrative assistant to
Dr. Bennett, and to Mr. Dan Martin, news editor of Baptist Press.
2. The Peace Committee expresses gratitude to the host of Southern Baptists
and to Christians of other denominations who have faithfully prayed for
the work of the Committee throughout its existence.
Respectfully Submitted.
Southern Baptist Convention Peace Committee
Charles G. Fuller, Chairman
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