Sadness Over the Disarray in the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee

Personal reflections as a lifelong Baptist.

Sadness Over the Disarray in the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee

Two years ago, a pastor called me because of his concerns about the SBC Executive Committee. He was aware of my lifelong work within the SBC denomination. Also, my consulting ministry with dozens of other denominations throughout North America.

He wanted to know if I thought the SBC—particularly its Executive Committee—was going to be all right. Would we make our way through the apparent confusion, conflict, and ongoing controversies?

My response was, “Yes, if James Guenther remains the attorney for the Executive Committee. His longevity, wisdom, and advice, if followed, would help the Executive Committee use good process to make acceptable decisions.”

I had known Guenther for decades and had upmost confidence in him. I observed his work directly during my ministry, and indirectly through my father’s ministry. Guenther might not agree with every decision made, but he helped guide the committee with careful legal advice.

Three weeks later Guenther resigned as the attorney for the Executive Committee in disagreement over the decision not to uphold attorney-client privilege in the sexual abuse controversy. This was after he and his firm had represented them for 56 years.

The pastor called me again with the same question. My answer was that we had now entered uncharted territory. Only God knows where this will lead.

Covenant for a New Century

I attended meetings of the Executive Committee many times from the early 1970s through the mid-1990s. After that my role as a consultant to multiple denominations did not allow time to focus on one denomination.

At the last Executive Committee meeting I attended in 1995, the report by the Covenant for a New Century Task Force was presented. A ministry colleague and I were sitting behind the president of an SBC national agency.

As the report was presented, the president—whom I had known for almost 30 years—turned around to us and said, “You boys don’t have a job for me in your organization, do you? It is obvious I no longer have my job.”

His agency was being eliminated, and it functions merged into a new agency. But that was not a surprise to me. I had known for two years it was coming. I just did not know when and in what forum it would take place.

The Prediction on Eliminating This Agency

Several years earlier I was called by a ministry colleague at a national agency. He asked if I would help a church whose pastor had contacted them and asked for assistance. The church was stuck and trying to recover from earlier conflict.

Based on my trust in my colleague I immediately said I would. Then I asked him to identify the church and its pastor.

When he did, I started tapping the telephone and saying repeatedly, “Hello! Hello! Are you still there?”

He named a pastor whose reputation was that he was controlling and dangerous, and part of the inner circle of the new SBC leadership. Relating him could harm my image among the old SBC leadership.

Then I said, “Yes, I am glad to help. I have always said I would not allow the SBC controversy to be a factor in helping a church.”

That was my position then, and it is still my position. I want to help every willing congregation reach their full Kingdom potential. I would never say a church’s perspective on denominational issues would determine my willingness to help them.

I helped this church. Made multiple visits to their location. My consultation with them was successful. The pastor and I became friends and maintained a relationship for many years.

I invited him to speak at a national meeting on church revitalization in 1993 where I was an organizer. He had a great story to tell concerning his church that others needed to learn.

During lunch in the hotel where we were meeting, we talked about what was going on with the new SBC leadership, and what their next steps might be. He felt comfortable in talking about these issues with me.

He admitted that the new group in power had removed the presidents of two national agencies in recent years. They were not finished yet, but felt they needed to be careful for a while.

He then named the president of the agency who spoke to me in 1995 at the Executive Committee meeting. They needed to remove him, but they were hesitant about how to do it.

Then he said, “We may just have to organize around him.”

Fast forward to 1995 and the Covenant for a New Century Task Force report and the later adoption of that report by the SBC in its annual meeting. The plan regarding that president and his agency was complete. The president was out of job and the agency was gone as a separate free-standing entity.

Continuing Disarray

My observation is that the SBC Executive Committee was used in 1995 to accomplish the goals of a few. As such it knocked the committee and the full SBC off balance—again.

I am not sure it has found sustainable balance since. The implementation of the Covenant for a New Century did not do it. The Great Commission Resurgence failed to bring about the desired results.

Actions on sexual abuse have not yet restored integrity to the SBC. Disfellowshipping churches moves the SBC to functioning as a boxed organization and tightly defining who is in and who is out.

The SBC and its Executive Committee are functioning without a clear, positive vision that unites. I know that unity around fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment is an essential goal for its future vitality and vibrancy.

At this point—even with short-term reports of a unifying spirit in the Executive Committee meeting this week—the SBC and its Executive Committee are still primarily in disarray.