The Future of Texas Baptist Committed

The Baptist General Convention of Texas(BGCT) is not the only entity with an uncertain future. I would say the same is true for Texas Baptist Committed (TBC).

In its infancy TBC was heroic in its efforts to block and expose fundamentalism for what it was. Texas Baptists were better off because fundamentalism did not take over the BGCT.

Times changed and TBC moved into its adolescence. It is in its adolescence that it has stumbled badly and perhaps even fatally. Now it is important to understand that Dr. Currie is the Executive Director of TBC. Behind him is a Board of Directors whose counsel and consensus he seeks. Behind them are thousands of TBCers. I count myself as a marginal member which is why I am so distressed at TBC's failure to act in the debacle we have just moved through. Dr. Currie and I have been acquaintances and friends for many years. I deeply respect David and his contribution to Texas Baptists.

However, I cannot turn away from the failure of TBC to stand up to the weak, corrupt, and incompetent administration that has almost shipwrecked our cherished convention. It became obvious to some that the administration past was two hearts too small for the task they were asked to do. TBC could see the warning signs and yet, year after year passed. It wasn't enough that the Valleygate affair finally broke. TBC functionally did nothing. It did not withdraw its support, it did not take a public stand against the administration, rather it just quietly encouraged incompetent leadership to think about retirement. Money was disappearing, fault was being shifted, more money was being misappropriated, funds were being put into dodgy projects, trust in the churches was eroding, giving was beginning to dip and still TBC did nothing. Now, with a new administration, we are learning the full extent of how much money, talent, and time we have lost.

I fault TBC for much of this. It was not their fault that incompetent leadership came to the BGCT. It was their fault when they became aware there was a problem, they failed to speak as courageously to the BGCT leadership as they had to the fundamentalists. It was their fault they failed to withdraw their support for this failing administration. It was their fault that some allowed friendship to stand in the way of prudent, prompt action. It was their fault that the TBC that went toe to toe with Patterson-Pressler was unwilling or unable to go toe to toe with the leadership that was destroying the convention TBC came into being to protect. Incompetence, mismanagement,and mistrust are as destructive to an organization as is fundamentalism. TBC was proactive in dealing with the theological foes of the BGCT, yet was strangely silent as the BGCT was stripped of it fiscal reputation during Valleygate, it stellar staff (just name someone who has exited the building during the last administration's first years), and its capacity to start real churches in real places with real pastors. It was also silent as churches began to doubt the leadership of the BGCT, both elected and employed. Reorganization was a disaster and yet, TBC was eerily silent.

Recently, TBC has attempted to find a new relevance by touting the two code phrases so often an indication of weakness and pending irrelevance: "supporting the BGCT and fighting fundamentalism."

I want to know if the TBC that came into being and gave the BGCT a future, is willing to commit to a course of action that requires them to be equally vigilant about integrity in the BGCT; openness to free and open discussion; and the absolute refusal to ever be a part of the Middle Ages through which the BGCT has hopefully moved?