Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and Broadway Baptist Church

Today I had a front row seat for a historic day in Baptist life. I travelled to Nashville to stand with Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth as they sought to find a way to stay in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. Last year in Indianapolis a motion was made in essence saying that Broadway was not in friendly cooperation due to a violation of Article III of the SBC constitution. This motion was wisely and prudently referred to the Executive Committee.

To be frank if the motion had gone to the convention in Indianapolis I believe the convention would have ousted Broadway, and the opportunity for dialogue and working toward common ground would have been lost, plus the fact that the headlines across the nation would have rung with a clanging message that would have distracted us from our Kingdom assignment. I commend those who made the motion to refer for the prudent and wisdom. Their decision set the stage for an amazing moment in Baptist life.

Interim Pastor Charlie Johnson led a three person delegation to dialogue with the Executive committee on this issue. Joining Johnson were Dr. Jorene Taylor Swift, and Lyn Robbins. I was deeply impressed with the humility and openness in which they came before the Executive Committee. I was also very impressed by Dr. Stephen Wilson, chair of the bylaws subcommittee, and Rick Lineberger, chair of the Administrative committee. These two Christian gentlemen set the standard in how they conducted the meetings and the frank discussions.

Another key player in the dialogue was Dr. Paige Patterson, president of Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. In advance of the meeting Dr. Patterson met privately with Charlie Johnson to help find common ground on this issue. He gave wise counsel. He spoke frankly and fairly. He worked for the common good. Considering the fact that Dr. Patterson personifies the values of our most conservative leaders and Broadway would be on the far left wing of the convention, I commend him on his efforts to help this struggling church find its way through a difficult storm. In addition Dr. Randel Everett made the trip to Nashville to stand with Broadway to affirm their historic and vital role within our Baptist family.

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about this meeting. I did not really know what to expect, and I was very pleasantly surprised. The decorum of the meetings was fitting for how the body of Christ should work together. Like James’ admonition to “be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry” the discussions were marked by a deep desire to understand each other and to address the core issues rather than personal agendas or personalities. I believe “speaking the truth in love” was the order of the day. Like Dr. Wilson commented to me and a couple of others saying that Baptists tend to talk at each other rather than to each other, what he said was true, but he set the example for how that can change.

At the end of the day work still needs to be done before there will be resolution, but this was a good day in Baptist life. I believe we took some of the stones from the walls we have used to divide us to build bridges across which we can work together for the cause of the Great Commission and the Kingdom of God.