This letter is in response to the letter by David Brien in the Dec. 1 edition of the Courier. I specifically wish to address the comment that “if such practice and decision-making in this one state are by any chance a result of teaching from our Baptist colleges and seminaries, then we need an overhaul there.”
Let me state first that I am a proud student of Southeastern Baptist Seminary. I have made the study of recent Baptist history a hobby of mine, and I know that the Southern Baptist Convention is stronger now from the standpoint of doctrine than ever. As doctrine determines how we practice our faith, this is of vital importance.
To Mr. Brien’s point about Missouri Baptists, I respond as follows: Yes, the churches are autonomous. They have the right to choose to support whatever programs, whether locally or nationally, that they deem fit to support. However, the Missouri convention is responsible, like the national convention, for insuring that the beliefs of Southern Baptists are being upheld. In the current environment, the Missouri convention is acting to ensure that it accurately upholds the beliefs of the churches within its state convention.
Mr. Brien is in error if he thinks a convention of any kind must work with a church or accept money from them regardless of their doctrine. If anything, we need to be more discriminating on doctrinal grounds.
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