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MAINSTREAM MESSENGER Vol. 1, No. 1 April 1998Letter to Oklahoma Pastors TO: Baptist Pastors of Oklahoma FROM: Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists Dan Hobbs, Chairperson SUBJECT: RIGHT TO KNOW & NECESSITY TO INFORM Dear Pastor: I am writing to you on behalf of a new organization that has been formed in Oklahoma called, Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists. Enclosed is our covenant statement. As you will notice, one of our areas of focus is to uphold historic Baptist principles. We are concerned that these Baptist principles, taught by the Bible, have been or are being violated by some actions of the SBC. We have enclosed the book The Takeover in the Southern Baptist Convention which discusses some of our concerns. Our hope is that you and your church will become informed about these issues and work to prevent things like this from happening in the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Although it is quite probable that in your position as pastor you have studied the issues and have formed an opinion about these issues, there is a good probability that your congregation may not be informed. Our contacts across the state lead us to believe few churches have discussed the issues. Congregations must be informed about important issues that affect the church. We believe this "RIGHT TO KNOW" is essential for the Baptist understanding of local church autonomy, and right alongside is a corollary regarding the pastoral responsibility of a "NECESSITY TO INFORM." Who, but the pastor, should take the lead in informing the congregation? Some pastors have argued that informing the congregation might cause internal controversy, yet many church have done so with no serious problem of internal conflict. However, we believe that the congregation's "RIGHT TO KNOW" makes the risks necessary. We encourage you to inform your congregation in the manner you deem best. We can provide you with additional Takeover books if that would help. John Yeats, the new editor of the Baptist Messenger is quoted in the Daily Oklahoman as saying, "he would not withhold information that state Baptists needed . . . that an informed Baptist makes a better Baptist." We certainly agree with that philosophy and hope you will join with us in the effort to better inform the Baptists of Oklahoma. If you have questions, please contact us. Your inquiry will be kept in strictest confidence.
Sincerely, Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists, Chairperson |
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