On this 20th anniversary of the takeover we raise a single question: Who has benefited from the Fundamentalist’s takeover and who has been harmed? Who has benefited from the Fundamentalist’s takeover and who has been harmed?

Here are some answers from the perspective of Mainstream Baptists.

The Lost —

Who knows how successful "Bold Mission Thrust" would have been had Southern Baptists united to reach the world for Christ instead of being divided by Fundamentalism.  What can be said with certainty is that under Mainstream leadership membership in Baptist churches grew for 53 consecutive years. Under Fundamentalist leadership membership began to decline in less than 20 years.

Conclusion: More harm than benefit to the Lost.

The Kingdom of God —

Since 1996, when the SBC was restructured, the percentage of the budget going for mission work has been reduced. Percentages for the Executive Committee and the Ethics Commission have ballooned.  In effect, money is being diverted from missions to promote a right wing political agenda across America. Missionaries whose work had previously been completely supported by the SBC are now being required to raise up to 50% of the resources for their work among family and friends.

Conclusion: More harm than benefit for SBC mission work; more benefit than harm for unreached peoples.

The Denomination —

Since 1979 several Mainstream Baptist churches, including First Baptist Church of Greenville*, S.C. have severed their ties with the SBC.  During the same time, several Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches, including First Baptist in Fort Worth, TX (formerly pastored by J. Frank Norris) and Thomas Road Baptist in Lynchburg, VA (pastored by Jerry Falwell) have united with the SBC.

Since 1979 several Baptist churches have removed denominational identification from their name to avoid images of intolerance and dogmatism now associated with the word "Baptist."  The Baptist Sunday School Board has similarly changed its name to LifeWay Christian Resources.

Conclusion: More harm than benefit to the denomination.

The Local Church —

In the past decade many SBC churches have been distributing voter guides produced by the Christian Coalition and other right wing groups.  Research has demonstrated that the guides distort the truth, sometimes telling blatant lies, and are skewed to favor certain candidates and political parties.  The Christian Coalition has been stripped of its tax-exempt status.  Other organizations are under investigation.

In the last decade several churches, including one pastored by a former SBC president, have been investigated for involvements in secular political processes that could jeopardize the church’s tax-exempt status.

Conclusion: More harm than benefit to the local church.

The Individual Baptist —

In 1988 Fundamentalists redefined the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer to be the duty of every believer to submit to pastoral authority.  Since that time there has been a resurgence of church discipline in the SBC.  Initially discipline was being exercised by the pastor and a deacon in private.  Now the chain of command and discipline has been extended to denominational leaders who exercise authority in the public media.  As recent criticisms of the pastor of an American President demonstrate, pastors are now expected to submit to the authority of denominational leaders when the leaders want a church to publicly discipline and correct an errant member.  Pastors whom denominational leaders deem lax on church discipline risk receiving public reprimands.

Conclusion: More harm than benefit to individuals — both lay and clergy.

 Here's a link to further information about FBC Greenville's decision to leave the SBC.

 Here's a link about other churches leaving the SBC, including FBC of Columbia, MO.