Frontpage stories in the September 1999 issue of the Mainstream Messenger entitled "Don't Mess with the Baptist Faith and Message" and "MOB to Defend the BFM at Baptist Convention," gave notice that Mainstream Baptists would oppose the revision of the Baptist Faith and Message statement at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in November.
On October 18, 1999 the President of BGCO sent a letter to Mainstream Baptists requesting that we present our resolution to the convention through the Resolutions Committee.
On November 12, 1999 Mainstream Baptists faxed a copy of our resolution to the Executive Director of BGCO for him to forward to the Resolutions Committee. We received an e-mail from him confirming that he had received it.
The Resolutions Committee was scheduled to present their report to the convention at the 2:40 PM business session on Tuesday, November 16. That time was printed in the Book of Reports given to every messenger as they registered for the convention. That time was also approved by a vote of the Convention when the Committee on the Order of Business presented its report at 1:15 PM on Monday, November 15.
The Convention President called for the report of the Resolutions Committee during the 9:45 AM business session on Tuesday, November 16. The Convention approved the resolution on the Baptist Faith and Message that the Resolutions Committee brought to the convention at that time. A time when most Mainstream Baptist messengers were not present.
Below on the left hand side is the resolution we presented. Below on the right hand side is the resolution that the Resolutions Committee brought to the convention for a vote.
Was the leadership trying to pass one over on the Convention?
Were BGCO leaders intentionally maneuvering to deny Mainstream Baptists an opportunity for a fair hearing?
Click here for additional information and BGCO leaders explanations for their actions.
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Mainstream's Resolution Affirming the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message Whereas, Southern Baptists and Oklahoma Baptists have been unified in their support for the language of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message statement for more than three decades; And whereas, the committee that submitted the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message was chaired by Herschel Hobbs, an Oklahoma pastor, and served by three additional Oklahomans (Ed Packwood, Garth Pybas, and Hugh Bumpas); And whereas, any revision of the language of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message is likely to cause further dissension within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO), and the Baptist Associations and churches of Oklahoma; And whereas, Oklahoma churches that refuse to approve a revision of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message will have difficulty securing support from the BGCO for missions and church planting because the BGCO is bound by cooperative agreements to honor guidelines for funding established by the SBC and its agencies; And whereas, the President and Executive Director of BGCO are on record as voting in opposition to the proposed revision of the Baptist Faith and Message at the SBC meeting in Atlanta; Be it resolved, that the BGCO reaffirm its support for the current clear, direct and simple language of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message; Let it be further resolved, that the BGCO urge the SBC to reaffirm its support for the current clear, direct and simple language of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message.
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BGCO's Resolution on Baptist Faith and Message WHEREAS, Southern and Oklahoma Baptists have found unity through using the Baptist Faith and Message as our guide to faith and practice and not a creed to be obeyed; WHEREAS, the committee that submitted the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message was chaired by Herschel Hobbs, an Oklahoma pastor, and served by three additional pastors from Oklahoma (Ed Packwood, Garth Pybas, and Hugh Bumpass); WHEREAS, the committee that submitted the amendment was chaired by our executive director-treasurer of the BGCO, WHEREAS, the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in its annual meeting in 1998, an overwhelming majority, took action which in essence demonstrated support of the Baptist Faith and Message as amended, WHEREAS, the Southern Baptist Convention in 1999 approved a motion for the President of the Southern Baptist Convention to appoint a committee to review and recommend revision of the Baptist Faith and Message, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED we, the messengers of this 94th Annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention meeting November 15-16, 1999 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, commit to pray for the committee as it deliberates, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the messengers urge the committee to recommend only such revisions that will clarify, strengthen, and simplify the language of the Baptist Faith and Message always remaining consistent with the original document as amended and with utmost care to express the truth of Scripture.
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