In the last issue the basic disagreement in the Southern Baptist Convention was described as one between freedom and control.   Mainstream Baptists stand strongly in the corner of freedom on that issue.

This issue I’ll discuss why you should be concerned about what has occurred in the SBC. I often hear people say, "Why should I get involved in this dispute?  It’s just a ‘preacher fight.’  It doesn’t really effect my local church." If it were true that it was only a "preacher fight," there would be no cause for alarm.

You should be concerned because:

1) ‘Takeover’ leaders have effectively squelched freedoms that SBC agencies and institutions once had, and replaced them with control. 2) Future ministers of all kinds (pastoral, music, education, etc.) coming from SBC seminaries are being less educated and more indoctrinated. 3) This indoctrination includes doctrines such as pastoral dictatorship, submission of women, Calvinism (and its salvation of only the elect) and the establishment of creeds, to only name a few. 4) Fundamentalists control the production of literature and the appointment of missionaries. Missionaries are not appointed unless they accept the litmus test of fundamentalist doctrine.

Those who share my concerns should never be embarrassed to oppose fundamentalism and stand up for historical Baptist principles.

We hope those who are unfamiliar with the changes the fundamentalists have made will exercise responsible stewardship and study the issues.   Baptists can no longer accept at face value everything someone tells them, and this includes what I have just written.