The Pathway

Official News Journal of the Missouri Baptist Convention

 

Leaders in Cooperation:

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
and the 
Baptist General Convention of Texas

A Publication of Texas Baptist Laymen's Association
August 2001


   In August 1990, a national group known as Baptists Committed, disgruntled with the conservative direction of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), convened a meeting to develop an "alternative funding plan" to the SBC's Cooperative Program. During that meeting -- the Consultation of Concerned Baptists -- the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) was conceived. In May 1991, the CBF was born. 

    The Texas Chapter of Baptists Committed, Texas Baptists Committed, became the political arm for both the CBF and the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) in their ongoing battle against the SBC. Texas Baptists Committed (TBC) has been credited with preserving the moderate/pro-CBF direction of the BGCT in part by its successful endorsement of the top three BGCT officers each year since 1990. Its political success has ensured the domination of BGCT boards by those opposed to the conservative direction of the SBC. Thus, an anti-SBC/pro-CBF sentiment within the BGCT grew dramatically throughout the 1990's. 

     Dr. David Currie, coordinator of Texas Baptists Committed; Dr. Charles Wade,  executive director of the BGCT; each BGCT president elected since 1990 and most of its vice-presidents have played significant roles in the leadership of the CBF and/or TBC. Each of their specific involvement is detailed below. 

    Clearly, the anti-SBC/pro-CBF sentiment of a significant portion of BGCT leaders has placed the BGCT well down the road toward ending its historic relationship with the SBC, while at the same time forging new partnerships with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  

Texas Baptists Committed


David Currie (Coordinator)

  • served as coordinator of all "State Group" leaders during the 1990 Consultation, the meeting which brought together moderate Southern Baptists who could no longer support the conservative direction of the Southern Baptist Convention;

  • has served on the CBF's Coordinating Council since 1996;

  • served as a "breakout" leader during the 1998 CBF General Assembly (CBF's annual meeting) and as a member of the 1998 CBF General Assembly Steering Committee; 

  • served as a "breakout" leader during the 1999 CBF General Assembly on the topic "How to begin a Baptist Committed Organization";

  • has served as chairman of the CBF Coordinating Council's finance task group.

  • serves on the Board of Directors of The Interfaith Alliance.

Current BGCT Leaders

Charles Wade (BGCT Executive Director)

  • played a significant role in the 1990 Consultation which led to the formation of the CBF.  

    Stated purpose for the Consultation: To approve "an alternate funding plan…that bypasses the fundamental-conservative controlled Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee…." (Baptists Committed News Advisory, August 24, 1990 - 12 Noon.)

Dr. Wade's leadership role in the Consultation included being:

  • a State Group Leader;

  • a Workgroup Leader, "Local Church & Denominational Relations;"

  • elected to the Interim Steering Committee responsible for developing a "long-term proposal" and presenting it to the group the following spring. The committee was charged to, among other things, "develop proposals for the cooperative distribution of funds…", "develop a mission statement and necessary operating documents for consideration", "develop specific strategies", "communicate to the churches", and to "develop a process" for continuing leadership in the organization.

  • served on CBF's Coordinating Council (governing body) from 1991 to 1994;

  • served as chair of the Texas Chapter of Baptists Committed in 1990 and on TBC's Executive Committee from 1991 to 1995;

  • served as the co-chair of the 1992 CBF General Assembly Steering Committee and as a leader of a CBF Pre-Assembly Institute;

  • went throughout Texas "sharing the CBF vision" in April 1998;

  • served as a CBF "breakout" leader in the 1998 CBF General Assembly;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC;

  • was a program leader during the 1999 CBF General Assembly;

  • as executive director of the BGCT , addressed the National Network of Mainstream Baptist Organizations annual consultation in Dallas in February 2001, a group formed to resist the conservative direction of the SBC in state conventions.

Clyde Glazener (BGCT President)

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC;

  • as BGCT president, addressed the National Network of Mainstream Baptist Organizations February 2001 annual consultation. 

  • currently serves on the board of directors for TBC.

Mark Newton (BGCT 1st VP)

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC;

  • serves currently on the CBF's Coordinating Council.


Past BGCT Presidents

Phil Lineberger (1989 to 1991)

  • delivered a sermon to the 1992 CBF General Assembly;

  • co-led a "breakout" session during the 1998 CBF General Assembly;

  • served as co-chair of the TBC in 1994 and on its executive committee for several years after and has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC;

  • currently serves on the board of directors for TBC.

James R. (Dick) Maples (1991 to 1993)

  • until recently, served as the associate executive director for the BGCT; 

  • was elected during the 1990 Consultation as chair of the committee responsible for nominating members to the Interim Steering Committee, the committee charged with shaping the structure of what would become the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF);

  • was a "highlighted" speaker at the TBC's second annual convocation in June 1994.

Jerold McBride (1993 to 1995) 

  • was a program and "breakout" leader during the 1995 CBF General Assembly while serving as BGCT president;

  • co-led a "breakout" session during the 1998 CBF General Assembly;

  • served as co-chair for TBC beginning in 1997 and has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC;

  • currently serves on the board of directors for TBC.

Russell Dilday (1997 to 1999)

  • taught at the CBF-funded Truett Seminary;

  • was a program leader during the 1995 CBF General Assembly;

  • was a program leader in the 1998 CBF General Assembly during his term as BGCT president;

  • has spoken at major TBC meetings.

  • was a keynote speaker at a Missouri CBF annual meeting.

Past BGCT Vice-Presidents

Harry Lucenay (1st VP, 1991 to 1992)

  • served as a workgroup leader during the 1990 Consultation and the 1991 meeting;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC.

Carolyn Bucy (2nd VP, 1991 to 1992)

  • delivered a speech to the 1990 Consultation entitled, "My Hopes for the Meeting;"

  • was elected to the Interim Steering Committee at the 1990 Consultation which brought forth as an alternative to SBC missions, theological education, etc. a funding plan through which churches disgruntled with the conservative direction of the SBC could cooperate;

  • served on the CBF Coordinating Council from 1991 to 1992 overlapping her term as BGCT Second VP.

Sam Medina (1st VP, 1992 to 1993)

  • served as a program leader in the 1995 CBF General Assembly;

  • served for several years on the Executive Committee of TBC beginning in 1995.

Bill Blackburn (2nd VP, 1992 to 1993)

  • served as a workgroup leader during the CBF's formative meeting, the 1990 Consultation;

  • served as a breakout session leader during the 1992 CBF General Assembly.

Mauriece Johnston (1st VP, 1993 to 1994)

  • served as a workgroup leader during the 1990 Consultation;

  • served for several years on TBC's Executive Committee;

  • served as co-chair of TBC from 1995 to 1996 and has been listed as a "Proud Sup-porter" of TBC;

  • served as a program leader during the 1994 CBF General Assembly during her term as BGCT First VP.

David Becker (2nd VP, 1993 to 1994)

  • served from 1991 to 1993 on TBC's Executive Committee.

Charles Dodson (2nd VP, 1994 to 1995)

  • was involved in a workgroup session during the 1990 Consultation;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC.

Ophelia Humphrey (1st VP, 1995 to 1996)

  • served on the board of the Baptist Cooperative Missions Program, Inc. (BCMP). The BCMP presented an interim "alternative funding plan for national causes" to the 1990 Consultation. Its board members were among others recognized by the CBF in 1996 as those "who were instrumental in giving birth to the Fellowship"; 

  • during the 1990 Consultation, served on the nominating committee for the CBF's key formative committee, the Interim Steering Committee;

  • served as a workgroup leader during the 1990 Consultation and during the 1991 meeting;

  • served for several years on the CBF's Coordinating Council;

  • served on TBC's Executive Committee in 1995;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC.

Noah Rodriguez (2nd VP, 1995 to 1996)

  • served on TBC's Executive Committee from 1991 to 1995;

  • served as a "breakout" leader during the 1995 CBF General Assembly;

  • served on CBF's Coordinating Council from 1995 to 1998;

  • has served on the steering committee for the CBF of Texas;

  • served on the 1998 CBF General Assembly Steering Committee;

  • served as a program leader during the 1996 and 1998 CBF General Assemblies;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC.

James Kolb (2nd VP, 1996 to 1997)

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC.

Jaclanel McFarland (1st VP, 1997 to 1999)

  • served for several years on TBC's Executive Committee;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC;

  • currently serves on the board of directors for TBC.

Ed Hogan (2nd VP, 1997 to 1999)

  • served for several years on TBC's Executive Committee;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC;

  • currently serves on the board of directors for TBC.

Bill Ballou (2nd VP, 1999 to 2000)

  • has served on the steering committee for the CBF of Texas;

  • has been listed as a "Proud Supporter" of TBC.

"Texas Baptists Have a Right to Know"
A Publication of Texas Baptist Laymen's Association, August 2001