Some readers may recall my article "What I Like about Liberals" in the April '96 Banner. The last paragraph summarized my point: "If you wait long enough and listen carefully enough to what they say to each other, they verify everything we conservatives have been saying was wrong with the 'old' SBC."

Reproduced below in its entirety is an editorial titled "In Moderation ..." by Jim Baucom, Jr., moderator, CBF of Virginia". It was published in the January 1997 issue of Fellowship News, journal of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. As you will see, the editorial addresses the relationship between the CBF and the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Once again, folks, you have it in their own words, substantiation of what conservatives have been saying for several years. But read it for yourselves. I have placed certain passages in italics to call them to your attention. The bold print is as originally printed.

"We Cooperative Baptists of Virginia enjoy a relationship with our state denominational association that is absolutely unparalleled anywhere else in 'Southern Baptist' circles. Leaders in the Texas Baptist Convention are covertly supportive of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship through a political band of stalwart moderates who call themselves 'Baptists Committed.' North Carolina Baptist leaders offer more candid support, but state agencies and mission objectives remain singly focused on the work of the Southern Baptist Convention. Most other state Fellowship chapters cannot even hope to enter through the front doors of their state Baptist buildings.

"In Virginia, on the other hand, the Fellowship can count on the full support of the Baptist General Association leadership and Mission Board staff, just as the Southern Baptist Convention has been and is still able to depend upon such support. Our state association recognizes the value of all Great Commission enterprise that is being accomplished in the great tradition of cooperative, evangelical Baptists in the South, whether through the Southern Baptist Convention or the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Those of us who cannot in good conscience support fully the political agenda of the radical right are given more than just our place at the table -- we are invited to help determine the very shape of Baptist work in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It should not escape our notice that the sitting Moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia was elected to an executive office of the Baptist General Association of Virginia at its annual meeting in November. I write not out of pride but rather gratitude, because I doubt that a Fellowship leader would have been given the privilege of serving in such a capacity in any other Baptist state convention. I, for one, am grateful to live and serve among the uniquely free and faithful Baptists of Virginia.

"Our outstanding state Executive Director, Dr. Reginald McDonough, is fully supportive of the work of the Fellowship, as are the members of his equally capable staff. I am especially grateful to John Upton for the alliance he has developed with the CBF in the planning and implementation of Virginia Partnership Missions, even as he continues to join hands with the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board. He is just one of many who have championed our cause whenever it has been in the interest of the Kingdom to do so.

"There are a number of ways you can act to ensure that such cooperation will always mark the work of the Baptist General Association. I offer just a few:

"1. Encourage state Baptist leaders and denominational servants to acknowledge, support, and create moderate alternatives to fundamentalist Southern Baptist structures, including mission channels, educational literature, lobbying accesses to state and national governments, etc., and support them when they do.

"2. Organize and support Virginia Partnership Missions projects being done through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

"3. Seek to preserve and increase your church's support of and involvement in the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

"4. Defend the right of those supportive of the current national Convention power structure to relate with integrity to the Baptist General Association by maintaining channels through which they may continue to support Southern Baptist causes.

I invite you to add your own suggestions to this short list.

"We should never take for granted the intimate relationship we enjoy with our state denominational association. It is the envy of every Fellowship leader I know who serves within any other state convention."

[Editorial Comment: Let me suggest you re-read the italicized passages because they will be the focus of my remarks.

First, consider how Rev. Baucom characterizes the relationship between CBF and the BGAV: "absolutely unparalleled," "in Virginia ... the Fellowship can count on the full support of the Baptist General Association leadership and Mission Board staff," "[we] are given more than just our place at the table -- we are invited to help determine the very shape of Baptist work in the Commonwealth," "Dr. Reginald McDonough is fully supportive of the work of the Fellowship, as are the members of his equally capable staff," "the intimate relationship we enjoy with our state denominational association." One could hardly ask for a clearer affirmation that the BGAV is hand-in-glove with the CBF. Baucom's phrasing is enthusiastic, effusive, almost fawning. If anyone has been in doubt about the BGAV's direction, Baucom's editorial should settle the question. Who better to know than the state CBF moderator.

Second, please note Baucom's attitude toward the Southern Baptist Convention. Though he tries to present an attitude of even-handedness, he occasionally lapses into pejorative language in referring to those who continue their commitment to the SBC ("radical right", "fundamentalist"); he emphasizes "moderate alternatives to fundamentalist Southern Baptist structures" and specifies supporting "Virginia Partnership Missions projects being done through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship." The hope clearly is to direct increasing amounts of dollars and other support away from the SBC and into CBF coffers.

Finally, the editorial is an excellent demonstration why every Virginia church should deal consciously with the issue of whether to leave the BGAV and join the new Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia state convention. It is clear that the BGAV is heavily influenced by the CBF, and every sign is that the BGAV will move increasingly into the CBF orbit, departing from the SBC as rapidly as financial self-interest allows. Likewise, BGAV actions and inactions clearly demonstrate that as a whole the state convention adheres to a "moderate" theology and increasingly unorthodox view of the authority of Scripture. [Should you wish to verify that statement, call 757-363-0153 and request a copy of The Banner Files. Then check actions of the '92-'96 BGAV conventions.]

On the other hand, it is also clear that the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia have a high view of Scripture and stand squarely with the revitalized SBC.

Churches which identify themselves with BGAV theology and/or dislike the new SBC should by all means make a conscious decision to remain with the BGAV. They would never be happy in the SBCV.

Churches which believe Scripture is inerrant and are pleased with the recent changes in the SBC should make a conscious decision to leave the BGAV and join the SBCV. They will never be satisfied and happy in the BGAV.

The worst of all possible alternatives is to drift, to ignore the issues, to be unwilling to stand anywhere. To refuse to decide consciously is to decide unconsciously to remain as is. A decision is made in any event; it cannot be avoided. TCP]