Recently, on more than one occasion, Southern Baptists have been encouraged to “Trust the Trustees” when it comes to the handling of our denominational matters. In response to that worthy slogan, might I suggest another one that I believe is more transparent, more consistent with congregational polity, and frankly, more Southern Baptist?
“Message the Messengers!”
- Did we not form a Task Force to study a Great Commission Resurgence and report back to the convention? Did they seal their meeting minutes for fifteen years? We were told to “Trust the Trustees,” or in this case, the Great Commission Task Force, but they need to hear us shout, “Message the Messengers!”
- Did our President not form a Task Force to change the name of the convention without asking messengers for approval first? We were told to “Trust the Trustees,” or in this case, the President and the Executive Committee, but they need to hear us shout, “Message the Messengers!”
- Did we not develop a Sunday School curriculum using a creative team with almost an exclusively reformed theological perspective? We were told to “Trust the Trustees” of Lifeway, but they need to hear us shout, “Message the Messengers!”
- Did the Search Team at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary nominate a Five Point Calvinist with limited experience academically and pastorally but outstanding connections to Dr. Albert Mohler to serve as the next President? We were told to “Trust the Trustees,” but they need to hear us shout, “Message the Messengers!”
I honestly don’t know how to make the point any clearer. Trust absolutely demands a culture of transparency, openness and honesty. Let us see the minutes. Let us be involved in forming the committees. Let us hear about the theological commitments of the curriculum writers and the candidates. Keep us in the loop. We are the ones whose sacrificial tithes and offerings are keeping this structure afloat.
Southern Baptist leaders, when you keep secrets from us, it WILL breed distrust. It is simply UNFAIR for you to ask us to trust you when you are creating a culture of secrecy that blocks the flow of information to the Messengers at the top of our Southern Baptist organizational chart. If you want us to “Trust the Trustees” then you need to do one thing very, very carefully from now on. Clearly and openly and honestly…
“Message the Messengers!”