THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION AND THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
BY WILLIAM DWIGHT MCKISSIC, SR.
I love the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC has had a direct or indirect impact upon me, all of my life. What was then called The Baptist Student Union on college campuses—particularly in the South—greatly impacted my older siblings, providing discipling, ministry and mission opportunities. In Arkansas, Camp Paron (SBC affiliated) always had a week set aside for the National Baptist Churches’ young people to attend. Dr. Robert Ferguson, who led the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, National Baptist work (SBC affiliated) made sure Black Seminarians and college students at SBC affiliated schools, received scholarships. Two members of my family were blessed to have their college and seminary training subsidized with Cooperative Program (SBC) dollars. In my formative years we would occasionally hold joint services with SBC churches. There were at least two gatherings comprised of Southern and National Baptists held at War Memorial Park, Little Rock, and at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock. Those are fond memories. There was a special dynamic present in those joint services that was radically different and unique. God would kiss those services with His presence.
When I planted the church that I continue to serve as pastor, it was an SBC congregation, Tate Springs Baptist Church of Arlington that sponsored our plant. Over a course of a three-year period, CP dollars and TSBC dollars combined, provided our church plant with approximately $200,000 to help us get started. Additionally, TSBC (SBC affiliated church) co-signed for a $330,000 building loan to finance our first church building. When we outgrew that facility, after 14 years, the Baptist Church Loan Corporation (SBTC/BGCT affiliated) provided my congregation with a $3 million loan, enabling us to relocate and to more than triple our membership. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that the first 10 months of our church’s existence, we met rent-free in the Chapel of the Tate Springs Baptist Church, Arlington. We were ill-equipped to handle our own Sunday School at the outset; so they provided the Sunday School to our children and youth. Without the SBC and her affiliates, including predominately White churches, Cornerstone Church, where I pastor, simply would not be where we are today. I would be an ingrate, to not honor and give God praise, and express appreciation to the SBC in my heart and to anyone who would listen. I thank God for the Southern Baptist Convention.
Even when the SBC has disappointed me, I’ve watched them make course corrections. In the ‘70’s, the SBC adopted—by way of resolution—a liberal view of abortion. But, God be praised! A few short years later, they reversed their course. In 2005, the SBC/IMB adopted Landmark-like baptism policies, and exegetically indefensible cessationist/praying in tongues in private policies. However, in 2015, under the able and affable leadership of Dr. David Platt, the SBC made a course correction and reversed those indefensible policies that simply could not stand in a Convention that prides itself on doctrinal truth/orthodoxy, and the inerrancy of Scripture. William Cullen Bryant was right: “Truth crushed to the ground will rise again.” Those controversial policies at the IMB had to eventually fail, because as the late Rev. John H. Nolen would say, “The universe was built on truth…therefore, a lie ultimately cannot stand.”
Our church increased our CP giving when these baptismal/tongues policies at the IMB were changed to line-up with the Scripture, as opposed to lining up with a certain ilk of Baptist traditions. When the SBC employs Blacks or other minorities as an entity head, our church will increase our CP giving again, because at that point the SBC will actually model the racial inclusion and empowerment that they preach. This brings me to the elephant in the room whenever the SBC meets—and that’s racial division and disparity.
Tremendous progress has been made on the racial front in SBC life, perhaps more so than any other mainline denomination in America. I applaud and appreciate the progress made in SBC life when it comes to racial matters. The SBC is probably better poised for revival to come to our denomination, more so than any other, because of the widespread racial and ethnic diversity that exists among SBC affiliate churches.
What we have not seen historically or currently in SBC life is the Convention entity heads and elected leadership reflecting consistently, the racial and ethnic diversity of the SBC membership. Could it be that the SBC is having a difficult time escaping the racial and racist vice-grip in which she was birth?
In Savannah, Georgia, 1861, the SBC adopted a resolution that stated, “RESOLVED, That a committee be appointed to recommend such vital changes in the Constitution and Minutes as may be necessary, growing out of the recent formation of the Southern Confederacy., “
In Augusta, Georgia, 1863, almost two years before the Civil War ended, the SBC passed a resolution declaring “hearty support to the Confederate Government in all constitutional measures to secure our independence.” This resolution also “acknowledge[d] the hand of God in the preservation of our government [Confederate Government] against the power and rage of our enemies…we confidently anticipate ultimate success…we justify ourselves in this conflict with our enemies.”
Clearly, the SBC supported the Confederacy and was emotionally and philosophically attached to the Confederacy. The SBC, to this day, has never corporately repented for her allegiance to the Confederacy. The Dylan Root love affair with The Confederate Flag (CF) and his murdering of nine innocent Black Kingdom-citizens (Christians) has brought this matter back to the forefront. The SBC has an opportunity to get it right this time. Blanket apologies, and broad, generic repudiation of racism does not suffice for specific declarations of support for the Confederacy (racism) unrepentant of. Especially, when there is an element in SBC life that yet justifies and supports the CF, as they did in 1861 and 1863.
“As a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, part of my obligations and duty is to place Confederate flags on graves of Confederate soldiers every April. If this resolution is passed, SBC churches whose cemeteries include Confederate graves will forbid this sacred honor to American Veterans.”
Edward H. Sebesta, in a letter to Dr. Ronnie Floyd (dated October 27, 2014), stated:
“Dear Dr. Floyd:
I regret to report that the Ashley River Baptist Church, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, hosted an event for the 2014 National Reunion of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). It is reported in the July 30, 2014 issue of the Times Examiner. I enclose a copy, and the article can be read online athttp://www.timesexaminer.com/historical/1914-2014-national-reunion-of-sons-of-confederate-veterans.
“I did not write any organizations of Southern Baptists in South Carolina since I thought Southern Baptists wouldn’t do such a thing. The Southern Baptist church had seemed to be moving forward on the issue of race with such notable actions as the 1995 apology for slavery. It had seemed that the Southern Baptists comprehended that Christianity was a global effort with no one race or nation privileged over another. Yet this doesn’t seem to be the situation.
“The Southern Baptists may have apologized over slavery in 1995 but in 2014 it is aiding and abetting an organization that is promoting pro-slavery theology and a neo-Confederate ideology that condemns the Southern Baptist Convention.”
The spirit of the Confederacy is not dead in the SBC. Alexander Stephens delivered his “Cornerstone Speech” which would be the Confederate States of America equivalent of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech.” This speech was delivered by Stephens in Savannah, Georgia, in March 1861. Stephens served in the cabinet of the Confederate government:
“Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all other truths in the various departments of science. It has been so even amongst us. Many who hear me, perhaps, can recollect well, that this truth was not generally admitted, even within their day. The errors of the past generation still clung to many as late as twenty years ago. Those at the North, who still cling to these errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly denominate fanatics. All fanaticism springs from an aberration of the mind from a defect in reasoning. It is a species of insanity. One of the most striking characteristics of insanity, in many instances, is forming correct conclusions from fancied or erroneous premises; so with the anti-slavery fanatics. Their conclusions are right if their premises were. They assume that the negro is equal, and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal privileges and rights with the white man. If their premises were correct, their conclusions would be logical and just but their premise being wrong, their whole argument fails. I recollect once of having heard a gentleman from one of the northern States, of great power and ability, announce in the House of Representatives, with imposing effect, that we of the South would be compelled, ultimately, to yield upon this subject of slavery, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics, as it was in physics or mechanics. That the principle would ultimately prevail. That we, in maintaining slavery as it exists with us, were warring against a principle, a principle founded in nature, the principle of the equality of men. The reply I made to him was, that upon his own grounds, we should, ultimately, succeed, and that he and his associates, in this crusade against our institutions, would ultimately fail. The truth announced, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics as it was in physics and mechanics, I admitted; but told him that it was he, and those acting with him, who were warring against a principle. They were attempting to make things equal which the Creator had made unequal.
In the conflict thus far, success has been on our side, complete throughout the length and breadth of the Confederate States. It is upon this, as I have stated, our social fabric is firmly planted; and I cannot permit myself to doubt the ultimate success of a full recognition of this principle throughout the civilized and enlightened world.”
You would think repudiating the blatant racist’s ideology and symbolism of the CF would be a “no brainer.” Yet, some in the SBC, yet support the unrestricted usage of the CF. Others proudly display the CF. Whoever reads Alexander Stephens’ quote above and still maintains that the Civil War was not about slavery, and the Confederacy was not organically racist, that person is a very dishonest person. And a Convention who denies it is also very dishonest. So how then can the CF be innocent?
The blood of the Charleston Nine, are crying out for racial healing and unity. The survivors, in the Spirit of Christ, readily forgave their transgressor. The least that we can do is to repudiate the symbolism (the CF) of the spirit that drove his diabolical actions. I’m confident that the majority of the SBC messengers will side on the right side of history, truth and the Bible. But, just as the SBC has made wrong decisions before (previously mentioned) they are capable of making a wrong decision again. It’s my prayer though, that just as the SBC is on record supporting the Confederacy, and they will now go on record disavowing the CF. What a great honor that would be for the Charleston Nine!!!
Regardless to the outcome though, I’m encouraged. Russell Moore has been a jewel of a champion in taking stands on the right side of racial issues during his tenure at the ERLC. I have much respect and appreciation for him. Dr. Fred Luter addressed the Trayvon Martin tragedy with compassion, balance, and prophetic truth in a way that I thought I’d never live to see an SBC President speak to a racial issue in the manner Dr. Luter did. Much love, much respect, much appreciation for Dr. Luter. Dr. Ronnie Floyd is charting new and needed ground in the dialogue he has opened up with the National Baptist Convention and her President, Dr. Jerry Young. I’m thrilled and excited about the racial progress I see in the SBC. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. I am praying for Dr. Floyd, Dr. Young and the SBC as they have the courage and character to tackle this issue head on. May God bless the SBC!
The way Ronnie Floyd, Russell Moore and Fred Luter have addressed the race issue, makes me proud to be SBC. May their tribe increase! The way Dr. Platt led the IMB to move toward adopting a biblical position on those IMB policies makes me proud to be a Southern Baptist. To not repudiate the CF, though, would be extremely difficult for many Americans to comprehend.
Given what happened in Charleston last year, the SBC should do this.
I’d vote for the resolution, tweaked a bit as was discussed in the first article.
If a church chooses to host the SCV meeting or allow them to place flags on CSA veteran graves in the church cemetery, I don’t see any problem. The resolution doesn’t address private use of the flag at all. I’m not a SCV member but have been around quite a few. I haven’t seen racism displayed there. If it were, I would certainly deny use of the church building as for any other racist group.
Here in Georgia, home of the virulently racist CSA Vice President, Alexander H. Stephens (quoted above by Dwight), things have moved beyond the old fights, sometimes noisily, sometimes quietly. After some rancor, we ditched the CSA battle flag from our state flag. That is exactly what Dwight’s resolution addresses. The state has long had R. E. Lee’s birthday and Confederate Memorial Day as state holidays. Both of those were dropped from the state calendar this year, simply renamed as “state holiday”. No fuss, no rancor. Those who wish to celebrate in memory of Lee and the gallant Confederate dead may do so.
The frail and diminutive Stephens, who at times weighed less than 100 pounds, has counties in Georgia and Texas named after him. His statue rests peacefully in our national capitol’s statuary hall. He is said to have repudiated some of his wartime rhetoric. His former slaves stayed with him after the war, although it is unclear if they had alternatives. As a lawyer, he defended a slave woman once and won an acquittal. Not every narrative is simple and uncomplicated.
William: I see nothing that says Stephens turned from what he said in the Cornerstone speech, but that wouldn’t be the point anyway. The flag and the war were because of slavery and the words from that speech were the reason for flying the flag.
People may be ignorant of the connotation of the flag in flying it, but it does not mean that the symbol is racist in its origin. I just don’t think your last statement concerning Stephens is relevant. I think this narrative is very simple and uncomplicated. It says what it says and it isn’t just a few words on this subject, but very detailed and long in it’s wording.
Debbie, I am intrigued by AHS and will take time to do more research. He’s local to me in this part of GA and I have a general familiarity with his life. Will share results later.
That should read “that does not mean that the symbol is not racist in its origin.”
Why not call for the US to get rid of the Declaration and the Constitution, because they were products of racists and slave owners. Dr. McKissic, I noticed that you did not answer my comments on your previous blog. The redeeming of the flags that you used to make your point can include the Cf inspite of the that fellow who used it as an excuse to do the evil in his heart. There are Sons of Confederate Veterans who have Black members as I pointed out in my other comments. Even Orangeburg with its massacred and segregation changed. I remember one white woman weeping over what segregation had done to little Black children. In that same period, I hd one church we visited which made it very obvious that I was not welcome. Forty four years later as I found out from a student at NOBTS, they have changed. Now they have three Black members. FBC of that town changed more quickly, when a previous pastor came back and led them to accept integration. I am not proud of what my ancestors did, but they are still members of my family, members who were sucked into a fratricidal war. In one case in Kentucky a fellow told how in one battle, he shot his father and four brothers. He had joined the union. Some in Europe, in England in particular I think, did not want us to work for peaceful abolition; they wanted a war to make money. Most southerners paid dearly for that idiocy. My family was poverty stricken for a century. I started working in the cotton fields, when I was five years old, sunup to sunset. Believe me, I have a great deal of sympathy for Black folks in slavery. The fact that the nation did not seek by peaceful means to bring that great evil to an end is a grief beyond words, in view of all the 650,000+ who were slain on the fields of battle.
The truth is, like any civilization, mistakes, errors, blunders, and even out right evil are done, but God’s grace still gets involved to bring relief. The CF does not belong on state grounds, but the memorials to our ancestors who performed the egregious error, due to deception, still must be honoredy their descendants. Just consider biblical members like Jacob, Samson, Saul, and many others who did things deserving the most severe censures. We can’t get away from the fact that they became or were already believers, they are shown with their good and evil to helps us in our shortcomings.
Dr. Willingham,
Yes. America has a history of racism & there is probably no institution with totally clean hands on this subject.
But to suggest that The American Flag, Constitution, and Abraham Lincoln needs to be repudiated because of their racism is to imply that they were no different than the Confederacy, and that’s simply not true. The CSA came into existence primarily to continue the diabolical institution of slavery. Lincoln, nor the American constitution sought to continue the practice of slavery. The became instruments God used to abolish slavery. Therefore, your comparison here is a faulty comparison. No need to repudiate Lincoln, the USA flag, and constitution, because they are not the moral or immoral equivalent of the CSA/CF. This would include The Declaration as well.
As far as Black soldiers in the Confederate Army goes, as u know, they were promised freedom if the CSA won. Not all Blacks were promised freedom, only those who fought for the Confederacy would be freed, only if the confederacy won. The rest would have been slaves ’till this day. So, it’s understandable then, why there would be descendants of Blacks in the confederacy movements today. That’s their heritage. But to not distinguish their motives, from the White Confederate soldiers motives, is a very dishonest accounting of history.
The Confedrate descendants aren’t apologizing for the behavior of their ancestors. The SBC has never apologized for their complicity with the CSA & CF. It’s nigh time that they do.
Dear Dr. McKissic: I finished reading an article repudiating another article which had attacked the Declaration and the Constitution for being racist documents by slave holders. That fellow in South Carolina who used the CF to justify his actions was merely looking for an excuse. While I never joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I have attended two of their meetings. I do qualify for membership due to relatives , e.g., two great great grandfathers, who were in the Confederate armies. I can also say I had a great great grandfather who was in the Union army or so I was told. I was taught in a three room school house that displayed the the pictures of General Lee and Jackson, men who were noted for thei9r faith by Whites and even Jackson was noted by Blacks for his faith.
Dear brother, you are selective in what you condemn. Will you condemn me for keeping affection for my ancestors, while I totally disapprove of what they did in holding slaves. I rather suspect that the average soldier thought he was fighting in defense of his home. In any case, I was taught Black history by Dr. Lorenzo J. Greene, who had been Carter G. Woodson’s associate editor of the Journal of Negro Life and History. There were others I could mention,.but I will say I went to South Carolina State to teach, taking a wife and later adding my daughter, my mother-in-law and then a son, not realizing the danger we were in from some Whites. And some Blacks who had just cause to hate everything White. I know this the Black folks had my sympathies. I was grieved, when I heard about that fellow shooting nine innocent people. The treatment of Blacks in slavery gave me nightmares, and segregation was virtually as great an evil as slavery. The White lady who chose to go and teach in the Orangeburg Black school before integration on a massive scale occurred there said it well: “Mr. Willingham, I wept, when I saw what segregation had done the personalities of those little Black children.
There are many Sons of Confederat4e Veterans who utterly condemn what that man (?) did. Some of their units have Black members as I pointed out previously.
I say your condemnation is selective, because you ignore the reference I made to the Black kingdom which made itself wealthy, selling other tribal members from the interior of Africa into slavery. Also there is the matter of the Moslems who have held people in slavery and who still do in some of their nations. Why would an African American join a religion which had trails into the Black Continent intended to expedite their capture and carrying off of slaves, a matter which David Livingston, the missionary, exposed and which led to serious efforts by the British to interrupt and end that nefarious business?
Surely, we can love our family members and even honor their efforts, even if wrong-headed, to defend as they saw it, their homes from invaders. Besides there were Whites in the South who resisted the Confederacy. Sadly, none of my relatives (in the South) as far as I know, were involved such resistance. Any way, in the end, it led to the impoverishment of much of my family, a for over a hundred years, to my working in the cotton fields as a child just like a Black in the days of slavery and segregation, and to my commitment to equality, a matter that I consider to be biblical. I reason with you dear brother to not be so harsh on the folks who fly the CF and re-enact the battles, etc., for some of them are veterans of our wars in the past sixty years. If you were in our shoes, what would you do? Despise your family members for such egregious evils, despise them to the point of having no more connections with them. I think not. Just as we forgive our children and our brethren in the church and just like we justify accepting Thomas Jefferson, Washington, etc., African Americans must come to terms with the fact that people will not repudiate their roots, be they ever so sorry. Personally, I do not have or fly the CF, but I can understand those who do…just like the acceptance of our national origins, despite the sorry nature of those who founded iit. Besides there were those who had a part in it who did not believe in slavery, people who were committed believers. I recently read a biography of Samuel Adams who had a key role albeit unrecognized today. Pardon me, Brother, but I must stop as health and tiredness demand it.
Dr. Willingham,
The only official statement made by the SBC by way of resolution concerning the CSA & by extension the CF is, “we hearty support the confederacy.”
Are u comfortable with that being the only official statement (on the record) that the SBC has made about the confederacy? If u are, so be it. But, I am very uncomfortable if that’s all the SBC has to say about the confederacy. Your statements here have been more balanced & specific in addressing the wrongs of the confederacy than the official record of the SBC. I could accept some kind of balanced, nuanced statement as you’ve made here from the SBC. But clearly the statement needs to indicate that the spirit of the confederacy & the SBC are no longer in hearty support of each other.
As far as being selective in what I condemn….Dylan Root & his actions selected me to address this matter. The proximity to The Charleston Nine shootings a year ago, & the timing of our annual SBC convention influenced the proposal of this resolution. I just didn’t randomly select the CF to condemn. The contemporary circumstances dictated this selection. If u see other matters that need to be condemned, u have every right to do so. I was & remained burdened by the CF & the spirit behind it, that drove the murders of The Charleston Nine.
Dear Dr. McKissic: Your careful, insightful, and thoughtful reply to my comment is duly noted and appreciated. I have sought to be cautious and considerate in what I have written in responses to your two blogs in the recent round, because I hurt at the very idea of what African Americans have suffered at the hands of White Americans, who in large numbers were my ancestors. It reminds me of a trip I took to Jamaica in 1980 on a preaching journey, where I stayed with a native Jamaican (I guess African Jamaican would be appropriate). He had three earned degrees, and held to the idea (liberal) that man was basically good. I said to him: “How can you hold to man as basically good, when you consider what my people did to your people?” He had no answer in response to my question.
Our problem, dear brother. is that we are dealing with the madness in every human’s heart (Eccles. 9:3). In addition we are dealing with the fact that lost human beings will go to terrible lengths to satisfy their needs and greeds, and even true believers will do the same at times. Consider David and his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite in order to cover his sins. In Acts we are told that Paul and Barnabas were in a paroxysm of rage (sharp contention in KJV) and the Apostle states that love is not moved to a paroxysm of rage (is not easily provoked. KJV) in I Cors.13. Believers have done worse. I do not give up on the Christian and biblical faith due to the conduct of God’s people. We can and do separate many things. For the most part, despite Mr. Root’s idiocy, can honor the CF without being in the slightest attached to the idea of slavery or racism..
While the government, in the name of political correctness and offended sensibilities, has gone out of its ways to silence the ignorant users and abusers of the N word, I am reminded of the fact that we stand in jeopardy as Christians of being cast in to a second class citizenship like African Americans were in segregation. When the government forced the integration of Bob Jones University on integration and inter-racial dating, I saw it as opening the door to our own repression by prosecution, the very thing that is beginning to take place now. Religious liberty as well as freedom of speech can only restrained, when the users and abusers actually try to harm those who do not agree with them, the original idea of the founding fathers. Did you know that Jefferson suffered from attacks about his miscegenation with Sally Hemming in the time of his effort to become President? He was guilty as the evidence suggests, but he did not cease to seek the repeal of the Alien and Sedition acts of the Federalists, passed during the presidency of John Adams. Persuasion is a form of speech and liberty, which requires full recognition of all parties with a commitment to maintain it. The fact that the SBC did support the Confederacy is a sorry reality, but they have spoken out against the very thing which they did. They have elected a President of the SBC who is Black, and they are now working to get African Americans on the boards of their institutions. I must close for now. God grant you all grace in a trying time.
This is a very simplistic reading of history. Dwight it seems like the only thing you right about is race. Leave the dead in the graves. There is no need for the SBC to apologize. And this flag fight will do nothing but bring up animosity among brothers.
*write
Joseph,
Are you comfortable leaving it on record that the official position of record of the SBC as it relates to the Confederacy is “hearty support of the confederacy.”?
Where have I erred in my historical references? It may be a simplistic reading of history, but is it inaccurate? If so, point it out, and give the corrected view. Thanks.
Joseph, the only animosity this could or bring to the SBC is, if the messengers are comfortable not honoring the Charleston Nine, by repudiating the spirit of the symbol that killed them. Why would anyone object to this? It baffles me. On what basis would anyone have to feel animosity, by repudiating a flag that symbolizes racism?
Ed Sebesta? You sure you want to quote…Ed Sebesta?
Tom,
Only thing I know ’bout Ed Sebesta is his letter to Ronnie Floyd concerning an SBC church hosting a Sons of the Confederate gathering. Do u know something that disqualifies him from addressing this subject?
This statement from the 1995 resolution on racism at the convention in Atlanta clearly states why Dwight’s resolution must pass. The churches at this meeting made a commitment as follows:
Be it further RESOLVED, That we hereby commit ourselves to eradicate racism in all its forms from Southern Baptist life and ministry; and
To read the resolution in it’s entirety:
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/899
Debbie,
Great catch!!! That should be plain & clear, if the intentions behind that statement are sincere.
Dwight;
If your resolution is presented and overwhelmingly accepted; will that satisfy the 1995 ‘resolved’; or, is the pain so deep that there is an additional resolution for next year (and the next, and the next, and the next….)?
Dale,
My resolution is essentially a tribute to The Charleston Nine by repudiating the CF, that Dylan Root was so proud of. The purpose of this resolution is not to test whether or not the SBC is racist. The purpose of this resolution is to determine if the SBC is willing to identify with the faith & pain of the Charleston Nine, and to make a major step toward healing the pain of their families & those who loved them.
There will be no additional resolution on this subject unless something additionally happens that merit that the SBC speak with a prophetic voice to the pain of the nation, regardless to whether or not there is a racial component to the pain.
I hope this adequately answers your question.
Dwight;
Thanks for your answer. I am happy to vote for a resolution that serves a purpose.
I oppose revisiting issues that appear to have already been addressed- glad it is not the case here.
Dale