Southern Baptist of Texas Convention's (SBTC) newspaper editor stated that capital punishment is a Biblical mandate.3 Not only does the editor like capital punishment, he thinks the war with Iraq is a good idea. He even went so far as to claim that pacifism is a pagan idea. The peace people were equated with the Far Left in the editorial who were defined as a "thoughtless, wholly emotional effort based on bad theology."4 By endorsement, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) backed the war with Iraq. And, one of the paper's issues devoted lots of print to justifying the now-unpopular war. The paper assured readers the war is not wrongly motivated "no matter what spin the liberal media may put on it. It is a war to secure peace." The paper carried quotes from SBC officials backing President Bush's decision to go to war claiming the war met and exceeded requirements for a "Just War."5

When Secretary of Education Rod Paige offended parents in the nation suggesting he would send his children to private Christian schools, the paper gave a "thumbs up" to the national official. They then took a stab at the Baptist Joint Committee for being "radical separtionists."6 Another issue shared the spotlight with a SBC seminary president who claimed, in effect, White women needed to be having more children. The strange social agenda was promoted that birth rates have decreased among "cultures that birthed the modern world."7 Such statements drew charges of racism in the nation, but there were no apologies forthcoming from a Convention that openly courts Black and Hispanic churches.

Texas Fundamentalist Baptists are joined at the hip to the SBC's controversial Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. This organization, known as the ERLC, has a reputation among groups who monitor the Religious Right. The ERLC openly criticizes the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) and enjoys the warm embrace of the SBTC. SBTC writers believe the national convention was pro-choice until they rescued it and staffed the ERLC with their people.8 In the past, ethics leaders in Baptist life claimed to only speak "to" and not "for" Baptists in their organizations. In a radical departure in protocol, the new viewpoint is speaking "for" the majority.9 This brings up intriguing issues, if your ethical leadership only reflects majority opinion.

Richard Land, the head of the ERLC blames Texan Foy Valentine as being a leader with offensive ethical positions. The BGCT once honored Foy for his leadership in Christian ethics. Foy was Land's predecessor. SBTC writers allege that Foy headed a liberal agency which was out of step with majority viewpoints held at the time.10 (Recall that Foy's organization was the agency in power during the Civil Rights legislation.)

Land is linked to the Religious Right by the nation's media. There are also other relationships with individuals and movements that never in the past occupied Baptist life as it does with SBTC people. Historically, Baptists have supported public education. According to SBTC viewpoints, sending children to public schools is like sending them to be "educated by the Chaldeans." Rather than being light in the pubic school arena, the new convention sees schools as bringing down students as ". . . enemies wind-up infecting our kids." The answer for this phenomenon is to start homeschooling children or ordering the new literature available at their publishing house for church schools.11

At annual SBTC meetings, people who were arch enemies of the old BGCT are often honored. Two such cases are noted at the 2005 meeting at which Judge Paul Pressler handed Religious Right activist Skeet Workman a reward for her activity.12 Skeet, a rancher who ran on the GOP ticket for Congress, once was editor of the Fundamentalist paper. She is a homeschooler who was given a high rating by Gun Owners of America when she ran for office supporting the GOP redistricting plan in Texas. Skeet made the news a few years back when she attacked the BGCT linked Buckner Baptists Benevolences. Buckner's shared a platform on teen pregnancy with Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is the total accumulation of all evil according to these mindsets. The paper highlighted the fact that the Baylor interim president was linked to Planned Parenthood.

The October 25, 2004, paper carried an article and picture honoring Religious Right activist Ed McAteer.13 Ed had wanted President Bush to appoint him as Ambassador to Israel so that Israel could occupy ancient Biblical boundaries. Linked to the John Birch Society, McAteer put together the 1980 Religious Right gathering that drew ministers into supporting Ronald Reagan. The SBTC papers often portray Democratic national candidates in a negative light, but honor Republican politicians,14 which generates no surprise that President Bush sent them an official greeting at their 2003 annual meeting.

Perhaps the most radical course change is in the realm of church and state. Paper editor, Gary Ledbetter, wants the government to allow churches to engage in political electioneering and this not impact their tax exempt status.15 The editor supports HR-235 which not only allows churches to endorse candidates, but the congregation can use a good portion of its budgets for political campaigns. The tax exempt law dates back to a conflict between a Dallas First Baptist member and then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. It was no irony that the paper carried an article from a deacon at Dallas First Baptist claiming Johnson's agenda was to limit free speech.16 Though most Baptists in Texas appear to be horrified at such a sight as ministers publicly endorsing candidates from the pulpit and church newsletters backing politicians, Land and Ledbetter find the idea inviting and accuse the government of suppressing religious freedom instead.

With their viewpoints on church and state, it would be no surprise that the cover of the newspaper featured a picture of Jay Sekulow who makes over $700,000 a year defending their viewpoints on the First Amendment.17 Jay is the arch enemy of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, an organization founded in a Baptist office and enjoys a long history of Baptist support. The annual meeting of their convention often features Pastor Dwight McKissic who worked with the Texas Restoration Project. This Project encouraged churches to register voters through ushers during the morning worship services. Executive Secretary of the SBTC, Jim Richards, spoke at a Restoration gathering. Richards sees separation of church and state as only applying to the state's interference in the church and not vice versa. He then suggested the readers "vote Biblical principles."18  Which as his friend Jerry Falwell says, means people will vote for George Bush.

Ledbetter weighed in on the argument suggesting it is okay for tax money to flow to religious organizations - a viewpoint that causes Baptist forefathers to shutter in disbelief. He writes-off his critics on this issue as just "liberal groups." Gary explains his position on the nation's leaders who don't want government support coming to religious organizations: "It is not religion being rejected by one side of our current debates; it is God himself."19

To sum up SBTC's viewpoint on church and state, one need only go to Ronnie Yarber's assessment in his editorial. He concluded that the Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort Worth suffered its catastrophic tragedy - a gunman slew several worshippers - because the government prevents teaching of Biblical values.20

Endnotes:
 1.     Jerry Pierce, "Q&A," Southern Baptist Texan, June, 13, 2005, pgs. 8-9.
 2.    Barbara Weller, "Culture Watch," Southern Baptist Texan, April 4, 2005, pg. 16.
 3.    Gary Ledbetter, "The Demand for Justice," Southern Baptist Texan, Feb. 3, 2003, pg. 4.
 4.    Gary Ledbetter, "Pacifism and Moral High Ground," Southern Baptist Texan, Feb. 17, pg. 13.
 5.    "Culture Watch," Southern Baptist Texan, Feb. 17, 2003, pgs. 12-13.
 6.    "Thumbs Up," Southern Baptist Texan, Mar. 1, 2003, pg. 4
 7.    "Short Takes," Southern Baptist Texan, Nov. 28, 2005, pg. 4.
 8.    Tom Strode, "2003 SBC Report," Southern Baptist Texan, July 7, 2003. pg. 21.
 9.    Tammi Ledbetter, "Land Tells SBTC . . . ," Southern Baptist Texan, pg. 1
10.    "Land Reflects on 15 Years . . . ," Southern Baptist Texan, Oct. 13, 2003, pg. 1.
11.    "Special Report," Southern Baptist Texan, Mar. 3, 2005. pg. 7.
12.    Tammi Ledbetter, "Annual Meeting, Southern Baptist Texan, Sept. 14, 2005, pg. 5.
13.    "Baptist News," Southern Baptist Texan, Oct. 25, 2004, pg. 13.
14.    Southern Baptist Texan, cover, Nov. 17, 2003.
15.    Gary Ledbetter "Time to Climb that Wall," Southern Baptist Texan, Mar. 22, 2004, Pg. 4
16.    Bonnie Pritchett, "Christian Citizen," Southern Baptist Texan, Mar. 22, 2004, pg. 6.
17.    Southern Baptist Texan, cover, July/Aug. 2000.
18.    Jim Richards, "Cross Roads," Southern Baptist Texan, July 2004, pg. 3.
19.    Gary Ledbetter, "Common Sense. . . .," Southern Baptist Texan, Mar. 2001, pg. 4.
20.    Ronnie Yarber, "The Mission Message," Southern Baptist Texan, 2001, pg. 11.