State Baptists decry white supremacy, alt-right
Leader shares final address at annual meeting
After a controversy at their denomination's annual gathering in Phoenix this summer, Oklahoma Baptists went on record condemning white supremacy, racism and the political movement known as the alt-right at the group's annual meeting this week in Oklahoma City.
Delegates at the Bap- tist General Convention of Oklahoma approved a resolution decrying white supremacy, racism and the alt-right with no discussion before the vote on Tuesday at Quail Springs Baptist Church, 14613 N May. The resolution was one of 10 approved by those gathered for the two-day event.
"We denounce and decry every form of racism, including alt-right and any organization that advocates white supremacy, as antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that we still must make progress in rooting out any remaining forms of racism, both personal and systemic, from our midst," the statement said.
The organization's leaders said the resolution was a way for the state's Southern Baptists to weigh in amid current racial tensions and other concerns troubling the country.
“Given the state of current events in our nation, our committee believed it important for our state convention to clearly articulate our belief that the Gospel has absolutely no place for racism and that Jesus loves and died for people from every nation, tribe and language,” said the Rev. Todd Fisher, chairman of the committee that drafted the resolutions and senior pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee.
“I am proud of Oklahoma Baptists for making this statement today, and for our desire to grow in ethnic diversity as we minister to the diverse people of our great state and world. It’s hard to describe the wonderful feeling it was when our committee presented the resolution condemning all forms of racism and the messengers heartily and unanimously approved it.”
The group’s president, the Rev. Joe Ligon, pastor of First Baptist Church of Marlow, also applauded the resolution’s approval.
“May we give God the glory for taking a strong stand,” he said.
Before this week’s meeting, the Rev. Anthony Jordan, the convention’s executive director-treasurer, said he thought the resolution was needed in light of the controversy that arose at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in June in Phoenix.
The Associated Press reported in June that controversy erupted at the annual meeting when the SBC initially declined to take up a resolution repudiating the alt-right movement that emerged dramatically during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The alt-right is a political grouping or tendency mixing racism, white nationalism, anti-Semitism and populism. It is a name currently embraced by some white supremacists and white nationalists to refer to themselves and their ideology, which emphasizes preserving and protecting the white race in the United States.
The Associated Press reported that the SBC eventually did formally condemn the political movement — what it called “alt-right white supremacy” after appeals from some of the people attending the meeting. In its resolution, the SBC described the movement as antithetical to the Gospel.
Jordan said what happened at the SBC meeting wasn’t abnormal because the convention’s resolutions committee had thought that resolutions in previous years had adequately spoken against racism and white supremacy.
Jordan said the state Baptist convention wanted to be forthright in its condemnation of white supremacy, racism and the alt-right coming on the heels of the uproar that occurred at the SBC meeting.
In his final address to annual meeting delegates on Monday, Jordan touched on the issue of race relations, emphatically encouraging Baptist congregations to reach out to people different from them as they seek to make disciples and aid their communities.
“The tragedy is the last time I checked, most of our churches look like they did in the 1950s and 1960s. We ought to reflect every color, shape and size of people living in the houses next doors to us,” Jordan said.
“If you’re not willing to reach out to other people, then you don’t have the right to call yourself a New Testament church.”
Meanwhile, since the June Southern Baptist Convention meeting, at least one other state convention also has spoken out against white supremacy and racism. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina also reiterated the SBC’s sentiments by denouncing racism in a resolution adopted at the state convention’s 2017 annual meeting Nov. 6-7 in Greensboro.
Hearts turn to Sutherland Springs
Among the other resolutions approved by Baptist delegates was a resolution voicing grief for the recent tragedy at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas.
Twenty-six people were shot and killed at the rural church on Nov. 5. The assailant — a man dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault rifle — opened fire inside the church in what Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history.
“An attack on the Body of Christ, as happened to our dear brothers and sisters in Texas, is an attack on all of us. Through tears, we resolve to stand with them in continual prayer, asking the God of All Comfort to bring His grace, peace, and healing to the hurting,” the resolution stated.
Other resolutions focused on: encouragement for continued efforts of Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief; expressing concern on the growing number of abortion providers in Oklahoma and committing continued support for faith-based pregnancy resource centers that “serve an increasingly important role as beacons of light and hope amid a culture of death”; expressing appreciation for Oklahoma Baptist families and churches who have stepped up to meet the need for foster care families and support; and expressing the need for people to stand up for people with disabilities.
Collegiate ministry buildings are planned
Delegates also learned more about the convention’s plans to build new facilities for Baptist Collegiate Ministry programs at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and Southeastern State University in Durant.
Jordan said the convention has begun designing a new BCM facility for Southeaster than will cost between $1.5 and $2 million to build. He said the convention is raising money for the new BCM building at OSU.
The new BCM building at OU will be built on Elm Street adjacent to student housing, including new housing.
Jordan said the convention already has raised enough for construction.
Plans are to begin building the structure in January, with completion in the fall. Jordan said each of the buildings have been designed to fit in with the design of the college campuses.
Retiring leader receives accolades
Jordan received numerous accolades at the annual gathering, with some coming from Baptist leaders who were featured in a special video shown on Monday.
The convention also held a reception for the retiring leader and his wife, Polla, after Monday’s meeting.
“There are not enough words for Oklahoma Baptists to describe what you have done these past 22 years,” the Rev. Rick Frie, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Jenks, told Jordan.
Frie lauded Jordan many of his accomplishments, including his leadership in the successful effort to improve and modernize Falls Creek Baptist Camp and Conference Center near Davis.
“You’ve taken an unbelievable leadership role in things that matter. You have led with an uncompromising truth when it comes to the uncompromising Gospel. You have led by example,” Frie said.
Jordan was overcome by emotion as he prepared to give the benediction for the gathering on Tuesday.
He received a standing ovation after his final address to the convention on Monday and delegates also stood again as he composed himself in a particularly poignant moment.
“Now the hour has come. Thank you, thank you my friends. Thank you for letting me lead you all these years,” Jordan said.
“God has a great purpose for Oklahoma Baptists.”