EDITORIAL: Texas & the 21st-century Pentecost

Posted: 11/18/05

EDITORIAL:
Texas & the 21st-century Pentecost

Pentecost echoed through the ages and reverberated across Austin during the Baptist General Convention of Texas' annual meeting Nov. 14-15.

At Pentecost, God's Spirit settled on a small band of new Christians, filling them with power and boldness, as well as the ability to present the gospel so that people of many races and languages could understand it and commit themselves to Jesus. At Pentecost, God transformed the fledgling church into a mighty force that changed the world.

In Austin, God's Spirit settled on Texas Baptists as they embraced decades of good intentions and well-spoken words, filling them with power and eagerness to transform their convention into a gathering of Christians who look and sound like Texas. They took steps to ensure the gospel is tangible and compelling for people whose skin tones reflect the palette of the earth and whose tongues speak a symphony of languages. In Austin, the BGCT charted a course of inclusiveness and empowerment for the 21st century.

Albert Reyes, the BGCT's first Hispanic president, presided, and Texas Baptists elected their first African-American president, Michael Bell. They also approved a new constitution and bylaws, which mandate that at least 30 percent of the BGCT Executive Board be non-Anglo. And John Nguyen, the first Vietnamese to deliver a convention sermon, closed the gathering by challenging Texas Baptists to encourage and partner with each other and to overcome differences so people across the state and around the world will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Reyes, Bell and Nguyen are Texas Baptist pioneers–the first of their racial/ethnic groups to walk where they have walked. Like previous pioneers, they have blazed trails for others to follow, and follow they will. Their descendants will include other Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian-Americans. (One hopes and prays the descendants will include women and laity as well.) Reyes, Bell and Nguyen are more than mere symbols. They are tangible expressions of Texas Baptists' beliefs that the ground is level at the foot of the cross, all people are made in God's image and all Christians are equal. Their leadership eclipses Texas Baptists' belief in these principles; it demonstrates they are true.

Reyes' presiding, Bell's election and Nguyen's sermon were complemented by the hugely important ratification of the convention's new constitution and bylaws. By stipulating that at least 30 percent of the Executive Board's membership must be non-Anglo, they lift racial and ethnic inclusion far beyond tokenism. When African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Hispanics constitute a third or more of the BGCT's most powerful and influential body, their voices will be amplified, and the lenses of their perspectives will focus the convention's vision on all the issues–spiritual, physical and emotional–that impact our convention, our state, the world and God's kingdom.

Don't think this will be easy. When well-meaning people implement inclusion, they tend to think about what the group photo will look like–how they will feel to see people of many races and ethnic groups on the same board or committee. What they need to imagine is what the meetings will sound like–how they will feel when they hear ideas and proposals they never would have conceived on their own. The Executive Board is likely to talk about race and ethnicity far more than ever before. More importantly, as the board discusses issues that have no apparent connection to race or ethnicity, those discussions will be shaped by the perspectives of faithful and committed Christians who have lived their lives in particular skins.

So, although the non-Anglos may be newest to the Executive Board table, they're the ones least likely to be surprised by what is said there. They know issues of power, justice and economy from a framework that Anglos–still Texas' privileged class–can hardly comprehend. But Texas is changing; people groups are flowing. And if Texas Baptists are going to be a convention that ministers to all of Texas and leads all people to faith in Christ in the coming decades, then we must understand their issues. We must respond to their needs and articulate the gospel in ways each one of them understands.

Texas Baptists will look on our Austin Pentecost as a blessing. By choosing leaders from the spectrum of our people and inviting them to sit in the seats of decision-making and power, we will accept the challenge of reaching our state (and beyond) with the gospel.

Yogi Berra, the great shade-tree philosopher, once said: “The future ain't what it used to be.” Thanks be to God.

Marv Knox is editor of the Baptist Standard.