Fellow IMB trustee criticizes Burleson

Posted: 5/12/06

Fellow IMB trustee criticizes Burleson

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

ENID, Okla. (ABP)—In what could lead to another attempt to remove trustee Wade Burleson from the International Mission Board, a fellow trustee of the Southern Baptist agency is publicly criticizing Burleson for his views on baptism, alcohol and other subjects.

Fellow Oklahoma pastor Winston Curtis of Highland Park Baptist Church in Duncan has written an open letter to Wade Burleson, asking him to meet with Curtis and trustee leaders to discuss Curtis’ “concerns.”

In January, Burleson’s fellow trustees asked the Southern Baptist Convention to remove him from the board for “broken trust” apparently related to statements on Burleson’s weblog. Trustees rescinded the request March 22, but they created new guidelines prohibiting trustee criticism of the board.

Curtis’ letter and Burleson’s response to it were posted May 4 on Burleson’s Internet blog, www.wadeburleson.com. Burleson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Okla., has been mentioned as a possible candidate for SBC president next month.

Curtis said he has two primary concerns he wants to discuss in a closed session with Burleson, IMB President Jerry Rankin, trustee Chairman Tom Hatley, and the board’s executive committee.

But Curtis’ letter, which specifically states it “is for public consumption,” may be a violation of a new policy forbidding trustees to disagree publicly with board decisions.

“The current direction that the IMB is headed philosophically seems to me to be completely the opposite from the direction that we should be going,” Curtis wrote in his letter.

For his part, Burleson declined to meet with Curtis and said he would not discuss his views further with Curtis in the “public forum” of the Internet.

Trustee chairman Hatley, in a May 8 telephone interview, said Curtis’ criticism and Burleson’s response violate “the spirit of the new guidelines.” He said he contacted both men, requesting them to take their concerns to a private forum, and he said both were “on their way” to compliance with the new guidelines. As of May 8, both Curtis’ letter and Burleson’s response still were posted on Burleson’s site.

Curtis declined to discuss his dispute with Burleson.

In his letter, Curtis said that he continues “to have a conviction and concern” about Burleson’s views on baptism; his tolerance of speaking in tongues; a two-year seminary degree focused on missions; perceived weaknesses at the IMB’s Missionary Learning Center; and Burleson’s views on “the alcoholic beverage industry.”

No one involved would say why Burleson was targeted for those specific issues.

In response to Curtis’ letter, Burleson affirmed Curtis’ friendship and “love for the Lord” but said the letter was “puzzling” to him.

“I question why only I need to meet with you and the executive committee regarding your concerns?” Burleson wrote. “I am only one of 89 trustees. Public, open and transparent debate is better than a few, small strategy sessions when it comes to altering board policy.

Curtis wrote that Burleson “seems to take the doctrinal position on baptism which is different from the Baptist Faith & Message 2000,” referring to the SBC’s most recent revision of its confessional statement. Curtis also cited an increasing world population and the “influx of missionary candidates” as reasons why he is not supportive of recent IMB policy moves toward “greater ecumenicalism,” presumably policy allowing missionaries to work with other denominations.

Burleson wrote in his response, “I can assure you that all my beliefs are based upon Scripture and fall within the (parameters of the) Baptist Faith & Message 2000.” As for the ecumenism issue, Burleson wrote that, like other topics, it was inappropriate for Curtis to criticize IMB policy without doing so in front of the entire trustee board.

“I do wonder if you may be creating controversy by criticizing board-approved policy, which calls for broader cooperation among Great Commission Christians,” he wrote.

Addressing the alcohol issue, Burleson said, “I wholeheartedly support all believers who have an abstinence conviction. However, I believe the authoritative, inspired Word of God forbids drunkenness, not necessarily the drinking of an alcoholic beverage.”

“What seems to concern you is the idea of working with a fellow IMB trustee who believes the Bible, but has a different interpretation on this issue on which the Baptist Faith & Message remains silent.” Ultimately, Burleson said, he doesn’t want to focus on “non-essential issues that have nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

He stated he hoped to work with Curtis in the future, saying “I’m hoping you can find it in your heart to work and cooperate with others who don’t see eye-to-eye with you on issues (on) which the Baptist Faith & Message remains silent. I, and others like me, look forward to working with you.”