Letters: Explainer, BGCT & NAMB, Esther & Ukraine

Explainer

Some readers have noticed how few letters to the editor we publish. There was a time when each issue of the Baptist Standard contained a full section of letters. Now, we can go months without a single letter.

Throughout my tenure, I have been asked if I publish every letter to the editor I receive. I publish letters to the editor for which the writer provides his or her name and location—including those letters that criticize me and the Baptist Standard.

The simple fact is, social media and the desire for anonymity have resulted in the very low number of letters to the editor we publish. Social media allows anyone to say whatever they want to say, and immediately and sometimes anonymously. Many times, those who send me emails that read like letters to the editor do not want them published or do not want to be identified, which precludes their publication.

And then, there are topics like the relationship between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the relationship between Ukraine, Russia and the United States that generate a lot of conversation and, by extension, more letters to the editor.

So, for the first time in a long time, I present you, the reader, with a full Letters to the Editor.

Eric Black, executive director/publisher/editor
Baptist Standard

RE: Voices: Correcting misunderstanding about BGCT/NAMB agreement

I appreciate Dustin Slaton’s answer March 5 to my earlier opinion piece in the Baptist Standard. My only response is:

The Baptist General Convention of Texas in November 2024 voted convincingly not to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.

The Texas Baptist Executive Board in February 2025 approved a plan to accept $300,000 annually from the North American Mission Board to help finance new churches that will approve the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.

Anyone else see any inconsistency in those actions?

Toby Druin
Waxahachie, Texas

Love of money evil’s root cause

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are two of the greediest persons on earth. Their love of money is the root cause of the evil they are inflicting on our nation’s people and the rest of the world. Both are using their powerful positions in government to enhance their own personal wealth. Doing so is wrong and totally unacceptable.

Spineless U.S. House and Senate Republicans, along with a dominant conservative U.S. Supreme Court enable Musk and Trump to do their thing by failing to hold them accountable.

Mid-term elections in 2026 cannot come soon enough.

Paul L. Whiteley Sr.
Louisville, Ky.

RE: Voices: What would you do if you were Esther?

Thank you for publishing Dr. Semikov’s article. I’ve served for 28 years as a U.S.-based missionary, having made 60 visits to Ukraine—four since Feb. 24, 2022.

The parallels between the account of Esther and her advocacy for the Jewish people and President Zelensky’s advocacy on behalf of the Ukrainian nation are numerous. Dr. Semikov’s analysis is compelling.

I know many Christians voted for President Trump, but the betrayal of Ukraine by the current administration cannot be defended on biblical, moral or democratic principles.

It is imperative Christians across the United States stand up for what is right and rise up on behalf of a nation fighting for the same values Christians in the United States hold dear: faith, family, freedom to worship, the right for self-determination, and an emphasis on value and dignity of each human life.

Ukraine has one of the largest evangelical populations in all of Europe. They have been a bastion of evangelical Christianity since their independence from the Soviet Union in 1992, with more than 2,200 Baptist congregations—though hundreds of church buildings have been destroyed by Russia. In the middle of the war, these churches have opened their doors to their communities, providing sanctuary, humanitarian and medical aid, in addition to meeting spiritual needs.

Missionaries from Baptist churches in Ukraine currently serve in more than 22 countries around the world in places as far away as Africa, Australia and South America.

Abandoning Ukraine now in favor of Russia isn’t only a shift from religious freedom to support of a dictator, it is an abandonment by the American church of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

I urge American Christians to contact their senators and representatives and speak up in support of Ukraine. Our voices matter.

Stephen Benham
Lawrence, Penn.

Thank you for publishing Dr. Semikov’s article, “What would you do if you were Esther?” I found the parallels between the biblical story and current international events thought-provoking.

As an early scholar of the Bible, I appreciated learning more about Esther’s story—an example of a leader facing a difficult choice between personal risk and standing firm for her people. History repeats itself, and today, we see leaders navigating similar dilemmas, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The recent confrontation between our national leaders has sparked intense emotions and debate. Some find it troubling to compare Ukraine’s fight for survival with biblical struggles, as morality, political views and understanding of the war shape perspectives. Yet, for those who grasp the history of this conflict, the right side to support is clear. It is unsettling when prominent leaders hesitate to stand against evident evil.

The question of compromise is complex: Do you surrender and risk annihilation or keep fighting despite great costs? Is true courage about defying enemies, or does it also mean challenging allies? While national interests matter, moral responsibility cannot be ignored.

Dr. Semikov’s article raises important questions about leadership, morality and international responsibility. Thank you for publishing this thought-provoking piece. I look forward to future discussions on this topic.

Sergiy Nesterenko, M.D.
Lubbock, Texas