Reading of the criticism of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention by Professor Keith Eitel of Southeastern Baptist Seminary sent to the IMB trustees by Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Seminary and former president at Southeastern, I was both saddened and amused.  Years ago I predicted that when the “conservative resurgence” leadership consolidated their hold on the SBC agencies and had no more “liberals” to fight, they would turn on themselves.  I anticipated they would begin to look at their allies in the takeover of the convention with critical eyes, seeking to determine if they were conservative enough.  Evidently these two have judged the current leadership of the IMB as not conservative enough.

It seems professor Eitel has two beefs with the IBM. First is their cooperation in various endeavors with other Great Commission Christians (whose doctrine may not be as pure as Southern Baptist’s).  Second is the continued presence of women in leadership within the organization (which of course puts women, in some instances, in authority over men).  Evidently his concerns are shared by his former president, for Patterson sent them to the trustees. 

This is not the first time IMB President Jerry Rankin has come under pressure from some of his “conservative resurgence” allies.  He earlier reversed himself on the matter of requiring veteran missionaries sign the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.  He first claimed they would not be so required, but then changed his mind, causing many to retire, resign or be fired rather than sign a creedal document.

A mark of radical conservatism and Fundamentalism is narrowness of acceptable doctrines and practices.  There is no room for individual Christians, guided by the Holy Spirit, to read scripture and understand its truth and to follow Jesus as guided by scripture and Spirit.  To be acceptable, a Christian must understand scripture as interpreted by the denomination or conservative group and follow Jesus as instructed by them.  This kind of insistence on “My way or the Highway” has led to innumerable church fights and splits.  The issue can be over who may partake of the Lord’s Supper, where to place the piano in the auditorium, who may serve as deacon, details of the return of Jesus, ad infinitum.  Or it could be over cooperating with non Southern Baptist Christians or how much leadership women may give.

Dr. Rankin and the trustees of the mission Board are all part of the “conservative resurgence” and were put in place by that leadership.  But now they are not narrow enough.  The question is, “How narrow is enough?”