Member assimilation

Dr. Terry hit the nail on the head with several of his comments, especially the comment concerning orientation and assimilation in the June 26 editorial “SBC Resolution Takes the Wrong Approach.”

I grew up in the old Methodist church (but never surrendered my life to Jesus Christ) and had an understanding of the Methodist doctrine, etc. It wasn’t until I surrendered my life to Christ that I attended and became a member of a Southern Baptist church. Before I even really knew what a Baptist was, I found myself teaching an adult Sunday School class. This was completely without benefit of any orientation or assimilation or training of any kind by pastor, deacon or church member. Mostly I didn’t know if what I was teaching was Baptist doctrine or some other completely unrelated doctrine. The only general guidance that was ever expressed by the pastor was, “Don’t read anything liberal; only read conservative writings.”

My educational background is such that I read extensively and feel that I am fully able to judge the value of a written work. Just because a book or article is either liberal or conservative (fundamentalist) does not mean that it is true. We all have our biases. The point I am trying to make is that this was the extent of any guidance of any kind by the pastor of that Baptist church, and it didn’t get any better in subsequent churches that I have attended. The church that I attend now is the first Baptist church that I have attended that the pastor held a pastor’s class for new members.

Sam Yates
Hayden, Ala.