According to Chaplain E. Ray Moore with the organization known as Exodus Mandate Project (www.exodusmandate.org), a resolution has been filed with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) for consideration at its annual meeting in San Antonio June 12–13 regarding what some have called the beginning of an "exit strategy" from the public school system.
While I appreciate and share the concern for our Christian children and the public school system, I am also concerned about the future of public schools if they are abandoned by the church and Christian students and teachers. This is a dilemma I am struggling with. We must balance our concerns over the problems within the schools with doing our best at being "salt and light" in the world.
I have the blessing of living in an area of Alabama that (while not perfect) has a large number of Christian teachers and students. Many of the local school board members are members of one of our Southern Baptist churches in the county where I serve as associational director of missions. In fact, a large number of the teachers and students are also members of one of our churches. We have no problem praying at school or having special events at the schools. Our youth pastors are in the schools on a regular basis, and we do programs on abstinence (drugs, alcohol, sex) at the invitation of the principal and the school board.
I know it is not that way everywhere, but it is that way many places in Alabama. So when our teachers and board members hear of the SBC having an “exit strategy” from our public schools they don’t understand. They feel unappreciated and abandoned.
In my opinion, it is unfair to lump all schools, boards, teachers and students into one large pile. It seems to me that a combination of private Christian and quality public schools are needed depending upon the local situation.
The exact wording of the resolution has not yet been made public. I will reserve my personal judgment on the resolution until I have had the opportunity to read it in its entirety. In the meantime, I remain grateful for and supportive of all Christian teachers and students in both the public and private sectors.
Larry Felkins
Clanton, Ala.
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