Mainstream Baptist Network
915-659-4102 P.O. Box 3301
San Angelo, TX 76902-3301
MEMO
TO: NORTH CAROLINA BAPTISTS
FROM: DAVID R. CURRIE, MBN CONSULTANT
DATE: JANUARY 16, 2002
SUBJECT: MBN MEETING IN CHARLOTTE AND YOUR FUTURE
FIRST, I want to invite each of you to attend the Mainstream Baptist Network Convocation in Charlotte, February 15-16, 2002. The theme of our meeting is "A Firm Foundation of Freedom in Christ." It will be an inspiring meeting and a great time of fellowship. We have a great line-up of speakers; highlighted by your own, Dr. Roy Smith, as our banquet speaker Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. Details are enclosed.
SECOND, I want to communicate frankly to you about the North Carolina Baptist Convention. Let me say up front, the Mainstream Baptist Network is an autonomous organization just as Mainstream Baptists of North Carolina is an autonomous organization. These words are mine. I’m not "running this by" Mainstream for their approval or by anyone else. I’ve been fighting the "evil" of fundamentalism for 14 years. I do what I want and say what I feel. The following will be straightforward.
You lost last year and are very disappointed, which is understandable. HEAR ME CLEARLY, YOU CAN WIN AND YOU WILL WIN. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GOD’S KINGDOM THAT YOU DO WIN THE BATTLE FOR LEADERSHIP OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAPTIST CONVENTION. You have wonderful institutions that need to remain free to follow God’s leadership without having to answer to a bunch of Pharisees.
Fundamentalism is a perversion of the Gospel. Read the Bible. Jesus made this clear. If you as North Carolina Baptists can preserve your convention, then the resources and majority of the churches will be used to honor God. People who preach love, grace and redemption, not condemnation, will fill the pulpits. The real question is, "What kind of preaching do you want your grandchildren hearing – Jerry Falwell type of preaching or Randall Lolley type of preaching?" That is what is at stake.
I am not an opponent of Fairness and Shared Leadership, but the reality is that North Carolina will be a state convention that practices Baptist principles only if Mainstream Baptists are in leadership of the convention. If you don’t believe me, just look at Missouri, Georgia or Florida. You must win the convention and then you can be fair and include others.
Paige Patterson and his followers do not want to cooperate with you. They do not want to have anything to do with you. As soon as he and his followers have control, they will fire people, institute creedalism, deny local church autonomy, take away your giving options, etc. The only way you deal with Paige Patterson is for you to have more people at the convention then [sic] he does year after year. Eventually he will form his own state convention. He will run you out of your convention without your persistence to the cause.
Here are some first steps to make sure you are successful:
1. Come to the MBN Convocation and let it inspire you. Allow God to speak to you and give you vision and strength. Return the reservation form in the enclosed envelope.
2. This letter is going to 4,760 people. It should be going to at least 10,000 names. Fill out the enclosed "Friends who should be on the MBN mailing list" and put it in the envelope.
3. Take out your checkbook and write a check for at least $50 (many of you can afford $100 or $500) and make it out to Mainstream Baptists of North Carolina. Put it in the envelope as well.
4. Make a commitment now to be in Winston-Salem on November 11-13, 2002 and to take someone with you who did not attend this past year. Sign the commitment card and return it with the "Friends" form and your check to our office in the enclosed envelope. It is three days a year—make the commitment NOW. Reserve a hotel room NOW. Enlist someone to go with you NOW.
Mail the envelope to Mainstream Baptist Network, P. O. Box 3301, San Angelo, TX 76902. Everything will be processed, names to the MBN mailing list added and new addresses, money and forms for Mainstream Baptists of North Carolina sent to them.
This is what we will do in return here at MBN:
1. We will send you a monthly MBN North Carolina members’ newsletter.
2. I will accept EVERY speaking invitation that I am given to speak in North Carolina during 2002.
If you ask me, I will come. That is my promise to you. The key is to involve and inspire lay persons. Together, we will do it. We will help line up other speakers in association with Mainstream North Carolina Baptists if you so desire.
3. I will work with North Carolina Mainstream as much and as often as they ask me. I refuse to allow Paige Patterson to run your state without expending every ounce of energy I possess!
NOW WHY WILL YOU WIN?
1. Last year, Mainstream North Carolina was young, was not well defined, was not completely organized and lacked money. Please send money and names as suggested in the above information and that will change the outcome. I am very impressed with Don Gordon and the institutional leadership I have met in North Carolina.
2. You have a larger number of institutions publicly helping you, than we had in Texas. To be honest, only Baylor University helped us publicly. These institutions are critical and will make a difference.
3. You have a highly educated and motivated laity. From what I have seen, the laity in North Carolina is ready to respond to leadership and action. They know what it means to be a real Baptist and they know any Baptist organization must be focused on Christ in order to fulfill the Great Commission.
All those receiving this letter are God’s hope for North Carolina Baptists. The majority of people in any church do not understand what has happened and sadly do not care. That is reality. But you know and you care. I look forward to hearing from you and I especially want to see you in Charlotte, Feb. 15-16 for the first annual Mainstream Convocation.