Baptists: Admission of Guilt

Compared with the ringing statements on racial equality of other U.S. churches, the few pronouncements of the 11 million-member Southern Baptist Convention have been notable only for their ineffective neutrality. At the Baptists' annual meeting in Houston last week, however, nearly three-fourths of the 7,000 messengers (delegates) approved a strong declaration that called upon the convention to open all churches to black membership and work for better housing, employment and education for Negroes. It also acknowledged the denomination's "share of responsibility" for the nation's racial crisis.

Approval of the manifesto was largely the work of the Baptists' outgoing president, the Rev. Franklin Paschall, a Nashville liberal who had to face loud and sometimes bitter minority opposition in pushing it through. Opponents of the measure argued that Baptists should not take stands on secular issues. Most of the messengers seemed to agree with one delegate who answered: "Let's not emasculate the one good thing we have done in 100 years."

In light of the spirit of the declaration, there was some surprise that the messengers elected a conservative as incoming president. He is Dr. W. A. Criswell, 60, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, the largest Southern Baptist congregation. Although long regarded as a segregationist by other Baptist leaders, Criswell insisted that his 15,000-member congregation includes three Negroes. There is no disputing, however, the conservatism of his theology. Criswell is strongly opposed to the teaching of evolution in public schools, believes that Genesis provides a literally accurate account of the world's beginning.