Changes

Beginning in the late 1960s, conservatives under the leadership of layman Paul Pressler and minister Paige Patterson claimed that the denomination's institutions had come under the influence of liberalism and that a redirection was necessary.  At one point the liberalism was so rampant, the SBC actually passed a resolution in 1971 -- nearly two years before the infamous ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' decision -- supporting abortion in such cases as "clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother"<ref>See [http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/13/resolution-on-abortion SBC Resolution on Abortion, 1971 Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri.]</ref>, and three years later in Dallas (the year after Roe v. Wade) reaffirmed the resolution, saying that it "dealt responsibly from a Christian perspective with complexities of abortion problems in contemporary society" while also in the same resolution claiming that the SBC "historically held a high view of the sanctity of human life".<ref>See [http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/14/resolution-on-abortion-and-sanctity-of-human-life SBC Resolution on Abortion and Sanctity of Human Life, 1974 Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas.]</ref>

Beginning in the late 1960s, conservatives under the leadership of layman Paul Pressler and minister Paige Patterson claimed that the denomination's institutions had come under the influence of liberalism and that a redirection was necessary.  At one point the liberalism was so rampant, the SBC actually passed a resolution in 1971 -- nearly two years before the infamous ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' decision -- supporting abortion in such cases as "clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother"<ref>See [http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/13/resolution-on-abortion SBC Resolution on Abortion, 1971 Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri.]</ref>, and three years later in Dallas (the year after Roe v. Wade) reaffirmed the resolution, saying that it "dealt responsibly from a Christian perspective with complexities of abortion problems in contemporary society" while also in the same resolution claiming that the SBC "historically held a high view of the sanctity of human life".<ref>See [http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/14/resolution-on-abortion-and-sanctity-of-human-life SBC Resolution on Abortion and Sanctity of Human Life, 1974 Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas.]</ref>

Patterson and Pressler noted the structure of the SBC presidency could be used to gain this redirection: the SBC president solely nominates the Committee on Committees, which in turn nominates the Committee on Nominations (previously known as the Committee on Boards), which in turn nominates the Executive Committee, heads of all SBC organizations, and other positions.  A conservative-minded President would fill vacancies on the Committee on Committees with similarly conservative-minded persons, and when that faction had control it would, in turn, fill nominees for the Committee on Nominations (again with similarly conservative-minded persons), and thereafter fill all other positions similarly.

Patterson and Pressler were aided by William Powell, an SBC employee who noted that the structure of the SBC presidency could be used to gain this redirection: the SBC president solely nominates the Committee on Committees, which in turn nominates the Committee on Nominations (previously known as the Committee on Boards), which in turn nominates the Executive Committee, heads of all SBC organizations, and other positions.  A conservative-minded President would fill vacancies on the Committee on Committees with similarly conservative-minded persons, and when that faction had control it would, in turn, fill nominees for the Committee on Nominations (again with similarly conservative-minded persons), and thereafter fill all other positions similarly.

Starting in 1979 they mobilized delegates to attend the annual convention and to elect strong conservative candidates. Usually winning by ratios of about 55%-45% they elected a series of strong conservative presidents. In turn the presidents appointed strong conservative committees and trustees, and systematically transformed the mindset of the SBC's six seminaries, its publishing house, its mission boards, and its numerous agencies to a conservative view. Theologically the issue has focused on the inerrancy of Scripture.  In 1980 the SBC had completely reversed itself on abortion, passing a much stronger resolution condemning the practice (ironically, meeting again in St. Louis, the site of the 1971 convention where they initially supported the practice).<ref>See [http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/19/resolution-on-abortion SBC Resolution on Abortion, 1980 Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri.]</ref>

Starting in 1979 they mobilized delegates to attend the annual convention and to elect strong conservative candidates. Usually winning by ratios of about 55%-45% they elected a series of strong conservative presidents. In turn the presidents appointed strong conservative committees and trustees, and systematically transformed the mindset of the SBC's six seminaries, its publishing house, its mission boards, and its numerous agencies to a conservative view. Theologically the issue has focused on the inerrancy of Scripture.  In 1980 the SBC had completely reversed itself on abortion, passing a much stronger resolution condemning the practice (ironically, meeting again in St. Louis, the site of the 1971 convention where they initially supported the practice).<ref>See [http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/19/resolution-on-abortion SBC Resolution on Abortion, 1980 Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri.]</ref>