Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 11, 1990 TAG: 9006110147
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE RELIGION WRITER
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
That was because those who heard the men in their only joint appearance of the campaign were attending the Hispanic Ministers Conference, which was conducted primarily in Spanish.
Both men drew rounds of applause and calls of "amen" from the crowd of 300 or so in attendance at New Orleans Theological Seminary, but Daniel Vestal of Atlanta seemed to draw the most enthusiastic response as he called on the group to help lead the denomination into the future.
Vestal, the candidate of the what is usually referred to as the moderate faction of the denomination, repeatedly referred to the expectation that non-white ethnic and racial groups are expected to dominate by early in the next century.
He called on the audience to honor "a debt you cannot repay" to Jesus Christ by taking the gospel message to the America of today and the America of the future.
Vestal made few direct references to Tuesday's election for the denominational presidency but made several points obviously aimed at influencing the voting of those in the audience.
He introduced his wife and two sons, who have helped preach with him since arriving in New Orleans a few days ago. He told of joining a street evangelism campaign Saturday during which a young woman professed Christianity after he spoke with her. And he told of two Vietnamese adults answering an altar call at a mission where he preached Sunday morning.
Vestal said each of those who accepted the gospel message was not interested in the controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention, but only in the story of Christ.
Morris Chapman of Wichita Falls, Texas, the candidate of the ultraconservative faction, also was warmly received by the Hispanic conference.
Conferees responded with rounds of "amens" each time he referred to the "inspired, infallible, inerrant word of God," which he prefaced in his first reference as meaning "in their original manuscripts."
He said polls of Southern Baptists indicated 85 to 90 percent believe in the Bible as he does.
Much of the controversy in the convention has revolved around various arguments over scriptural authority and interpretation.
Many of the ultraconservatives insist on a literal interpretation, in matters of science and history as well as theology. Many moderates insist that they too are inerrantists, but that matters of interpretation must be left up to individuals.
Chapman boasted of his church's record of giving to the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program of missions and institutions and called on all Baptists to be more evangelistic.
by CNB