16
16
Baptists of the various Conventions, therefore, need not fear the Baptist Bible Union
as a separatist movement. The Union has been organized to preserve our beloved
Denomination, not to destroy it.
62
It had been originally intended as a separatist group, but Riley changed all that with his
leadership role in the Minnesota Baptist Convention.
The GARBC, then, went back to the BBUs beginnings to resurrect separatism as
a key plank. Dual membership in the Northern Baptist Convention was ruled out by 1938.
This would later result in the logical conclusion that the GARBC would not merge with the
Conservative Baptists, because the CBA would not take the same separatist stand. The
GARBC also logically affiliated with Carl McIntires American Council of Christian
Churches rather than the National Association of Evangelicals over the same issue.
63
Premillennialism
The GARBC went back to the BBUs founding principles not only for
separatism, but also for premillennialism. This may also have contributed to the geographical
factor, since many Southern Baptists were not premillennial. It would also eliminate Shields,
who had been the main reason the BBU had dropped the doctrine as a prerequisite for
membership.
The GARBC would later clarify their premillennialism even further, adding a
dispensational approach to the rapture question.
64
Ministry Focus
The BBU never was able to emerge from its image as a protest movement. It
spoke loudly about what it was against, but accomplished very little organizationally. There
was often discussion of mission programs and the like, but precious little was done. The Des
Moines University experiment in education needs little comment.
The GARBC, on the other hand, was able to get itself off the ground in these
areas. It took some time to actually work it out, but by April of 1936 the Baptist Bulletin lists
62
"Information Concerning the BBU," 9. Italics in original.
63
Ketcham, "The Position of the GARBC on Separation" (Schaumburg, IL:
GARBC, no date; published as "Literature Item #6").
64
Robert McCaul, "The Inside Story of the Proposed Expulsion of the Brooklyn
Baptist Tabernacle from the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches" (paper on file
at GARBC Home Office, no date, but apparently 1961). McCaul chronicles the gradual move
of the GARBC to an official pre-tribulationism against the dissent of a handful of pastors
who felt very betrayed.