Morris Chapman
Encyclopedia
Morris H. Chapman was elected president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention
(SBC) Executive Committee on 1 October 1992.
In September 2009 he announced that he would retire from this position effective 30 September 2010.
on 21 November 1940.
He graduated from Mississippi College
in Clinton, Mississippi
(1963) and earned the Master of Divinity (1968) and Doctor of Ministry (1975) degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
in Fort Worth, Texas
. He was awarded three honorary degrees, the Doctor of Sacred Theology, Southwest Baptist University
, Bolivar, Missouri
(1985); the Doctor of Divinity, Mississippi College
(1992); and the Doctor of Sacred Theology, Grand Canyon University
, Phoenix, Arizona
(2005).
He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Rogers, Texas
(1967-1969), First Baptist Church of Woodway in Waco, Texas
(1969-1974), and First Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico
(1974-1979), where he also served as president of the New Mexico Baptist Convention (1976-1978).
He became pastor of First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas
(1979-1992), and was president of the 1986 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Atlanta.
His successive elections to these positions marked the start of a long period of conservative dominance of the SBC.
Speaking in February 2003 Chapman called on Southern Baptists to return to their heritage. Talking of their settled conviction of the truth of the gospels, he said that "Our forefathers drank from the deep, pure well named 'sound theology.'"
Addressing SBC delegates at a June 2004 convention, Chapman celebrated the success of the conservative resurgence and attributed its success to support from the rank-and-file.
In November 2005 Chapman defended the SBC against what he saw as harsh criticism about the church's conservative direction in former President Jimmy Carter
's book, "Our Endangered Values", and attacked Carter's positions on subjects such as abortion and homosexuality.
In January 2007 Carter and former President Bill Clinton
proposed that a broadly inclusive alternative Baptist movement should be established to counter what they called a negative image of Baptists.
Chapman disputed the contention that Baptists had a negative image, and pointed out that the SBC was by no means a "white" organization since of the 43,071 churches 4,742 said they were mainly "ethnic" and 2,085 said they were mainly African-American.
In June 2006 Chapman said that an excessive emphasis on Calvinism
should be avoided to prevent division in the church. He called on Baptists to avoid disputing minor issues and to commit to cooperation in missions to spread the word of Jesus throughout the world.
His 2009 report to the SBC noted "a resurgence in the belief that divine sovereignty alone is at work in salvation without a faith response on the part of man." This drew criticism as being unacceptable to Calvinists, and Chapman hastened to clarify that he was not denying the importance of faith but was asserting that it was a gift of God.
Talking in February 2009 about the financial crisis in the USA, Chapman said it could give birth to spiritual awakening if Christians are willing "to abandon all of self for all of Christ".
In June 2009 he advocated launching a Christian alternative to public education, saying that "In far too many public schools throughout the country our children are being bombarded with secular reasoning, situational ethics and moral erosion".
In September 2009, while announcing his plan to retire, Chapman said he would launch an initiative to support a "Great Commission Resurgence".
The Great Commission Resurgence task force formed by SBC President Johnny Hunt
, which was chaired by Ronnie Floyd
, issued a report in May 2010 pressing for a revival of evangelism in the face of declining baptisms and outlining new responsibilities for Southern Baptist mission organizations.
At their annual meeting in June 2010 the members of the Southern Baptist Convention overwhelming endorsed the report.
Chapman publicly opposed the report, saying "the recommendations are about moving the chairs on the deck of the Titanic while the ship goes down into an icy, watery grave".
He issued a list of alternate recommendations to those given by the task force.
In his final report prior to his retirement to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando in June 2010, Chapman said the last five recommendations of the task force did not sufficiently address spiritual needs, but instead concentrated on organizational issues.
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
(SBC) Executive Committee on 1 October 1992.
In September 2009 he announced that he would retire from this position effective 30 September 2010.
Early years
Chapman was born in Kosciusko, MississippiKosciusko, Mississippi
Kosciusko is a city in Attala County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,372 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Attala County....
on 21 November 1940.
He graduated from Mississippi College
Mississippi College
Mississippi College, also known as MC, is a private, Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi. Mississippi College comprises the main campus in Clinton, as well as satellite campuses in Brandon and Madison, Mississippi, and the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson...
in Clinton, Mississippi
Clinton, Mississippi
Clinton is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. Situated in the Jackson metropolitan area, it is the tenth largest city in Mississippi. The population was 23,347 at the 2000 United States Census.-History:...
(1963) and earned the Master of Divinity (1968) and Doctor of Ministry (1975) degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. He was awarded three honorary degrees, the Doctor of Sacred Theology, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University is a private institute of higher education affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention which is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2003 there were approximately 3,600 students attending at one of SBU's four Missouri, United States campuses in Bolivar,...
, Bolivar, Missouri
Bolivar, Missouri
Bolivar is the county seat of Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,325 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Bolivar, Tennessee, home to many of the original settlers, and like that city its name is pronounced to rhyme with Oliver...
(1985); the Doctor of Divinity, Mississippi College
Mississippi College
Mississippi College, also known as MC, is a private, Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi. Mississippi College comprises the main campus in Clinton, as well as satellite campuses in Brandon and Madison, Mississippi, and the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson...
(1992); and the Doctor of Sacred Theology, Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Grand Canyon Education . GCU was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. purchased Grand Canyon University in February 2004...
, Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
(2005).
He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Rogers, Texas
Rogers, Texas
Rogers is a town in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,117 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(1967-1969), First Baptist Church of Woodway in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
(1969-1974), and First Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
(1974-1979), where he also served as president of the New Mexico Baptist Convention (1976-1978).
He became pastor of First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
(1979-1992), and was president of the 1986 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Atlanta.
SBC Executive
Chapman was president of the SBC (1990-92) before being elected president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee in 1992.His successive elections to these positions marked the start of a long period of conservative dominance of the SBC.
Speaking in February 2003 Chapman called on Southern Baptists to return to their heritage. Talking of their settled conviction of the truth of the gospels, he said that "Our forefathers drank from the deep, pure well named 'sound theology.'"
Addressing SBC delegates at a June 2004 convention, Chapman celebrated the success of the conservative resurgence and attributed its success to support from the rank-and-file.
In November 2005 Chapman defended the SBC against what he saw as harsh criticism about the church's conservative direction in former President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
's book, "Our Endangered Values", and attacked Carter's positions on subjects such as abortion and homosexuality.
In January 2007 Carter and former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
proposed that a broadly inclusive alternative Baptist movement should be established to counter what they called a negative image of Baptists.
Chapman disputed the contention that Baptists had a negative image, and pointed out that the SBC was by no means a "white" organization since of the 43,071 churches 4,742 said they were mainly "ethnic" and 2,085 said they were mainly African-American.
In June 2006 Chapman said that an excessive emphasis on Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
should be avoided to prevent division in the church. He called on Baptists to avoid disputing minor issues and to commit to cooperation in missions to spread the word of Jesus throughout the world.
His 2009 report to the SBC noted "a resurgence in the belief that divine sovereignty alone is at work in salvation without a faith response on the part of man." This drew criticism as being unacceptable to Calvinists, and Chapman hastened to clarify that he was not denying the importance of faith but was asserting that it was a gift of God.
Talking in February 2009 about the financial crisis in the USA, Chapman said it could give birth to spiritual awakening if Christians are willing "to abandon all of self for all of Christ".
In June 2009 he advocated launching a Christian alternative to public education, saying that "In far too many public schools throughout the country our children are being bombarded with secular reasoning, situational ethics and moral erosion".
Great Commission Resurgence
In May 2009, Chapman spoke out against the Great Commission Resurgence Declaration, specifically Article IX of this declaration which was critical of the organization of the SBC and proposed a number of changes.In September 2009, while announcing his plan to retire, Chapman said he would launch an initiative to support a "Great Commission Resurgence".
The Great Commission Resurgence task force formed by SBC President Johnny Hunt
Johnny Hunt
Johnny M. Hunt is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, and former President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is currently the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock, in Woodstock, Georgia.- Early life :...
, which was chaired by Ronnie Floyd
Ronnie Floyd
Ronnie Wayne Floyd is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Springdale in Springdale, Arkansas, USA and of its second campus the The Church At Pinnacle Hills in Rogers, Arkansas, both "megachurches". On Jan...
, issued a report in May 2010 pressing for a revival of evangelism in the face of declining baptisms and outlining new responsibilities for Southern Baptist mission organizations.
At their annual meeting in June 2010 the members of the Southern Baptist Convention overwhelming endorsed the report.
Chapman publicly opposed the report, saying "the recommendations are about moving the chairs on the deck of the Titanic while the ship goes down into an icy, watery grave".
He issued a list of alternate recommendations to those given by the task force.
In his final report prior to his retirement to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando in June 2010, Chapman said the last five recommendations of the task force did not sufficiently address spiritual needs, but instead concentrated on organizational issues.
See Also
- Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
- Southern Baptist Convention PresidentsSouthern Baptist Convention PresidentsThe President of the Southern Baptist Convention heads the denomination and is elected at the yearly convention. The term is for one year, and a candidate can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.-See also:...
- List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people