CSBC Proposal on Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality

By Stephen Feinstein

Greetings everyone. Below you will find a new resolution proposed concerning critical race theory and intersectionality. As many of you know, I am the original author of what is now known as Resolution 9. Much controversy surrounded the passing of said resolution mainly because it altered the original proposal greatly and was silent concerning the ideology behind CRT/I. As I have stated elsewhere, I understand the concerns of the resolution committee and hold no ill will in the changes they made. I lacked precision in my original resolution, conflating certain aspects of CRT with CT. 

To ensure this would not happen in the state resolution, I received help from Dr. Neil Shevni and Dr. Pat Sawyer. I did further research into the subject and drafted something better than my original, but then I asked Neil and Pat to look it over. Both graciously spent hours adding to it in such a way that it is very precise, accurate, and most importantly, far stronger than Resolution 9 as passed. I fully understand that there will be those who will denounce this if it doesn't directly say CRT is from the devil with no positive qualities. But that simply is not accurate. Thankfully, this proposed resolution accurately describes CT, CRT/I, while raising the proper level of concern Christians should have with them. It then makes a statement about Christian use of these that is far stronger than what is in Resolution 9. In short, I believe this proposal captures Al Mohler's sentiment that Resolution 9 should have said no less, but certainly should have said much more. 

It is my hope that messengers from each state will propose either this very proposal, or at least use it as a template to make their own. If the majority of our state conventions approve something like this, then perhaps it will be easier to get a stronger version at the national level as well. The proposed resolution is below.

On Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality

WHEREAS, Concerns have been justifiably raised by some evangelicals over the use of critical race theory and intersectionality; and

WHEREAS, critical race theory emerged from critical legal studies and is informed by the broad ideology of critical theory manifested in a number of critical social theories (including critical race theory) which can function as a worldview and when it does is fundamentally incompatible with a biblical worldview; and

WHEREAS, intersectionality emerged from critical race theory and came into full expression through feminist theory; and

WHEREAS, critical theory sees social relations through the lens of power; and

WHEREAS, critical theory and intersectionality are principally concerned with oppression and emancipation (often unbiblically defined) and consequently divides humanity into groups of oppressors and oppressed, and sees temporal oppression, rather than sin, as humanity’s chief problem to overcome; and

WHEREAS, critical theory and intersectionality rely on standpoint epistemology to argue that members of oppressed groups have special access to truth unavailable to members of oppressor groups, thus undermining the perspicuity of Scripture to all people; and

WHEREAS, critical race theory and intersectionality cannot be defined merely as analytical tools, yet do contain analytical tools that Christians can use in service to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5); and

WHEREAS, truth can be found embedded in false and unbiblical ideologies; and

WHEREAS, some insights from critical race theory can accurately explain how race has and continues to function in society; and

WHEREAS, intersectionality can show how different facets of identity intersect and interact to both inform and affect one’s experience; and

WHEREAS, Evangelical scholars who affirm the authority and sufficiency of Scripture have employed selective insights from critical race theory and intersectionality to understand multifaceted social dynamics; and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message states, “All Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried” (Article I); and

WHEREAS, General revelation accounts for truthful insights found in human ideas that do not explicitly emerge from Scripture and reflects what some may term “common grace”; and

WHEREAS, not everything critical race theory and intersectionality label as a social ill is in fact a social ill, and where they correctly identify a social ill, critical race theory and intersectionality alone are incapable of diagnosing and redressing the root cause, which results from sin; and

WHEREAS, Scripture contains categories and principles by which to deal with racism, sexism, oppression, injustice, and abuse that are not rooted in secular ideologies; and

WHEREAS, Humanity is primarily identified in Scripture as image bearers of God, even as biblical authors address various audiences according to characteristics such as male and female, Jew and Gentile, slave and free; and

WHEREAS, The New Covenant further unites image bearers by creating a new humanity that will one day inhabit the new creation, and that the people of this new humanity, though descended from every nation, tribe, tongue, and people, are all one through the gospel of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:16;  Revelation 21:1–4, 9–14); and

WHEREAS, Christian citizenship is not based on our differences but instead on our common salvation in Christ—the source of our highest, most pervasive, and ultimate identity (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:1-11); and

WHEREAS, The California Southern Baptist Convention is committed to racial reconciliation and unity built upon biblical presuppositions and is committed to seeking biblical justice through biblical means; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the California Southern Baptist Convention meeting in El Cajon, California, October 21–23, 2019, affirm Scripture as the first, last, and sufficient authority with regard to how the Church seeks to redress social ills, and we reject any conduct, creeds, religious opinions, or secular ideas which contradict Scripture; and be it further

RESOLVED, That selective insights of critical race theory and intersectionality should only be employed as analytical tools in absolute subordination to Scripture; and be it further

RESOLVED, That any and all worldviews in which critical race theory and intersectionality are central, critical, or fundamental must be rejected as incompatible with Christianity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the gospel of Jesus Christ alone holds the power to grant salvific change to both people and society because “the truth is in Jesus, to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:21-22); and be it further

RESOLVED, That California Southern Baptists will carefully analyze how the information gleaned from these tools are employed to address social concerns; and be it further

RESOLVED, That California Southern Baptist churches and institutions repudiate the misuse of insights gained from critical race theory, intersectionality, and any unbiblical ideologies that can emerge from their use when absolutized as a worldview; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we deny that any group is socially situated in a way that prevents its comprehension of the truths of Scripture; or that any group is socially situated in a way that causes special or unique insight into the truths of Scripture; and be it further

RESOLVED, That while we denounce the misuse of critical race theory and intersectionality, we do not deny that ethnic, gender, and cultural distinctions exist and wherever they have been used to oppress and marginalize any person or group greatly grieves the Spirit of God and must be denounced and rejected by all who name the name of Christ, recognizing that such distinctions are a gift from God designed by Him for His  absolute glory when all of God's people  gather around His throne in worship through  the redemption accomplished by our resurrected Christ; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That California Southern Baptist churches seek to exhibit this eschatological promise in our churches  by focusing on our absolute unity in Christ as diverse  image bearers who worship together the one true and living God, serve and love one another deeply, and wait expectantly for the glorious return of our God and Savior (Revelation 22:20-21)!