In the Gospel Advocate, January 28, 1960, appeared B. C. Goodpasture's third or fourth "all out" attack on Florida Christian College. Evidently the earlier ones had failed to accomplish the purpose for which they were sent out. This article called " An Unusual Type of Cooperation at FC," carries a news clipping from the Tampa Tribune which tells of the plans of a certain Episcopal priest to conduct lectures on the FCC campus. The article also carries two letters from two students (or was it only one?). We really wonder if a student did this. It is quite clear that the facts on this thing were not known either by the student (?) or the Advocate editor. One is led to believe this obvious from such statements as "this would imply," "Maybe my opinions are wrong," "apparently," and "although I know nothing about it, I highly suspect." Goodpasture says: "if all reports are true." We are made to wonder why brother Goodpasture didn't "check for verification" like he told us he did before running the article from the Tampa Tribune about Pat Hardeman preaching for the Unitarians? It seems as if "justice to the cause, the paper, and himself" would have demanded that brother Goodpasture get the "facts" before writing as he did.

I placed a long distance call to James R. Cope to ask him for the "facts." He told me that a neighbor, who was an Episcopalian, came and asked him if they might acquire the rise of a room on the campus for some PRIVATE (Cope emphasized the word "private") studies. Cope told him that the idea of a "gift" was "out" and that any use of the campus would be strictly on a "rental" basis. One of the letters from the student said: "James R. Cope also stated that a written contract had been negotiated with this organization." Brother Cope told me that there never was a written contract.

It was not until three weeks after the appearance of the Tribune article (Oct. 31, 1959) that Cope knew anything about it. Someone out of state sent him a copy. Immediately upon learning about the article Cope called the Episcopalian friend and told him that the whole deal was "off." That was the end of the matter.

Bro. Goodpasture says that if this was a "financial transaction." it was not "solely a 'financial transaction'." Cope said: "It was solely financial with me." In an attempt to prove Cope in the wrong, the "financial transactions" between Joseph's brethren and those who bought him and those between Judas and the Jews are used as examples. Brother Goodpasture ought to be able to see the difference. In the examples he used the people did not "change." Even the Advocate article admitted that Cope had made correction. The illustrations do not fit the case. Wonder why brother Goodpasture didn't give brother Cope credit for his change of mind. He has been quick to applaud preachers who changed from the so-called "anti-cooperation" heresy, even giving the editorial page over to their letters. One of the reasons that I continue to have confidence in FCC is that they are willing to change when mistakes are pointed out. However, I have lost any confidence I ever had in the Advocate because their are not willing to admit a change.

2 John 10, 11 is quoted and the implication is made that brother Cope violated this passage when he made a "financial transaction" with a non-Christian. Does brother Goodpasture ever deal with non-Christians? Do you, reader, ever buy, sell, or trade with non-Christians? Did you ever think you were violating the aforementioned passage in so doing? The Gospel Advocate Company, of which B. C. Goodpasture is the president, sells Clark's Commentary, Barnes' Notes, etc. These and other books he sells contain false doctrine. Can you picture a man being so inconsistent?

The article says: "Those of us who originally contributed to the establishment and operation of Florida Christian College did not do so for the purpose of helping to 'train priest' and establish an Episcopal Church in Temple Terrace . . ." I don't know how much brother Goodpasture contributed to FCC "originally" but I do know that all he has contributed lately is a lot of libelous remarks. He leaves the impression that FCC is teaching Episcopal doctrine. As we have stated before, the classes were to be strictly private. When Cope learned they were to be otherwise he stopped them. Of course, what the editor was really getting at was this: "Neither did we contribute the money to provide a haven and nurture in class or in the 'sower's club' or elsewhere for the anti-orphan home and anti-cooperation hobbies." (Grammar: "sower's club" should be "Sowers Club.") The small FCC faculty and staff care for 15 orphans and widows on an individual basis. That does average out to more than a dime or even a dollar a month for the care of the needy, doesn't it?

Now the switch comes: Goodpasture says, "This is a 'modern' type of liberalism 'among us'." Who has complained so much about using the word "liberal" out of its historical context? I guess when the pressure gets so great on someone he just decides that he will call them what they have called him.

A lot of these promoters of unscriptural practices don't know the difference, evidently, between the college and the church, Goodpasture shows his colors in saying: "If someone asks for 'a pattern' in Scripture for this FCC type of cooperation . . ." We ask: When did FCC ever have to have a "pattern" in Scripture? It is operated as a private business just as the Gospel Advocate Co. is. When one cannot prove his point he sometimes tries to shift the responsibility. That is what has happened here. Goodpasture and all the others who write for him have failed to show Scriptural "pattern" for sponsoring churches, Herald of Truth, institutional homes supported by the church, etc. We insist that they prove their point without trying to shift the responsibility of proof. Well, Goodpasture shows his true generosity in likening young president Cope to "decadent and apostate" Solomon. Before we get away from the point we should say that FCC is operated as an adjunct to the home and NOT to the church. Florida Christian does not SOLICIT NOR ACCEPT money from churches. Some of the other colleges operated by Christians do.

Brother Goodpasture, get the facts before you attack FCC again!

Truth Magazine IV:5, pp. 20-21
February 1960