Mr. Rogers,
I can agree that the statue may “lack artistic merit,” however it appears to not to be in the presbytery/sanctuary or nave of the church, but in some other part of the (your?) church.
I saw the statue as a piece of art of our Saviour, not as a ‘graven image’ or an item to worship. I did not and do not worship the image of Jesus that is in the stained glass window at the front of the Disciple of Christ Church of my youth and to which a attend on my vacations home.
The main ‘idiocy’ I saw is that it was considered “too Catholic” as a/the prime reason, not that it was a “graven image.” I have no dispute with, as you said, “Wanting a Baptist church to look like a Baptist church....”
I suspect - I'm in Arizona, no where close to the church in question - some members objected because it "looked Catholic" and reminded them of some beliefs they no longer hold. When it was brought up at a business meeting - almost all decisions in a baptist church are done in business meetings - the large majority of the members (over 75%) voted to get rid of it. That is their right.
Worth remembering:
Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters. One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him. Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God.
For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. - Romans 14