Southern Baptists weigh quitting allianc

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Registered: 03-23-2003
Southern Baptists weigh quitting allianc
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Mon, 06-14-2004 - 5:35pm

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Southern%20Baptists


Monday, June 14, 2004 · Last updated 12:30 p.m. PT


Southern Baptists weigh quitting alliance


By RICHARD N. OSTLING
AP RELIGION WRITER


INDIANAPOLIS -- At a meeting that marks the 25th anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention's rightward shift, the effects of that swing may be felt Tuesday in a vote on pulling out of the Baptist World Alliance and the election of another conservative president.


The executive committee of the SBC - America's largest Protestant body, with 16.3 million members - voted in February to quit the world alliance. Thousands of voters at the annual gathering are likely to approve the move.


Based in Falls Church, Va., the alliance is a loose association representing 46 million Baptists in 211 denominations. SBC officials have complained that the organization is too theologically liberal, and that it has taken on an anti-American tone.


A pullout would mean the loss of the alliance's largest member body and a third of its income. The alliance was founded 99 years ago, with the SBC among its primary founders.


The next president of the denomination also will be elected Tuesday, with the Rev. Bobby Welch of Daytona Beach, Fla., the only announced candidate.


There was no such unity 25 years ago, when conservative Southern Baptists - gathered in Houston - won a critical presidential contest, electing the Rev. Adrian Rogers of Memphis, Tenn. Other conservative leaders followed, using their appointment powers to enforce strict policies at denominational agencies and schools.


Rogers was to preach at a pre-convention pastors' conference but stayed home due to heart trouble and delivered a video greeting.


Other leaders in what the winners call the "conservative resurgence" and their moderate opponents label the "fundamentalist takeover" were to speak at a 25th anniversary celebration Monday night.


The world alliance split has been simmering for months, and the SBC has denied the alliance exhibit space at this week's meeting.


A December report from an SBC task force complained that some alliance participants had questioned "the truthfulness of Holy Scripture," refused to affirm the necessity of conscious faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and promoted "women as preachers and pastors."(me:  GASP!!)


The report also said some groups had taken on "a decided anti-American tone," and had criticized the SBC and its foreign mission board.


The last straw came in 2003 when the alliance accepted as a member the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a rival group to the SBC formed by moderates.


When the SBC leadership decided to propose the pullout to the annual meeting, the moderate editor of the Texas convention newspaper charged that "fundamentalists must control. What they cannot control, they abandon and undermine."


However, officials of the alliance and the SBC conferred in April, and said if a pullout does occur, they'll continue regular talks to resolve issues so the SBC can rejoin "in the not too distant future."


Meanwhile, the SBC women's auxiliary plans to continue cooperating with the alliance, while the denomination explores alternative ties to evangelicals overseas. Another measure up for approval here would allow non-Baptist U.S. evangelicals to join the SBC's health, insurance and retirement plans.(me:  Is this a church or an insurance company??)


On Wednesday, the meeting will issue statements on various issues, with gay marriage and public schools dominating the pre-convention speculation on what the resolutions committee will propose.


One text, submitted to the committee by two prominent hard-liners, would encourage Southern Baptists to remove their children from "officially Godless" public schools in favor of Christian day schools or home schooling.


If the committee proposes a statement on education, observers expect it will water down that language.


Another issue that could arise is outgoing SBC President Jack Graham's call for another study on whether the denomination should drop its "Southern" name to underscore its national and international reach.


---


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Tue, 06-15-2004 - 10:58am

>"When the SBC leadership decided to propose the pullout to the annual meeting, the moderate editor of the Texas convention newspaper charged that ``fundamentalists must control. What they cannot control, they abandon and undermine.'' "<


That about says it.


>"would encourage Southern Baptists to remove their children from ``officially Godless'' public schools in favor of Christian day schools or home schooling. ",


Those schools that teach evolution & don't worship a flag.

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Tue, 06-15-2004 - 11:56am
<<"fundamentalists must control. What they cannot control, they abandon and undermine.">>

This is so true. I wonder if the Baptist realize how much they have in common with "Islamists"? A fanatical zeal and a belief that they are absolutely RIGHT.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Tue, 06-15-2004 - 2:52pm

A fanatical zeal and a belief that they are absolutely RIGHT.


So true...so true.

Fireworkscl-nwtreehugger


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Tue, 06-15-2004 - 3:40pm
Frankly I dont see the problem. Their interpretation of the Bible doesn't support what the larger body is allowing. The leaders of this group have a responsibility to its members to follow their principles.

Wouldn't you pull your children out of an "officially Godless" school if God was primary in your life?

"Those schools that teach evolution..."

They should teach the theory of creationism if they teach the theory of evolution.

I'm sending a check.

JIm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Tue, 06-15-2004 - 3:56pm

Their interpretation of the Bible doesn't support what the larger body is allowing.


"Interpretation" being the key word here.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Tue, 06-15-2004 - 4:05pm
"My point in posting this was more to how they interpret the Bible...and their discriminatory practices against women, etc."

It isn't necessarily discriminatory in nature to not allow women to pastor a church. There is sound Biblical support for this, depending upon the interpretation. The church is obviously not all men and the women are there freely. My church has similar beliefs and the women are not thought of in any inferior or submissive way.

"No, because "God" doesn't belong in the schools."

That is the typical secular belief. If one doesn't support belief then they should pull their children out of the school system. Nothing wrong with it.

"However, if they are going to do that, WHICH religion will they choose? "

Why choose a religion? Teach the theory itself, give examples of multiple beliefs but don't put one above the other.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Tue, 06-15-2004 - 5:50pm

It isn't necessarily discriminatory in nature to not allow women to pastor a church. There is sound Biblical support for this, depending upon the interpretation. The church is obviously not all men and the women are there freely. My church has similar beliefs and the women are not thought of in any inferior or submissive way.


You have a different definition of discrimination than I do, I guess.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 11:10am
"You have a different definition of discrimination than I do, I guess. Don't women have the same capacity to teach, lead or minister to a congregation? Why not? What makes women 'unacceptable' as pastors? To me, to say that a woman can't be as dedicated to the church as a man...or have the same capacity to lead IS treating them as inferior and requiring them to be submissive."

I understand your feelings. However, the church allows for different roles for its members. There is Bibilical scipture about the roles of a man and a woman. One of the roles that a man has, in the church, is to lead the congregation. A woman can be as dedicated as a man, she just has a different role in the church. Claiming discrimnation because of these defined and accepted roles would only come from an outsider.

"It definitely does absolutely nothing as far as teaching tolerance of others and their beliefs, though."

That isn't the role of public schools. Teaching tolerance and beliefs is a personal interpretation and should be confined to the home. I don't want teachers teaching my children their definition of tolerance and their beliefs.

Jim

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 11:43am

A woman can be as dedicated as a man, she just has a different role in the church. Claiming discrimnation because of these defined and accepted roles would only come from an outsider.


Which is exactly WHY I became an "outsider".


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 12:19pm
"Which is exactly WHY I became an "outsider". "

Your choice, which was right for you.

"nor will I ever allow my DD to be told that she has a preset role that she must follow."

You don't have control over this. Influence only, no control.

"but how is your definition of 'tolerance' going to be different than, say mine?"

Your definition of tolerance may be more weighted toward acceptance than mine. For example,

I am tolerant of homosexuals, but I don't accept it as healthy and normal, you may.

I am tolerant of those who believe socialism is an effective form of government but I don't accept their beliefs as truth, you may.

I am tolerant of different religious beliefs, they are free to practice whatever they like, but I wouldn't teach it is equal to my own. You may.

"then why the comment about 'godless schools'?"

That was a quote from the Baptists. The schools have been made godless by the courts. I don't believe that is a wise choice but that being the case I would (and have) pulled my children from public schools.

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