Southern Baptists weigh quitting allianc

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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
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 4:45pm

>"Way to show your ignorence about Islam. Most Muslims are not fanatical zealots, but rather down to Earth people like most of everyone else. Do you always judge groups of people based on a few extremists? "<


You have misread Hayashig's post, "Islamists", did you not notice the quotation marks around the word? She refering to the extremists in both cases & thinking they're RIGHT.


We try to

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Sat, 06-19-2004 - 12:45pm
<>

The world "Islamists" is often used to denote extreme Muslims. I'm sorry you misinterpreted my intent; I do not regard all Muslims as fanatical anymore than all Christians as fanatics. I was simply making a comparison between fundamentalist, regardless of religion.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Sun, 06-20-2004 - 2:41am
<>

Would a vegetarian association form an alliance with a meat-packers union and give them voting rights in the organization? These are non-negotiable principles of faith for conservative baptists.

<>

Actually, Southern Baptists seem to support women in practically any other endeavor, and women often begin and run church ministries. Jerry Falwell's daughter is a surgeon, and he fully encouraged her ambitions as far as I know.

The role of women in ministry is an issue of biblical interpretation. I figure there are plenty of other denominations for women to join if they want to assume pastorship, so why worry about the Southern Baptists if you don't agree with them?

<

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.">>

Baptists are a different breed than denominations with a hierarchy (like Catholics). They tend to be independent-minded and locally controlled. Baptist churches are notorious for splitting over doctrinal issues and forming new sub-denominations or establishing new congregations. The idea of a "Baptist World Alliance" almost sounds like a joke. Rather than fight it out with people you disagree with, why not simply split up and work with the people you do agree with?

<>

Certain ethical issues such as abortion or gay partner coverage might have prompted conservative Christians to form their own insurance co-ops.

<>

You highlighted this. What bothers you about it?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 06-21-2004 - 10:28am

Would a vegetarian association form an alliance with a meat-packers union and give them voting rights in the organization? These are non-negotiable principles of faith for conservative baptists.


Didn't disagree necessarily...just found it interesting.


The role of women in ministry is an issue of biblical interpretation. I figure there are plenty of other denominations for women to join if they want to assume pastorship, so why worry about the Southern Baptists if you don't agree with them?


I don't accept blind discrimination regardless.


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