Posted on 02/17/2004 8:57:16 PM PST by chance33_98
Southern Baptist Committee Votes to Withdraw From Worldwide Group
By Scott Reeves, AP Writer The executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention voted Tuesday to withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance, saying it has become too liberal and advocates "aberrant and dangerous theologies."
The recommendation will be presented in June to about 12,000 delegates at the convention's annual meeting in Indianapolis. If approved, the Southern Baptist Convention would leave the Alliance at the start of the fiscal year, Oct. 1.
The move would be a blow to the Alliance, which received $300,000 this year from the convention, its largest and most generous supporter. The Southern Baptist Convention had contributed $425,000 a year since 1998.
The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, with about 16 million members. The Baptist World Alliance, established in London in 1905, represents about 47 million Baptists worldwide.
"We want to underscore that our departure is not intended to cast aspersion upon the many godly and enthusiastically evangelical Baptist fellowships that are members" of the Alliance, said Morris H. Chapman, president of the convention's executive committee.
Nevertheless, a task force report in December claimed the Alliance showed a "decided anti-American tone."
The report also said the Alliance promoted women as pastors, frequently criticized the Southern Baptist Convention international missions board, refused to talk openly about abortion and funded "questionable enterprises."
In July, the Alliance voted to accept the Atlanta-based Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a group that calls itself moderate but is seen as liberal by the Southern Baptist Convention.
"We are very sad," said Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance.
The Alliance is devoted to evangelism and providing education and disaster relief worldwide. It also offers religious and social service programs. Its North American home base is Falls Church, Va.
If this is a mission statement, it is revealing. I'd say the Southern Baptists sized up the World Alliance accurately.
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