|
To Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) To the Trustees of the International Mission Board (IMB) of the SBC To the Trustees of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the SBC
Mainstream Baptists are deeply disturbed at a recent series of actions by SBC agencies that impugn the integrity of faithful fellow servants by requiring they submit to heavy handed denominational oversight and/or creedally imposed confessions of faith. We are disturbed by the IMB President's request that missionaries sign the 2000 BF&M although he had previously promised that such would not be the case. IMB President Jerry Rankin wrote there is "suspicion that there are IMB personnel whose beliefs and practices are inconsistent with those represented by Southern Baptists." He advised mission personnel that signing the 2000 BF&M "protects you from charges of heresy behind your back while you are overseas and cannot defend yourself." Baptists have never been a creedal people. Requiring missionaries to sign a confession that violates their conscience and conviction that there is no creed but the Bible does nothing to address the forces that are disrupting our mission efforts by creating a climate of mistrust and suspicion surrounding our missionaries. We are disturbed by the NAMB's demand for direct supervision of employees of the Washington D.C. Association and administration of the association's funds. This violates the Baptist principle of autonomy governing relationships between the Southern Baptist Convention and autonomous Baptist state conventions and associations. Never before have Southern Baptists attempted to exercise this kind of hierarchical control. We are disturbed by the NAMB's refusal to appoint ordained female chaplains. This violates the Baptist principles of the priesthood of every believer and of local church autonomy. Is not God free to call both men and women to special service? Are Baptist churches no longer free to ordain whomever they believe God has called and gifted for special service? Females called by God and ordained by Baptist churches deserve the encouragement and endorsement of the convention that serves their churches. It is disturbing that in the future no Southern Baptist female will be able to serve the men and women in the United States military and in our prisons, hospitals, and other institutions that require ordained chaplains. We are disturbed by SBC Executive Director Morris Chapman's refusal to relate to or receive funds from the new Baptist convention in Missouri. If the SBC can relate to and receive funds from multiple state conventions in Texas and Virginia, there should be no valid reason to refuse funds from multiple state conventions in Missouri. If there are valid reasons for limiting relations to a single convention in Missouri, then the Executive Committee of the SBC should have the integrity to limit relations to a single state convention in Texas and Virginia. Mainstream Baptists honor the cherished Baptist principles of liberty of conscience, priesthood of every believer, the autonomy of the local church and the sole authority of Holy Scripture. Therefore, we respectfully request that the trustees of the IMB, the NAMB and the Executive Committee of the SBC restore an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect within the SBC by reviewing and rescinding these disturbing actions. Unanimously approved by the Board of the national Mainstream Baptist Network, February 15, 2002 |
|
Online since April 7, 1999
E- mail questions or comments about this web site to bprescott@mainstreambaptists.orgCopyright © 1999-2003 MAINSTREAM OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS P.O. Box 6371 Norman, OK 73070-6371 (405) 329-2266.
|