Analysis for Jan. 6, 2005
By Robert O'Brien
What might be called the “Baptist Diaspora”-a wide array of Baptists dispersed by a quarter century of denominational discord-will gather in Atlanta, Feb. 25-26, to envision “A New Day in Baptist Life.”
The gathering, at the fourth annual Mainstream Baptist Convocation, will “begin a conversation that attempts to envision what the Baptist landscape might look like as we proceed into the 21st century,” said MBN co-chairs Bill Wilson and Bob Stephenson in a letter distributed to some 70 Baptist agencies, institutions and entities.
MBN's goal, the letter said, is to host a representative gathering of Baptist clergy and laity, along with representatives from all entities that have emerged in the last 25 years or have been defunded by the Southern Baptist Convention across the years. The convocation is also open to churches, associations, conventions and organizations that have chosen to withdraw from official SBC connection or have chosen to partner with the new entities or network across the entire spectrum of Baptist life.
“We will not seek to start a new organization or denomination,” Wilson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dalton, Ga., said in an interview. “MBN is acting as a catalyst to get an impressive array of Baptist Christians who have grown out of the conflict to explore how we can network and use our resources effectively.
“Baptists have a chance to create a positive future for authentic ministry that is proactive and focuses on the good things we can do collectively and individually-rather than on the pain inflicted by fundamentalists,” said Wilson, a former pastor of First Baptist Church in Waynesboro.
Missionaries Sarah and Larry Ballew of Blacksburg, fired by the SBC's International Mission Board for not signing the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, agree with that.
“Is there life after the IMB?” ask the Ballews, who have returned to their mission field in Macau, China. “We can answer that question with a resounding yes!”
The Ballews represent just one example of what a multitude of fired, resigned or early retired home and foreign missionaries, seminary professors, denominational leaders, and others are doing in ministry-in life after the SBC.
Baptists now live in an era in which division has produced multiplication of efforts that have only begun to explore the possibilities for expanded ministries in missions, evangelism, church growth, Baptist journalism and literature and publishing, human needs, religious liberty, church history, Christian ethics, chaplaincy endorsement and theological education.
The proliferation of ministries includes a boom in theological education. More than 2,000 Baptist students are preparing for ministry at what now totals at least 16 theological schools not affiliated with the SBC.
Controversy has resulted also in separate state conventions forming in each of three states-Virginia, Texas and Missouri. That could soon possibly affect North Carolina.
In Virginia and Texas, conservatives split from the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Baptist General Convention of Texas to form the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, respectively.
The reverse happened in Missouri, where conservatives maintained control of the original state convention, while moderates split off to form the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. Five Missouri Baptist agencies also split from the older convention-Word & Way newspaper, the Baptist Home, Missouri Baptist University, Windermere Conference Center and the Missouri Baptist Foundation.
The original state conventions in Virginia and Texas have maintained a stance that their churches are free to make their own decisions about who to partner with and support financially. Those options include the SBC, the Baptist World Alliance and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Speakers in the convocation's pleanary session include:
• Theo Angelov, immediate past general secretary of the European Baptist Federation. Angelov is described as one of the brightest thinkers among European Baptists and has a powerful vision of the future of Baptist life worldwide. Angelov, a scientist and engineer turned minister, with a Ph.D. in biochemistry, has also served as pastor in Bulgaria and as president of the Bulgarian Baptist Union.
• Penny Long Marler, associate professor of religion at Samford University. A keen observer of Baptist life and well suited to help Baptists think about the future, she is highly respected as a teacher, writer and researcher in sociology of religion, faith development, religion in America, theories of religious change and congregational dynamics.
• Albert Reyes, president of the Baptist University of the Americas, a Hispanic school in San Antonio, Texas. Recently elected president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Reyes has served as a missionary, pastor, church planter, missiologist and educator, as well as chair of the Hispanic Task Force for the White House Initiative for Academic Excellence with the U.S. Department of Education. He has been a progressive thinker and dreamer for many years in Baptist life.
• Walter Shurden, a long-time Baptist historian professor, speaker and author. Shurden directs the Center for Baptist Studies at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. A prolific author and keen observer, he is renown for his insights and his prophetic voice regarding the Baptist family.
Other features of the convocation include a variety of local church pastors to serve on panels and share their methodology, insight and thought process for making connections with Baptist entities beyond their local church.
A required $50 registration fee will cover program fees, a Friday night banquet and a Saturday morning breakfast. Convocation registrations need to be made through the Mainstream Baptist Network at P.O. Box 3301, San Angelo, TX 76902-3301; [email protected]; or (325) 659-4102.
To make a room reservation, call the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown at (404) 815-5022 or (888) 391-8724; fax, (404) 815-5350. The hotel is at 590 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308. Contact the hotel by Feb. 7 to get a convocation room rate of $99 per night.
Special to the Herald
Robert O'Brien writes for the Mainstream Baptist Network.