WILMINGTON, N.C. (ABP) — A new Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church in southeastern North Carolina has withdrawn its application for membership in the Wilmington Baptist Association after it became the subject of debate at the association's meeting May 12.
North Brunswick Fellowship Church, which meets in an elementary school near Leland in Brunswick County, was initially expected to be a member of Brunswick Baptist Association, but that association voted in 2002 to limit funding for the church if it affiliated with the CBF. Rob Norman, who is co-pastor of North Brunswick with his wife, Mickie, said the church approached the Wilmington Association about membership about a year ago.
In February, the Wilmington Association leaders invited the church to apply, saying they wanted to be inclusive, Norman said. The church's application was approved by the association's Executive Committee and missions committee that month, said Jim Everette, associate pastor at Wilmington First Baptist Church.
But during a May 12 meeting of the association, some members expressed concern that the church did not have “Baptist” in its name and that it was not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, Norman and Everett said.
After about 30 minutes of debate, Norman said he decided to withdraw the application because he realized the issue was becoming divisive. “We didn't fight with Brunswick Association and we're not going to fight with Wilmington Association,” he said.