ATLANTA (ABP) — Churches affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists are setting aside Sunday, Sept. 19, to celebrate the fellowship of churches and individuals founded 23 years ago as a dissenting voice in the Southern Baptist Convention and now a champion of progressive Christian values with partners around the world.
The Alliance of Baptists leadership team includes (from left) Paula Clayton Dempsey, minister for partnership relations; Chris Copeland, minister for leadership formation; Carole Collins, director of finance; and Mary Andreolli, minister for outreach and communications.
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The theme for the first Alliance of Baptists Sunday is: "We are a love God, love neighbor people." Mary Andreolli, the group's minister for outreach and communications, described the message as "near and dear" to the Alliance, "as we believe we are Great Commandment people."
Laura Mayo, associate minister of Alliance-affiliated Covenant Church in Houston and chair of the Alliance's newly formed communications "community," said in a cover letter for a resource packet that the special Sunday's emphasis is two-fold.
One aim is to celebrate the Alliance story "for those who have already found a home in the Alliance." The other is "to tell it anew to those who may not have heard the good news of the Alliance."
It also provides an opportunity for churches to promote the Alliance's "Bridges of Hope" mission offering. This year's offering goal is $120,000, with proceeds earmarked for 32 mission partners in the United States and around the world. While small by denominational standards with 130 churches and 2,000 individual members, the Alliance has raised over $2 million since launching the annual offering, providing support for more than 200 different groups.
The group was formed in 1987 around principles like autonomy of the local church, support for women in ministry and academic freedom in theological education — viewed as under siege from political maneuvering by a movement championing the "inerrancy" of Scripture in the SBC. The Alliance now promotes itself as a progressive Christian voice "seeking to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world."
The group supports causes like ecumenical cooperation, interfaith dialogue and acceptance of members regardless of sexual orientation — issues typically associated more with liberal mainline denominations like the United Church of Christ than Baptists.
After the retirement of longtime executive director Stan Hastey in 2009, the Alliance moved to a team-leadership approach based on collaboration among four full- and part-time staff members.
At its recent annual meeting in Pacific Grove, Calif., the Alliance implemented new bylaw changes to adopt for its general membership a "consensus model" for decision-making used the last several years by the group's board of directors.
The group also put into motion the first dozen "communities" of Alliance members who feel called to organize for ministry and action on a particular ministry or area of interest.
Communities established at the recent convocation included spirituality and the environment, women in the church, Cuba, justice in Palestine and Israel and "Sustaining the Alliance through Time, Talent and Treasure."
The resource packet for Alliance of Baptists Sunday includes worship resources such as suggested hymns, prayers and readings, a children's sermon, bulletin inserts and offering envelopes and Sunday school material for children, youth and adults.
More information is available by contacting Andreolli by e-mail.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.