ATLANTA (ABP) — Organizers of the recent New Baptist Covenant celebration are recommending a repeat of the historic pan-Baptist event in 2011 but not a new denomination or other permanent organization.
The event drew an estimated 15,000 Baptists from across denominational, ethnic and ideological lines to Atlanta Jan. 30-Feb. 1 for fellowship, worship and discussion about cooperation on evangelism and other areas about which they can agree.
The meeting was spearheaded by Jimmy Carter and endorsed by the other living Baptist ex-president, Bill Clinton. Critics alleged it was a thinly veiled attempt to stir up Baptist support for Democratic candidates in an election year, the event largely avoided partisan overtones and included prominent Republican speakers.
Carter, Mercer University President Bill Underwood and other event planners released a statement March 19 from a follow-up meeting held the previous week at Atlanta's Carter Center. The document said that about 70 Baptist leaders from the groups represented at the meeting decided to repeat the event in three years “in the historic Baptist pattern of triennial meetings.”
The leaders also vowed to “be as active as possible during the intervening years.” They said they would expand the Covenant's steering committee from its original five members to “about a dozen” in an effort to engage a more diverse set of Baptists, including more young people and women.
The statement mentioned the possibility of convening several regional New Baptist Covenant events next year, but did not say the decision was final.
The organizers and other invited leaders “reconfirmed” their earlier decision not to form a separate permanent organization or denominational group under the aegis of the New Baptist Covenant.
The statement said the organizers will seek expert advice on “how we can assist actively in such major social issues as global warming, health care, poverty, criminal justice, human rights, religious liberty, elimination of nuclear weapons, and peace in the Middle East and elsewhere.”
The document also included a list of suggestions for specific action items and projects compiled from feedback by participants in the celebration. It encouraged local congregations to work with other Baptist churches and organizations involved in the celebration as they felt led.
The suggested projects included enhanced giving to the cooperating denominations' mission agencies, finding ways to minister to prisoners, working for fair tax policies, having regular joint worship opportunities with local churches of differing ethnic groups, working toward reducing the abortion rate, and making churches more environmentally responsible.