BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Woman's Missionary Union, the women's auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention, came out in support of the Baptist World Alliance Jan. 12, breaking ranks with the Southern Baptist leaders who want to withdraw SBC membership and funding from the worldwide organization.
Echoing the sentiment of other international Baptist groups, the WMU executive board issued a call for unity among the world's Baptists. Some observers fear the planned SBC-BWA split will divide Baptists worldwide into two competing camps, since the SBC has announced plans to start an alternative organization.
“As members of the body of Christ, we need each other — to pray for one another, to encourage one another, to learn from one another, and to stand together in one accord as a strong and bold witness to a lost world,” said Wanda Lee, WMU executive director-treasurer, who also serves on the BWA executive committee.
In December an SBC study committee called for Southern Baptists to withdraw from the 99-year-old Baptist World Alliance over allegations of liberalism — allegations strongly denied by BWA leaders and many of its 211 affiliated Baptist unions. Support for the plan from within the SBC has been muted. The plan will be presented to the SBC Executive Committee Feb. 16-17 and, if approved, to the Southern Baptist Convention in June. It would end all SBC funding of BWA — until recently, $450,000 a year — as of Oct. 1.
The Southern Baptist Convention, with 16 million members nationwide, is the largest member of the Baptist World Alliance, which represents 47 million Baptists worldwide.
During a retreat near WMU's Birmingham headquarters, the group's executive committee affirmed the 93-year relationship between WMU and the BWA's women's department, which WMU helped form in 1911. Many of the leaders told how relationships built through the Baptist World Alliance changed their lives, according to a WMU news release.
In addition to unity and reconciliation, the WMU leaders encouraged prayer for Baptists “to have a strong, bold and credible witness; for wisdom, discernment and courage to do God's will; for a spirit of humility; for compassion for all people; and for comfort and relief for those who are persecuted for voicing their convictions,” the release said.
“It is through fellowship with Christ and other Christians that we experience personal growth and develop a deeper understanding of the needs around the world,” added Lee. “In the context of our missions task, it is through this fellowship that we become more effective as we grow in our passion and a sense of urgency to be light in a dark world.”
With approximately 1 million members, Woman's Missionary Union is considered the world's largest Protestant women's mission organization. The 116-year-old organization educates and involves women, men and children in Christian missions. Although not under the control of the SBC, WMU raises much of the money Southern Baptists spend on missions. In 1993, WMU declined the SBC's request to surrender its auxiliary role and become an agency of the SBC.
In its statement of support for the Baptist World Alliance, WMU said it also will continue to promote and support the annual Baptist Women's World Day of Prayer offering, which provides the only funding for BWA's women's department.
Like WMU, approximately 40 Baptist unions worldwide have some form of women's organization that relates to BWA's women's department, which functions as an auxiliary to the BWA.
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