Several bloggers last week, most notably Tony Cartledge, have already included stories about the recent action of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Here's Tony's blog with the wrap-up:
http://www.tonycartledge.com/2008/11/bscnc-to-no-longer-tolerate-cbf.html
From my point of view, I found one portion of the convention positive since it approved the new relationship between the five colleges and universities and the convention. However, I thought the discussion about the CBF and the giving plans last Wednesday to be particularly nasty. I left the convention thinking to myself that after 15 straight Baptist State Convention meetings, this will probably be my last. I know where I'm not wanted.
I was resolved to all this as I returned home. Then I read Tim Rogers' blog:
http://rebekah1.wordpress.com/
I know Tim. I've always had a cordial relationship with him. I find his blog to be interesting. But he has a paragraph in his recent blog that I found to be chilling. He says:
"Also, there needs to be a call now to the head offices in Cary that NC Baptist have clearly stated we are not CBF. Thus, an employee at the convention offices should be a member of a NC Baptist church not one that is dually aligning themselves with the CBF and the BSCNC. We had the clarion call today during the budget vote that we will not even give you an opportunity to send funds through us to the CBF. We certainly should be able to say we want you attending a BSCNC church."
First, I don't know what the "head offices in Cary" means but I assume he means the BSC Executive Director/Treasurer, Milton Hollifield. And, I'll let slide the fact that the plural of "Baptist" is "Baptists" with an "s" added on to the end. But, more importantly, is Mr. Rogers calling for the termination of all BSC employees who belong to churches that may have a few members who choose to give through their church to CBF? I know some segments of the conservative movement in the BSC want a "pure" convention or to put it another way, a convention that promotes only their understanding of theology and the Baptist tradition. But, seriously, is there now going to be an attempt to purify the employees? Perhaps so. Is the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 next going to be imposed on convention workers? Maybe. Is this where the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is headed? Is the tent going to be drawn even narrower? Surely, Mr. Rogers is not advocating the mass termination of these employees at the BSC, however many there may be.
I imagine that it would be a terrible thing to be terminated from one's employment. That would especially be the case with the current problems in our economy. Where's the compassion?
3 comments:
I read that blog post the other day. Tim and my former Pastor from Olive Chapel are friends and Tim would often comment on Dennis' blog.
That statement to "call Cary" disturbed me too! I know several people there that, if he had his way, would lose their jobs.
I'm not going to go at Tim here, but be more general to those that agree with his thinking. I am sick and tired of this "I'm right, you're wrong so get out of my 'protected/sacred' area" mentality amongst Baptist(s):) Why is it that EVERYTHING that I have ever stood for and cherished as a Baptist is going down the loo? Why is it that every time this happens, the ones who are straying further and further from what it MEANT to be a Baptist gets to keep that name and degrade it for the rest of us?
This idea of a "pure" and sanitized little bubble in Baptist life is ludicrous. For the denomination that pushed the "Go out into the world..." passage the hardest, they sure go to extreme measures to make their little parallel universe as "unworldly" and unconnected as ever.
Dr. Jonas,
you've known me a while now. I worked for you, and took many of your great classes. Is it really too much to ask to once again be proud to be a Baptist? I tell people that ask that I am a Baptist in the historical sense, but it doesn't matter...people still hear "Baptist" and think I'm "That kind of Baptist"... the ones that have no compassion, and only find passion in themselves. So, why is it that I am the one that feels most ashamed?
I want to be proud of my Baptist Heritage. I AM proud of what Baptists WERE, but so heavily ashamed of where they have been going.
thanks for the rant space, and your thought's on Tim's article and the situation.
justin bowman
Hey Justin. Great post! There is still plenty in the Baptist heritage about which we can be proud. We are a very, very diverse denomination. Baptists have always had some "loonies." And, from time to time they gain control. However, in recent years I have tried to concentrate on the broader Baptist family (beyond the SBC and BSC) from which I see lots to be proud. Go to the Baptist World Alliance web site and see the things that the BWA does around the world to alleviate hunger, advocate for religious freedom, advocate for peace and justice. It will make you proud of our tradition once again. "Baptist" is a large tent. It is just that here in the South, we have been trained to think that "Baptist" means only SBC. It is a great big world out there!
Thanks Dr. Jonas,
I know there is a lot to be proud of. I am happy that I am finding new people and organizations that are helping to reclaim the Baptist name.
I've worked with CBF a lot, and the BWA. I want to work more with ABC (but geographically that is more of a challenge), and just this week hooked up with the Alliance of Baptists. There is a lot of hope in all of those letters!
However, as I mentioned on Tony's blog, most (and I don't mean all of these, all the time, at all places) seem to be more in the "Refuge" state. By that I mean they are still reacting and lamenting what used to be, rather than helping redefine what Baptists are through who Baptists where. Also, speaking from a younger baptist perspective, it is tough to get into these "clubs" on a participatory level.
Young Baptists are having a hard time finding a place where they are accepted and valued for their ideas and thoughts. I wish I could say that this was simply my own ineptitude at selling myself, but I know that at the last 2 CBF National meetings I have had talks with many former and current Campbell, Duke and Wake Forest students/Graduates.
I think that this is THE TIME for other Baptist organizations to step up and stop acting reactivity and ramp up acting Proactively. To not ONLY be a refuge, but more importantly to have those discussions with all ages and theological places that people are, and to become a shining beacon of what it will mean to be a Baptist in this changing time.
It is time, I think, for these groups to move on to help us all understand what it meant to be Baptist, and what it will mean to be Baptist in the changing culture. Otherwise, in the public eye, the SBC will continue to remain the definitive understanding of Baptists. Thus, for those young baptists that are growing up in an SBC church and are thinking about going into ministry, this will allow them not to shy away from the calling because they will see past the exclusivity of the SBC to a world of visible organizations that say that, "there is a choice in being Baptist"!
Post a Comment