Eighteen Southern Baptist churches in the Atlanta area have opted to form a new local association because they are displeased two churches that support gays have been allowed to remain as members of the Atlanta Baptist Association.
More than 50 representatives of the 18 churches met April 17 and chose their intern leadership, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported.
“I have great confidence that God’s hand is upon us,” said Bill Jaggar, pastor of North Peachtree Baptist, Doraville, Ga., who was named interim moderator of the new Metro Atlanta Southern Baptist Association.
The new group formed in response to two failed attempts by the Atlanta Baptist Association to vote out Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland Baptist churches, which have affirmed homosexuals. The larger association has more than 100 member congregations.
Jaggar said he hopes the new association will be known for what it is for rather than what it is against. “We’re pro-kingdom of God, pro-Southern Baptist Convention, pro-Georgia Baptist Convention, pro-winning souls to Jesus,” he said.
The new association hopes to apply for official recognition from the Georgia Baptist Convention and will seek missions funds from the state convention as well as the North American Mission Board. The mission board and the state convention decided to drop funding of the Atlanta Baptist Association after it retained ties with Virginia-Highland and Oakhurst churches.
The two churches were dismissed in 1999 from the Georgia Baptist Convention. (RNS)
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