Woodland Forrest Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, has severed ties with Tuscaloosa Baptist Association and the Alabama Baptist State Convention. The decision came following the Aug. 16 unanimous vote to discontinue financial ties with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
“There are no hard feelings toward the SBC (nor Alabama Baptists),” said Jonathan Ivy, senior pastor of Woodland Forrest. “This was a long and prayerful decision that had been being considered.
“Then when the new Baptist Faith and Message came forward, our church disagreed with several aspects,” Ivy explained.
The motion to withdraw from the SBC cited reasons such as the SBC’s move away from traditional Baptist beliefs of soul competency and the priesthood of believers, while elevating pastoral authority and placing the Bible above Jesus Christ.
Mary An Wilson, associate pastor for worship and spiritual formation, agreed, noting the congregation agreed it was time to disassociate from the SBC.
“This is not about political things,” she said. “It is about the spiritual lives of the individuals of our church. It is about things of the heart.”
Following the break with the national level, Ivy said church members discussed the role they would take with the state and association. After learning that Tuscaloosa Association planned to adopt the Baptist Faith and Message at the October annual meeting, Woodland Forrest was encouraged to withdraw membership.
‘Easier to withdraw’
“We felt we would cause less (strife) if we withdrew,” Wilson said. “It was not our first choice, but it was better for us not to cause a fight (during the associational meeting.”
“We did this with a lot of regret and sadness,” Ivy said. “We are sad to leave. I’ve been a Southern Baptist since before I was born.”
Ivy stressed that his church is not “an enemy of the SBC. It’s not that they are bad, this is just how we are different. I want everyone to be comfortable in this avenue.”
While noting key differences in the beliefs of Woodland Forrest and the SBC, Ivy said he still planned to work with SBC churches any time he could.
Woodland Forrest will now relate solely to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
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