Missouri Baptists move to limit membership

RAYTOWN, Mo. — The conservative-oriented Missouri Baptist Convention took the first step toward excluding churches that support moderate organizations, including the state and national Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist General Convention of Missouri.

Messengers to the annual meeting Oct. 25–27 agreed to vote next year on four constitutional changes that would make membership open only to churches that are identified as “Southern Baptist” and which are affiliated solely with the Missouri Baptist Convention.

The convention would have the right to examine churches’ contributions to determine whether they support other conventions or convention-like organizations.

Exceptions would be allowed for African-American churches to affiliate with more than one convention.