A group of two dozen retired chief executives of Southern Baptist entities have declared themselves to be “advocates of the Baptist World Alliance.”
The former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leaders met in Atlanta Dec. 4 at the call of Duke K. McCall, former president of the Baptist World Alliance.
McCall is a former president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and also a former executive secretary-treasurer of the SBC Executive Committee.
“Our purpose is to retain Southern Baptist participation in and support of the Baptist World Alliance,” said McCall.
“We function within Baptist freedom and the autonomy of every Christian church. The BWA has inspired and instructed world Baptists in its intention to be biblical Christian witnesses to our Savior Jesus Christ.”
McCall and Grady Cothen, a former president of the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources), praised the BWA’s usefulness as an evangelistic extension of local churches.
“Southern Baptists are blessed by their BWA connection with believers who are zealous in evangelism. We need to strengthen this family tie for our own benefit,” said others in the group.
McCall emphasized that group is not attempting to start a battle nor are they speaking for the groups they used to serve, but “as Southern Baptists ourselves, we have been inspired and instructed in the past by our brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we have worked in the BWA.”
He added that the group is not advising any individual or church to withdraw from the SBC.
Others in attendance included Grady Cothen and Lloyd Elder, former presidents of the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay), and SBC state executives Jere Allen (Washington, D.C.), Charles Barnes (Maryland), Bill Causey (Mississippi), James Griffith (Georgia), Jack Lowndes (New York) and Don Widemon (Missouri).
The oldest person attending was Alma Hunt (95), former executive director of national Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). Also, former national WMU executives Carolyn Crumpler and Dellanna O’Brien were present, as well as Catherine and Lee Allen, leaders in SBC and Alabama Baptist life.
Others in attendance included Emmanuel McCall, former leader of SBC relations to black churches and Bill O’Brien, former vice president of the International Mission Board. Four Atlanta-area pastors were also present. BWA staff attending the meeting were Denton Lotz and Ian Chapman.
Other former SBC state executives who expressed support but were not able to attend include: Earl Kelly (Mississippi), Ken Lyle (New England), Reggie McDonough (Virginia), William Pinson (Texas) and Roy Smith (North Carolina).
The participants agreed to endorse a written statement in support of BWA. Former leaders will be invited to sign the document to indicate their support and affirmation of BWA. (BWA)
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