Baptists from around the world are speaking out against the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) potential withdrawal from Baptist World Alliance (BWA).
World Baptist leaders are protesting both the SBC’s planned pullout — effective Oct. 1 if approved by Southern Baptists — and the allegations of liberalism SBC leaders say justifies the move.
“We declare unacceptable the allegation of liberalism made by the (SBC) committee,” said Latin American Baptist leaders.
“We deplore the recommendation of this committee,” the statement continued, “and we urge strongly the Executive Committee and the assembly of the SBC to reject this recommendation outright, so that this great organization may remain as a member of the BWA and may continue supporting its funding.”
The official statement was signed by seven Latin American leaders from four countries, including Fausto Aguiar de Vasconcelos of Brazil, president of the Union of Baptists in Latin America, and two BWA vice presidents.
A similar statement was issued by the European Baptist Federation (EBF), which covers Europe and the Middle East. The EBF executive committee pleaded with Southern Baptists to maintain the unity of worldwide Baptists.
“Do we realize how much our witness to the world will be harmed when we try to explain that we are different groups of Baptists who cannot work together?” the European leaders asked. “One of the biggest tragedies of contemporary Christianity is division.”
Branko Lovrec, a BWA vice president and former president of the Baptist Union of Croatia, said, “I wonder how God looks upon this, as Jesus has prayed, ‘That all may be one.’ … I have personally been proud of our Baptist identity and unity. … Now how can I present the truth to our media and other denominations that are falling apart in my country?”
Baptists in Italy said the worldwide Baptist fellowship has been wounded and “enfeebled” by the SBC action, which was “made on the basis of false motivations and pretexts.” The union’s executive committee blamed the action on “fundamentalism, with its tendency toward intolerance and sectarianism.” That tendency “is the antithesis of our own Baptist tradition,” which owes much to the influence of Southern Baptist missionaries, the Italian Baptists said.
Noel Vose of Australia, a former BWA president, expressed “great sorrow” over the SBC proposal to cut ties to BWA.
“The unity of all who gather around the cross and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead … is of absolute importance,” Vose said. “The difference and disruptions between believers must give place to the Holy Spirit of reconciliation, that the witness of Christ’s body be not besmirched.”
‘Threatened by one of our own’
Knud Wumpelmann of Denmark, a former BWA president, noted that “for almost 100 years we have as Baptists had a fast-growing, worldwide fellowship. It is now being threatened because one of the most prominent members of our group wants to dominate. We are for the first time most seriously threatened by one of our own, even one we had learned to respect and love for inspiring leadership and thoughtful support over so many years.”
As the SBC Executive Committee meets in February and considers withdrawing from and defunding BWA, Wumpelmann said, “What can we do but pray? Therefore let us pray for the Southern Baptist Convention, for its Executive Committee … and for the rest of our global fellowship.”
Geoff Pound of the Baptist Union of Australia is urging the SBC to take more time with its decision. “There are grave dangers in getting up from the table of fellowship too early,” Pound said. “Rather than … leaving in a hasty unilateral act, how much better it is to give [those around the table] a chance to listen to the reasons, to hear their responses, to pray together and if there is to be a parting, to extend the right hand of fellowship or give the kiss of peace.”
Reactions from others include:
ZBWA Vice President Ken Manley of Australia: “The consequences for our region of the SBC breaking with our world Baptist family are difficult to contemplate. It is perhaps difficult [the] SBC, where they form such a powerful majority in their own country, to appreciate what it is like to live as Baptist Christians where we are in a minority.
“On behalf of all Baptists throughout this region, I appeal to SBC leaders and people: please think again. You are valued and needed for the sake of God’s Kingdom and by God’s people. … I find it hard to believe that you can turn your back on your Baptist brothers and sisters around the world.”
BWA Vice President Dorothy Selebano of South Africa: “I was shocked at the news about the SBC withdrawing membership but when I recovered, I remembered God’s Word which says: ‘All things work together for the good to them that love Him.’
“We may not be able to comprehend it now. Let us leave [it] in the capable hands of the living God. We will continue praying for our brothers and sisters in the SBC and for BWA.”
Brian Winslade, national leader of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand: “Coming from a small Baptist union way down in the South Pacific, I continue to be appalled at the attitude and behavior of SBC leadership. … Historians will one day judge the attitudes of current leadership within the SBC as a blatant denial of Baptist principles and destructive of Christian unity. We can behave better than this. Our prayer for the SBC is that they will breathe deeply, behave as mature followers of Jesus and reverse their decision.”
Theo Angelov, general secretary of EBF: “The SBC churches, believers and missionaries were an important part of the building of a ‘New Europe’ after the Second World War and the falling of the Communist regimes. … We cannot believe now the relations should be broken and the links torn apart. Any attempt to break this relationship and to separate brothers and sisters in Christ should not prevail over the Christian love that must exist between one another.” (Compiled from wire services)
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