A group of Alabama Baptists have formed an organization aimed at addressing the fundamentalism they believe has “ravaged” the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
Mainstream Alabama Baptists characterize themselves as an advocacy group created to “reach people for Christ through local churches, to uphold historic Baptist principles, and, in the case of our state, to support the Alabama Baptist Stat Convention and allied organizations.”
Organizers said the group is patterned after the success of “Texas Baptists Committed” and “mainstream” groups in other states.
Mainstream Alabama Baptists was created by 17 Baptists from across the state, following a meeting in August. The group was officially incorporated Oct. 30 as a tax-exempt religious organization.
The group held a get-acquainted breakfast Nov. 15 in Montgomery during the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC). About 100 people attended the breakfast.
While the group said it had no plans to introduce resolutions during the ASBC annual meeting, members stood ready to oppose any efforts to adopt the 2000 version of the Baptist Faith and Message statement, which was adopted at the SBC annual meeting in June.
Baptist Faith & Message
While Mainstream Baptists would have preferred the Baptist Faith and message not be addressed at all, they were pleased the 2000 version was not endorsed specifically.
Joseph M. Jones, a Huntsville layman, who is leading the group with Gerald Lord, pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Killen, said, “We are very pleased that the convention did not endorse the 2000 version.
“It would have been best if no action was taken,” said Jones, a member of First Baptist Church, Huntsville. “(But) if action were to be taken, the action (that was taken) was the least objectionable,” he said.
Jones denied charges that Mainstream Alabama Baptists conducted an organizational meeting at the ABSC annual meeting in an effort to get votes out.
“That is totally incorrect,” he said.
Mainstream Alabama Baptists identify their purposes as:
*Aiding the work of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
*Protecting and advancing Baptist distinctives including the sole authority of the Scriptures, the priesthood of every believer, the separation of church and state and the autonomy of the local church in all matters;
*Encouraging the participation and leadership of all Baptists, lay persons and professional ministers alike, all aspects of Baptist life including the governance of the Alabama Baptist State Convention; representation of the diversity of convention churches and individuals on all boards, committees and other such element of state convention leadership.
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