“I am a Southern Baptist,” declared Fausto Aguiar de Vasconcelos, pastor of First Baptist Church of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Vasconcelos was speaking at the March 8–11 meeting of the Executive Committee of Baptist World Alliance (BWA).
The topic of the March 11 morning session was the recommendation of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee to withdraw membership from BWA. The meeting was the first time leaders of Baptist work around the world had opportunity to be together to discuss the issue since the SBC announced its intention to withdraw.
Vasconcelos said he was a Southern Baptist because Southern Baptists were among the first to send missionaries to Brazil. He recounted the SBC legacy in Brazil that current missionaries continue to build. Vasconcelos serves as pastor of a church begun by SBC missionaries.
The Brazilian pastor spent 10 years studying at both Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a leader among Baptists of Latin America, serving as the current president of the Union of Baptists in Latin America and has served as translator for Billy Graham.
Others followed Vasconcelos to the microphone to express appreciation for Southern Baptists. A leader of African Baptists shared how God has used Southern Baptists to transform that continent from 5 percent Christian at the beginning of the 20th century to more than 40 percent — about 400 million Christians — at the beginning of the 21st century. A spokesman from the Caribbean offered thanks to God for the work of the SBC in his part of the world.
Appreciation for Southern Baptist leadership of Baptist World Alliance was also noted. While the SBC gift is not the largest per capita gift, the total $300,000 budgeted for BWA is the largest gift of any national body.
More importantly, Southern Baptists have provided leadership in every area of BWA life. During this five-year period, 2000–2005, three of the 10 elected executive committee members are Southern Baptists. Others serve by virtue of office. Two of the five BWA division committees are led by Southern Baptists. A Southern Baptist chairs the committee seeking new officers for the next five-year period. Another leads the seminary education committee. Five Southern Baptists serve on the 15-member resolutions committee and much, much more.
Baptist leaders thanked God for the faithful service of Southern Baptists through the BWA for past 99 years.
Questions about Southern Baptists were also raised. Theo Angelov of Bulgaria recalled that his father spent eight years in prison charged with being an American spy. Angelov said his father was not a spy and had never been to America. He was charged just because he was a Baptist.
Angelov shared that he, too, had seen the inside of a communist prison for being a follower of Jesus Christ. He asked why Southern Baptists now accused some Europeans of not believing in Jesus as the only way of salvation. He asked how many of those making the charge had suffered for their faith like the Baptists of Eastern Europe.
Angelov is the regional secretary of the European Baptist Federation.
Some leaders spoke of confusion arising among Baptists as the charges against the BWA spread around the world. Several said regional International Mission Board leaders had assured them that relationships would go on as usual if the SBC withdraws from BWA. Yet, these national Baptist leaders wondered how long that would be possible if the SBC has concern about the theological positions of its missions partners.
Others wondered what will happen if SBC resources are made available to some Baptists but not others. Will this result in international divisions within countries? Will some churches be tempted to preach what one called “a fifth gospel — the gospel according to the sponsor?”
Still others pointed out that BWA is not anti-American, as the SBC charges. Nor is BWA anti-Russian or anti-European or anti-African. As a worldwide body, BWA is for every Baptist body.
And there was soul-searching. BWA President Billy Kim of Korea was almost in tears when he said, “I must have done something wrong.” It was Kim who instructed BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz not to get involved in the decision about BWA membership for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. It was also Kim who presided at the meeting in Spain where a Baptist from Bangladesh publicly chastised the policies of the International Mission Board.
SBC charges in both cases have focused on Lotz for not stopping the speaker and not guiding the membership process. SBC leaders have repeatedly praised Kim.
Kim called on Baptists of the world to join Korean Baptists in 100 days of prayer for reconciliation between BWA and the SBC. Kim quoted one SBC leader as saying “lightning would have to strike” for the withdrawal recommendation to be halted. Kim responded, “My God is stronger than lightning.”
The desire for continued partnership with the SBC through BWA was unmistakable.
There was another unmistakable commitment of the Baptist leaders from around the world.
Again, Vasconcelos voiced it. “Latin American Baptists are sticking with the Baptist World Alliance.” He said that he has “not seen or heard anything that has to be defended at this point. The idea in Brazil is that we’re not dealing with a theological matter but with a political problem,” he said.
That was the unanimous opinion voiced by the group. Again speaker after speaker affirmed their support for the BWA and the support of their region for the worldwide body.
Before the meeting adjourned, the BWA executive committee unanimously approved a statement expressing “our sincere and prayerful desire to continue working together with Southern Baptists.” The statement also called on Baptists everywhere “to join together in the great challenge of lifting up Christ so that He may draw all people unto Himself.”
Only God knows the future. As for me, I have joined Kim in praying every day until the vote on June 15 for reconciliation between BWA and the SBC.
Share with others: