Archive for March, 2007

Time for Another Baptist Witness

Published at March 11, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

clingenpeel.jpgBy Michael Clingenpeel

One of the characters on the cartoon show “Family Guy” is a talking baby. Not long ago the tot described someone being “as lonely as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell after the Rapture.” The cartoon immediately cut to a vignette where Robertson and Falwell, both apparently left behind, stood talking. The Lynchburg pastor remarked to Robertson: “I don’t know why we were left. We hated all the right things.”

That statement is a tidy explanation of our nation’s perception of Baptists over the past couple of decades. One very vocal subset of Baptists in the United States has celebrated their hatreds—women ministers, Mormons, liberals, homosexuals, Disney, Democrats, modernity in general. Baptists now are known more for what we oppose than the ideals and causes we affirm.

Another Baptist witness needs to be heard and, if two former U.S. presidents and a host of others can coax us other Baptists out of our shells, we will get the opportunity to do it about a year from now.

Last month about 80 Baptist leaders, including Baptist General Association of Virginia executive-director John Upton, met at Atlanta’s Carter Center and announced a convocation that will give a face to a North American Baptist Covenant signed last year. The convocation, scheduled, January 30-February 1, 2008, in Atlanta, Ga., will attempt to unite diverse Baptists in a network to reverse a decades-old negative image of Baptists and address social issues.

Almost 30 Baptist entities are likely to be involved in the interracial, pan-Baptist effort, including the Baptist World Alliance, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, American Baptist Churches, National Baptist Convention USA, and Canadian Baptist Ministries

Because Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton—both Democrats—are involved, some have criticized the convocation as nothing more than politics. But the organizers disagree. They say they also want to involve conservatives, high-visibility Republicans, and Independents and a wide array of Baptists to ensure the event will be about our common Baptist witness, not national politics.

Moderate Virginia Baptists need to support this pan-Baptist network. We need to clear our throats and find our voice for the sake of an authentic Baptist witness in North America. The date is January 30 through February 1, 2008. Be there.

Michael Clingenpeel, pastor of River Road Church Baptist in Richmond, is co-chairman of Virginia Baptists Committed. He is former editor of The Religious Herald.

‘Living History: The New North American Baptist Covenant and Its Celebration’

Published at March 1, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

shurden.jpgBy Walter B. Shurden

I believe … that “The New North American Baptist Covenant and its Celebration” that is presently in the planning stage for early 2008 in Atlanta, GA is one of the most exciting things that has happened in my half-century of traipsing around the Baptist yard of America.

By now, most Baptists and many other Christians are aware that “A New North American Baptist Covenant” has been adopted by Baptist leaders representing an estimated 20 million Baptists, and probably more. It all started with the majestic dream of one of the good and prophetic Baptists of our time, evangelical President Jimmy Carter. Without him, the Covenant would not be a possibility. President Carter wisely chose Mercer University President William D. Underwood to help him spearhead the movement.

What is “The North American Baptist Covenant Celebration”?

Foremost, it is a “covenant,” a good biblical word. It is a covenant that 18 Baptist leaders adopted on 10 April 2006 in Atlanta, GA at the Carter Center (online at www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/covenant.htm) “to speak and work together to create an authentic and genuine prophetic Baptist voice in these complex times. They affirmed their commitment to traditional Baptist values, including sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and its implications for public and private morality. They specifically committed themselves to their obligations as Christians to promote peace with justice, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick and the marginalized, welcome the strangers among us, and promote religious liberty and respect for religious diversity.”

A second strategic planning committee convened at the Carter Center on 13 June 2006. At this meeting several significant developments occurred. One, the Covenant was reaffirmed. Second, those present underscored the necessity of celebrating the Covenant by crossing racial, ethnic, and gender barriers among Baptists. Third, these Baptists wanted to project an image of Baptist unity among those who represent prophetic and traditional moral values, especially themes of religious liberty and equality in the service of Christ. Fourth, two committees were appointed. The first, led by President William Underwood of Mercer University, would seek to find a time and place for a Baptist convocation that would be a massive Celebration of the North American Baptist Covenant. Dr. Jimmy Allen was appointed chair of the program committee of the future Celebration.

The last meeting for the Covenant planning celebration, now much publicized, met on 9 January 2007, again at the Carter Center in Atlanta. President Bill Clinton was present to endorse and affirm the Baptist Covenant and its celebration.

Why do I think that the Covenant Celebration is one of the most exciting things that has happened in my half century of traipsing around the Baptist yard of America? Continue reading ‘‘Living History: The New North American Baptist Covenant and Its Celebration’’