The president of the Southern Baptist International Mission
Board has written a letter to missionaries worldwide, asking them to sign an
affirmation of the current “Baptist Faith and Message.”
The president of the Southern Baptist International Mission
Board has written a letter to missionaries worldwide, asking them to sign an
affirmation of the current “Baptist Faith and Message.”
In a letter dated Jan. 28, Jerry Rankin told missionaries that
affirming the current Baptist Faith and Message would help the missions agency
“move beyond a continuing and potentially damaging issue that could distract
us from our mission task, unnecessarily create suspicion on the part of some
and erode support of you and the (board).”
All International Mission Board missionaries are thoroughly
screened on their beliefs, Rankin noted.
Indeed, for many years, they have been asked to sign a statement
affirming the Baptist Faith and Message before they are appointed.
The board also has a longstanding policy that deals with missionaries
whose teachings or practices contradict the confession of faith.
Nevertheless, there have been calls for missionaries to be
required to affirm the updated version of the Baptist Faith and Message, adopted
by messengers to the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention.
In January 2001, International Mission Board trustees affirmed
that version of the Baptist Faith and Message as “the standard for carrying
out the program and ministries” of the agency.
In addition, they strongly affirmed the agencys missionaries
and stateside staff members, saying that their beliefs already have been adequately
screened and that nothing more should be required of them. Elected administration
and regional leaders have since signed a statement affirming the Baptist Faith
and Message.
“Our board felt these policies and actions provided adequate
accountability to the Southern Baptist Convention and expressed confidence and
trust in our missionaries,” Rankin said in his letter.
However, the issue has continued to generate controversy and
“is creating suspicion that there are (International Mission Board) personnel
whose beliefs and practices are inconsistent with those represented by Southern
Baptists,” he wrote.
“While we believe this is unfounded, we do not need an
issue such as this to generate needless controversy, erode support and distract
us from the focus of our task at such a critical time of opportunity around
the world.”
The Baptist Faith and Message has served as Southern Baptists
confession of faith since 1925.
It was revised in 1963, and a section on the family was added
in 1998 before the overall revision of the document was adopted two years later.
The Baptist Faith and Message is not being imposed on anyone,
but Southern Baptists rightly believe employees of convention entities have
an added responsibility for their beliefs, Rankin said.
“There are many who feel strongly that those being supported
by the denomination should be willing to pledge affirmation and support for
the current (Baptist Faith and Message), especially those serving with the mission
boards,” Rankin wrote.
“Just as we are expected to be financially accountable
for the use of resources and morally circumspect in our life and witness, we
who have chosen to serve with a denominational mission agency are expected to
be doctrinally accountable to those who provide our support and send us out.”
While International Mission Board trustees have not required
missionaries to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message in writing, other
convention entities have, Rankin noted.
That fact continues to cause suspicion in some minds that there
are missionaries who hold divergent views, he said.
“To assist our board in assuring Southern Baptists that
all those who serve with the International Mission Board and are supported by
the convention affirm and support the current Baptist Faith and Message, I am
asking that you sign the attached form indicating that and return it to your
regional leader,” Rankin explained. “You are welcome to note any area
of disagreement.”
Regional leaders will counsel missionaries if they have concerns,
either with the confession of faith itself or with the idea of signing a form
affirming it, Rankin explained..
Signing the affirmation and laying the issue to rest once and
for all will eliminate an issue that could keep International Mission Board
personnel from focusing all their energies on proclaiming Christ in a world
where God is at work in unprecedented ways, Rankin said.
Signing the affirmation will “disarm those who may be
trying to use the (Baptist Faith and Message) to divide Southern Baptists and
isolate the (International Mission Board) from other agencies and state conventions
that have endorsed the current revision,” he explained.
“Even in the midst of global tensions and uncertainties,
the gospel is multiplying and bearing fruit, …” Rankin told the missionaries.
“We are seeing accelerated evangelistic response, church
growth and opportunities to impact unreached people groups,” he further
explained.
“We do not want anything to deter us from moving steadfastly toward completing
the unfinished task of fulfilling the Great Commission.” (BP)