The decision by the SBC Executive Committee to recommend that the Southern
Baptist Convention withdraw complete funding support for the Baptist World Alliance
is tragic. Should that happen, my prayer is that convention messengers will
vote it down and restore full support.
The decision by the SBC Executive Committee to recommend that the Southern
Baptist Convention withdraw complete funding support for the Baptist World Alliance
is tragic. Should that happen, my prayer is that convention messengers will
vote it down and restore full support.
Historically, Southern Baptists have placed high emphasis on the absolute authority
of the Bible, evangelism/missions, local church autonomy, the priesthood of
all believers, religious liberty and the separation of church and state. We
have celebrated our “unity in diversity” and have respected differences
of opinion on issues that were subject to interpretation. These same kind of
Baptists make up the member bodies of the Baptist World Alliance.
The BWA is a beautiful example of global Baptist witness and cooperation. It
has modeled servant leadership in its service to Baptist bodies, not numbering
above 200. I have been involved in the BWA for many years, serving on the General
Council, commissions and committees. Charges that the BWA is influenced by liberalism
are patently false. Baptists may disagree on certain issues, like the ordination
of women, or on methodology, but we do not disagree on essential doctrines.
SBC messengers should prayerfully ask: How will this decision impact global
gospel witness? What difficulties will this create for missionaries that relate
to national Baptist bodies (conventions)? Do we realize how much of our witness
to the world will be harmed because we cannot work together? What would Jesus
think about this as a response to his prayer “that they may all be one
… so that the world may believe (1 John 17:21)? Why should the global Baptist
family be further fragmented” Why should we have to reinvent the wheel
by establishing another global Baptist fellowship?
I plead with fellow Southern Baptists to keep our historic relationship with
the BWA in place.
James D. Williams
Baptist Medical and Dental Fellowship