Changes

::It was a very ugly conflict, which polarized millions of Baptist churches, using an important doctrinal issue (the revision of the Baptist Faith and Message) as a wedge. A good summary of the moderate Baptists' concerns about the BF&M can be found in Jimmy Carter's statement when breaking with the SBC in 2000, (read [http://www.baptiststandard.com/2000/10_23/pages/carter.html here]). During that conflict, the Fundamentalists successfully ousted the Moderates from its ranks, most of whom joined the American Baptist Association. Along with them went their largest university, Baylor (my alma mater). It's easy for the outsider to misinterpret this as a liberal vs. conservative issue, but at heart it was about Baptist core principles such as the Priesthood of the Believer and the Autonomy of the Local Church, which were on the chopping block as the leaders of the SBC wanted to expand its role from merely a supporter of foreign missions (the Convention's original purpose) to a very active force in controlling the doctrines which its churches taught.

::It was a very ugly conflict, which polarized millions of Baptist churches, using an important doctrinal issue (the revision of the Baptist Faith and Message) as a wedge. A good summary of the moderate Baptists' concerns about the BF&M can be found in Jimmy Carter's statement when breaking with the SBC in 2000, (read [http://www.baptiststandard.com/2000/10_23/pages/carter.html here]). During that conflict, the Fundamentalists successfully ousted the Moderates from its ranks, most of whom joined the American Baptist Association. Along with them went their largest university, Baylor (my alma mater). It's easy for the outsider to misinterpret this as a liberal vs. conservative issue, but at heart it was about Baptist core principles such as the Priesthood of the Believer and the Autonomy of the Local Church, which were on the chopping block as the leaders of the SBC wanted to expand its role from merely a supporter of foreign missions (the Convention's original purpose) to a very active force in controlling the doctrines which its churches taught.

::While I will agree that the American Baptists have drifted to the left in the last 10 years, the SBC (which is the one experiencing decline, mind you) has since stayed firmly in Fundamentalist, very politically conservative hands: James Merritt, the last president, was on President George W. Bush's speed-dial. You mention its new, more liberal leadership, and by that I assume you mean Jimmy Hunt. He's still a fundamentalist, still politically conservative, and the SBC's stance on social issues has not budged one bit under his leadership. The Obama statement, a very mild praise of the President's family values and a recognition of his historical significance combined with scathing critiques of his politics, was part of a new push to try and keep minority churches in the fold (read about it [http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9720&Itemid=53 here]). This is not a liberal issue, rather one of survival. Black Baptist churches in the South have remained for the most part faithful to the SBC, but this will surely change if the Convention is seen as hostile to them.

::While I will agree that the American Baptists have drifted to the left in the last 10 years, the SBC (which is the one experiencing decline, mind you) has since stayed firmly in Fundamentalist, very politically conservative hands: James Merritt, the last president, was on President George W. Bush's speed-dial. You mention its new, more liberal leadership, and by that I assume you mean Johnny Hunt. He's still a fundamentalist, still politically conservative, and the SBC's stance on social issues has not budged one bit under his leadership. The Obama statement, a very mild praise of the President's family values and a recognition of his historical significance combined with scathing critiques of his politics, was part of a new push to try and keep minority churches in the fold (read about it [http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9720&Itemid=53 here]). This is not a liberal issue, rather one of survival. Black Baptist churches in the South have remained for the most part faithful to the SBC, but this will surely change if the Convention is seen as hostile to them.

::I'm not familiar with the public school motion that you mention, but would be interested in reading about it if you could provide a link. I can say though that in my experience, Baptist preachers have discouraged homeschooling and private schooling, because they believe that evangelism thrives on Christians living and working among the unsaved, not by cloistering themselves with the like-minded. As the primary importance of evangelism is one thing that Baptists can all agree upon, this decision does not seem unusual. [[User:JDWpianist|JDWpianist]] 08:25, 25 June 2009 (EDT)

::I'm not familiar with the public school motion that you mention, but would be interested in reading about it if you could provide a link. I can say though that in my experience, Baptist preachers have discouraged homeschooling and private schooling, because they believe that evangelism thrives on Christians living and working among the unsaved, not by cloistering themselves with the like-minded. As the primary importance of evangelism is one thing that Baptists can all agree upon, this decision does not seem unusual. [[User:JDWpianist|JDWpianist]] 08:25, 25 June 2009 (EDT)

:::Liberals try to invade and transform churches, and the list of examples is too long to provide here.  SBC leadership is taking it down that road, and membership decline is the hefty toll.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:11, 25 June 2009 (EDT)

:::Liberals try to invade and transform churches, and the list of examples is too long to provide here.  SBC leadership is taking it down that road, and membership decline is the hefty toll.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:11, 25 June 2009 (EDT)

==Disagreements==

==Disagreements==