Southern Baptists and Rosa Parks

Thanks to Bob Allen at Ethics Daily for reminding us how slow Southern Baptists were to embrace Rosa Parks and how little civil rights efforts are celebrated in our churches.

In 1968 I was a member of an Independent Fundamental Baptist church (the Jerry Falwell type) and their record was much worse than Southern Baptists.

Still it is jarring to read that moderates like Herschel Hobbs once labeled Martin Luther King a "rabble rouser" and "troublemaker." Even worse is the information in this quote:

By November 1968 a survey by the Home Mission Board revealed that only 11 percent of Southern Baptist churches would admit African-Americans.

All Baptists have made some strides away from the racism of the 60's, but there is still a long way to go.