The New Baptist Covenant group that is coming together for its first Celebration this January foregoes the emphasis on the formal unity of a "Convention," but it will certainly contribute to some functional unity in worship and service among Baptists. There's no reason why Baptists can't worship together and work together while maintaining our unique organizational identities.
Parham mentions Reynolds speech at the Texas Baptists Committed annual breakfast in November 1998. A year later, at a Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists luncheon in November 1999, Reynolds amplified his ideas in a speech on "The Stewardship of Freedom." At the beginning of that 1999 speech Reynolds said:
What is more important to our progeny than freedom of conscience, religious liberty and the opportunity to participate in a civil society? I can think of nothing that you or I could do economically, socially, culturally or otherwise, that should have a higher priority and that will have more ultimate meaning.Reynolds succinctly described the ecclesiastical task for this generation of Baptists. He led the way on this leg of our journey and has finished his course. Now the baton has been passed to another generation. The best way to honor the memory of Herb Reynolds is to share his concern for the "Stewardship of Freedom."
As Providence would have it, it looks like Bill Underwood and Mercer University have taken the lead for the next leg of the Baptist journey.
2 comments:
I remember being excited about the Baptist Convention of the Americas idea at the time. But the New Baptist Covenant can be even better, because it would be more decentralized. However, it will only live up to its potential if it goes beyond the groups in the NABF and invites as many different kinds of Baptists as possible. (The SBC withdrew from the BWA by choice and yet several prominent SBC bloggers have been invited. The Alliance of Baptists has not yet been accepted by the the BWA (but is a member of the National Council of Churches), but longs for as many global ties as possible--and has yet to be invited.)
Michael,
I asked a question about the Alliance of Baptists at the May 17 meeting at the Carter Center.
Carter said he hopes everybody from the Alliance would come.
I interviewed Stan Hastey on my radio program last Sunday and he did not leave the impression that he felt slighted by the organizers of the NBC.
Make plans to attend the Celebration. We need your voice.
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