Baptists Overcoming Geographical Divisions
By Dr. Bruce Prescott
Ethics Daily has reported that First Baptist
Church in Rome, Georgia has left the Georgia Baptist Convention and joined the
Baptist General Association of Virginia.
The Georgia Convention is dominated by Fundamentalists. The Virginia Convention
is led by Moderates.
Baptist congregations are independent and autonomous. They are free to
affiliate with any association or convention of their choosing.
In times past, geographical proximity was paramount in the configuration of the
partnerships in which Baptist congregations found fellowship, support and
cooperated to support missions, benevolent institutions, and educational
institutions.
Today, Southern Baptists are reconfiguring. Theological affinity is now
replacing geographical proximity as the primary determinant in the formation of
denominational partnerships.
This is welcome news for Mainstream, moderate Baptists and represents a
challenge for Fundamentalist, Southern Baptists.
Fundamentalism in Baptist life reached its apex in 1989. It has been in decline
ever since. It's demise will continue to be slow and painful, not only for
Baptists but also for a nation and world that Fundamentalists are trying to
dominate rather than serving to redeem.