The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
“What happened at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio is that another Alamo took place. And while that may sound dramatic, that is exactly what occurred. The moderates were overrun. Our defenses were outstripped. Our strategies were outmanned. In brief, we (SBC) are
becoming more creedalistic, more authoritarian, less lay- oriented, and more clergy/male dominated than ever before. The wolf has eaten grandmere and Little Red Riding Hood is terribly winded and tired of running.”
These were the reflections of former Northside Drive Baptist Church Pastor Tom Conley upon returning from the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio in 1988. A tectonic shift was taking place in the SBC. The days of moderates and conservatives finding common cause were coming to an end.
Professor Walter (Buddy) Shurden documented a precipitous gathering of moderate Baptists in Atlanta, August 23-25, 1990. “In Atlanta, some things happened: we got, if not a slogan, some ‘words.’ Jimmy Allen gave us a word: ‘The Fellowship.’ Even though it was steaming hot in Atlanta, 23-25 August 1990, it felt strangely similar to the season of Advent. Hope was being birthed.”
By the next year, ‘The Fellowship’ became the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. CBF never intended to become a denomination in the old parlance. Sometimes it has been called a denominetwork. The primary functions of CBF are connectional and missional. Each year CBF hosts a General Assembly during the month of June. This summer, it will be held in Jacksonville, FL. CBF field personnel are active in 13 countries worldwide. As a church, we are connected with Carson and Laura Foushee in Japan; Marc and Kim Wyatt in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina; Rick Burnette in Immokalee, FL; and Eddie and Macarena Aldape in Spain, the parents of Alyssa Aldape who was once on staff and was ordained at NDBC. You can read more about the activities of CBF on their website www.cbf.net.
Northside Drive has been affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship since its inception. We are also affiliated with the more progressive “Alliance of Baptists,” but that story will be the topic of another article.
This Sunday, March 8, we are excited to welcome the Rev. Dr. Paul Baxley, the Executive Coordinator of CBF, to our church. Paul will visit the Art and Soul class for a time of learning and sharing. He will preach in our worship service. Then, he will stay for lunch in our Chapel. Please let Barbara Atchley know if you would like to join us for lunch.
Paul has pastored churches in both North Carolina and Georgia, most recently at First Baptist Church of Athens. Paul holds degrees from Wake Forest University, Duke Divinity School, and The Baptist Seminary at Richmond.
Join us on Sunday as we learn more about the work of CBF!
Scott
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