Alliance leaders reach out to conservative Baptists

Star-Telegram ^ | Jan. 28, 2004 | Jim Jones

[yonif]

DALLAS - The hopes of the Rev. Billy Kim that the singing of his Korean Children's Choir might "soften the hearts" of Southern Baptist conservative leaders and lead them to change their minds about seceding from the Baptist World Alliance was only partially realized this week.

Kim, president of the international Baptist group, said the children's host at a reception Monday in Fort Worth was Dorothy Patterson, wife of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson.

Patterson is one of the conservative leaders who advocates withdrawal from the Baptist World Alliance.

"My staff told me that Mrs. Patterson was moved to tears when the children sang God Bless America," said Kim, who appeared at a Dallas news conference Tuesday with Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, which is based in Falls Church, Va.

Kim, pastor of a 15,000-member church near Seoul, South Korea, said he brought the choir with him "to show a big thank-you to America for what they did for us in the Korean War and by sending us missionaries."

Dorothy Patterson, who initiated the reception for the children's choir, said Tuesday that she was very moved when the youngsters gave an impromptu concert on the stairwell of the seminary president's home.

"They were adorable," she said.

But her love for the children and their singing did not change her mind about the Baptist World Alliance, which she says has been critical of the conservatives who have taken over the Southern Baptist Convention in recent years.

"Dr. Billy Kim has made every effort to bring conservatives into the makeup of the Baptist World Alliance," but it has not happened, Dorothy Patterson said. "Paige and I kept participating, but in almost every meeting, we heard the Southern Baptist Convention denounced."

Paige Patterson and the Rev. Gary Smith, pastor of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, were two of eight members of a committee that recommended that Southern Baptists pull out of the Baptist World Alliance. The committee's report said the alliance gives "apparent approval" to "aberrant liberal theology." The full convention must still approve the committee report.

Kim and Lotz disputed the report's characterization of the alliance. They said they were praying that Southern Baptists would reject the committee's recommendation.

The committee proposed that the denomination leave the alliance, taking away $430,000 in annual funds. Southern Baptists have suggested that the money can be used to form a new international alliance of evangelicals.

Lotz appeared with Kim and the Korean Children's Choir at Dallas Baptist University, the Baptist General Convention of Texas headquarters in Dallas and at First Baptist Church of Plano on Tuesday.

"Baptists of the world love Southern Baptists. They helped start the alliance in 1905. We don't want them to leave," Lotz said.

Charles Wade, executive director of the moderate-led Baptist General Convention of Texas, appeared at the news conference with Kim and Lotz and vowed that his organization of 2.7 million Texas Baptists would continue supporting the worldwide alliance no matter what the Southern Baptist Convention does.

[Lucky Dog]

What the chief points of contention that the Southern Baptists are upset over? Anybody know?

[AppyPappy]

For one, the SB's asked their missionaries to sign a Biblical covenant. Many balked at the "Wive submit to your husband" language

[Lucky Dog]

That seems pretty negotiable in terms of language... I doubt that this was a "show stopper." What else?

[AppyPappy]

I know missionaries who left over it.

[Lucky Dog]

As near as I recall, those words are in the Bible. Do you mean that missionaries "object" to what the Bible says and still call themselves missionaries?

[AppyPappy]

...The Southern Baptist Convention is considering whether to withdraw funding for the Baptist World Alliance. A study panel of the convention accuses the Alliance of becoming too liberal and "openly advocating aberrant and dangerous theologies." The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. It is also the largest of the Alliance's 211 Baptist unions and conventions. The Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee will vote on the recommendation next month. If it passes, the proposal would go to rank-and-file members in June. The study panel says the Alliance is showing "a decided anti-American tone," promoting women as pastors, and refusing to speak out against abortion.