“Why doesn’t the SBC simply issue a more strongly worded statement denouncing the Boy Scouts of America?”
Name any denomination that has reacted stronger.
“Why doesn’t the SBC simply use its influence to pressure Southern Baptist pastors to sever ties with the Scouts?...Then, on other hand, they claim if a Southern Baptist pastor showed up at a SBC meeting and said he didn’t believe in Jesus’ divinity, he wouldn’t get two sentences out and they’d keep him out the meeting and swiftly move to marginalize his church within the SBC “
Probably because it isn’t a theological matter. There is ZERO tolerance for homosexuality in the SBC, but the wisdom of how to respond to a secular organization isn’t so clear cut. Should the SBC condemn anyone who stays in the military? Should the SBC condemn any church that uses Apple computers, or withdraw fellowship from any Baptist congregation in states that have approved homosexual marriage?
The SBC has rejected congregations that say practicing homosexuality is OK. That is a clear, theological choice. But how to live in the world, but not be OF the world - that is a challenge.
This thread was posted, not about the BSA, but about sexual abuse claims. Since the SBC can’t even get member churches to fill out an annual survey on how many members they have, determining who is a sexual predator is going to be tough. Most Baptist congregations will turn any predator over to the cops. Those that don’t...could be disciplined (rejected) at the next annual convention, IF someone reports it. But the SBC, unlike the Catholic Church, doesn’t have a top down organization capable of HIDING predators in the system - because there IS no system.
Great post, Mr. Rogers. I think we are both trying to get across the difference between freedom of affiliation of the private individual and a theological matter from the church pulpit. Silly me, I thought I was on Free Republic! Isn’t freedom of affiliation supposedly a conservative stance??