Observations about CBF

                                                                                                                                                                     Vol. IX, No. 2, February 1996

[This is a letter to the editor reprinted from the Missouri state Baptist paper, Word & Way, 23 November 1995.]

I am writing in response to Pete Hill's letter to the editor (November 15, "Not a denomination"). Pastor Hill, who is a member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, stated that many of us here in Missouri are either uninformed or plain ornery for making statements about the CBF. As a member of the credentials committee at this year's [state] convention, let me share some findings to open our eyes to the gospel truth about the CBF. The major question being considered: Is the CBF a denomination and what effect does it have on our churches and the Southern Baptist Convention?

First: The CBF has their own seminary in Richmond (the SBC already has six). Second: They have their own publishing house for producing Sunday School literature (the SBC has one already). Third: The CBF has their own mission sending agency (the SBC has the Foreign and Home mission boards already). Fourth: They have their own executive director (the SBC has an executive board {committee} and director {president} already). Fifth: The CBF has purchased ground to build their own home offices (why, if they're just a fellowship of persons upset with the direction of the SBC?). Sixth: They have every element of a denomination ready to start.

How is this divisive? 1. They are pulling churches out of the existing SBC to join the CBF. 2. There are sessions held by the CBF to train pastors in pulling their churches out of the Cooperative Program and directly giving to the CBF. 3. They give their gifts to the CBF instead of the SBC for its mission programs, schools, hospitals, and ministries. 4. We need to copyright Lottie Moon because a few CBF churches were using that title to push their mission gifts and keep it for themselves. 5. Many of the current CBF leaders were once SBC leaders on our payroll and are now using those old contacts to promote the demise of the Cooperative Program. (Keith Parks has stated we all need to go back to societal missions vs. the Cooperative Program.) In my opinion the CBF is a denomination and needs to go their way and not disrupt the mission efforts of our beloved SBC.

LINDY REED

Pastor, Birchwood Church

Independence, MO