Fellowship Statement

by    Mark Wingfield                                                                                                                                            Vol. IV, No. 5, July 1991

The "Cooperative Baptist Fellowship" was formed at the 9-11 May meeting in Atlanta. The interim steering committee presented a statement explaining the purpose of the new organization. The statement identified six areas where moderates differ from conservatives:

1. Bible. "The Bible neither claims nor reveals inerrancy as a Christian teaching. Bible claims must be based on the Bible, not on human interpretations of the Bible."

[While conservatives disagree vehemently with the first sentence, we would certainly agree with the second. How interesting to observe those who in the past have so strongly championed any believer's right to interpret the Bible for himself now asserting the authority of the Bible over personal interpretation.]

2. Education. "Fundamentalists educate by indoctrination. ... We seek to enlarge and build upon such truth as we have."

[Strange to condemn "fundamentalist" education when Criswell College and Mid-America Seminary are accredited by the same secular agencies which have for years accredited Southern and Southwestern Seminaries. As conservatives will understand this statement, it is really condemning conservatives for teaching that the Bible is true and completely accurate. Moreover, clearly the Bible commands us not to "enlarge and build upon" the truth God has revealed to us. This latter area is a major difference between the two groups.]

3. Mission. "Fundamentalists make the mission assignment narrower than Jesus did. They allow their emphasis on direct evangelism to undercut other biblical ministries of mercy and justice."

[Gratifying that the CBF statement acknowledges we do emphasize evangelism. We concur that that is a substantial difference between the two groups. See the separate article in this Banner, "Doctrine and Evangelism."]

4. Pastor. "They argue the pastor should be the ruler of the congregation. ... Our understanding of the role of the pastor is to be a servant/shepherd."

[Here they attempt to draw a distinction where there need be no difference. Jesus said He came not to serve, but He was certainly the disciples' and our divine Ruler. On a much lesser scale, the local church pastor is, of course, a servant to his flock, but he is also the leader, or as their own statement notes, the shepherd.]

5. Women. The statement said conservatives generally believe women should be submissive to men in church leadership roles, but moderates believe "women are equally capable of dealing with sacred issues."

[This is a correct formulation of the moderate perspective as we understand it but not of the conservative view. Conservatives hold that women are of equal value before God, equally partake of God's grace, and receive spiritual gifts for service in the church. This being true there are many vital roles they can, indeed must, fill in the church. On the other hand, conservatives note that the Bible sets forth certain differences in function between men and women, and believe that as obedient believers we are to obey God's distinctives.]

6. Church. Describing CBF as "ecumenical" and " inclusive," the statement said, "We are eager to have fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the faith and to recognize their work for our Savior. We do not try to make them conform to us; we try to include them in our design for mission."

[Yet God's word directs us to be a "peculiar" (that is, different") people. We're to be "holy," set apart. The Bible does not emphasize inclusiveness but uniqueness. Stressing inclusiveness while not mentioning holiness suggests strongly a lowest-common-denominator faith and practice. See separate article in this issue on "Relevance."]

"The points of difference are critical," the statement said. "They are the stuff around which a fellowship such as the Southern Baptist Convention is made.

"At no place have we been able to negotiate these differences. Were our fundamentalist brethren to negotiate, they would compromise. And that would be a sin by their understandings. So we can either come to their position or we can form a new fellowship."

[This conclusion strongly implies a new denomination, though it does not come right out and say so.]

[BP. Bracketed comments by T.C. Pinckney.]