Louisiana Editor Says CBF Has Not Captured Baptist Hearts

by   Herb Hollinger                                                                                                                                        Vol. VII, No. 6, August 1994

The editor of the Louisiana Baptist Messenger says the "Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has "not captured the hearts or imaginations of the kinds and numbers of Baptists ... to become a substantial national movement." Lynn P. Clayton, in his weekly editorial dated June 30 titled "Next few years will tell the fate of Fellowship group," wrote that the moderate Baptist organization has been primarily a channel of protest against Southern Baptist Convention leadership. A major change took place in June when at the SBC annual meeting convention agencies were directed to not receive funds from the CBF any longer.

For some, Clayton wrote, "the CBF is an embryonic national denomination. So, what is the future of CBF?" Clayton listed five reasons why he believes the CBF will not become a substantial national movement. In summary:

1) The group has never overcome the perception that it is headed by older men who were leaders of the SBC before the controlling surge of the fundamental/conservatives. Although present leaders of the CBF may say a shift to younger leadership is underway, the initial perception remains.

2) The choice of Cecil Sherman as its first executive director has not served the CBF well. Sherman has considerable intellect and skill, but his style does not appeal to a wide spectrum of Southern Baptists. His manner tends to be acerbic.

3) The style adopted by the CBF in its national meetings does not relate to a broad spectrum of Baptists. Many younger pastors have attended national CBF meetings and did not feel at home with its formality of worship.

4) The CBF has chosen issues that most Southern Baptists are not willing to accept as live-or-die issues; i.e., the ordination of women.

5) The strong sense of loyalty and appreciation Southern Baptists have to their convention. The SBC and the Cooperative Program have been greatly used of God to help establish the kingdom of God on earth.

Noting that messengers at the recent SBC annual meeting directed convention agencies not to receive funds from the CBF any more, Clayton said, "this means that churches and individuals who want to protest something about (SBC) convention work will no longer be able to register the protest by giving through the CBF." Clayton said a statistically small number, and even smaller percentage, of churches are officially aligned with the CBF.

Also, Clayton said an "interesting and perhaps telling development has occurred": The money sent to the CBF from churches has increased during the organization's four years of existence but "people in attendance at its national meetings have declined. ... Perhaps that reflects the possibility that some Southern Baptists have been using the CBF as an avenue of protest, but do not identify with it as a program organization."

The next two to five years will tell, Clayton added, and he predicts the CBF will become a separate, more identifiable denomination. "That is what many of its members, and ironically, most leaders of the SBC hope."

Clayton wrote, "The present need of the SBC is for a clear convention vision and statement of purpose that will elicit the support of all Southern Baptists. A positive vision and purpose will do more to help the convention than negative reaction to a protest splinter group." [BP]