October 2, 2000
Two churches reaffirm ties to BGCT
___Recent developments within the Baptist denomination have prompted two longtime Texas Baptist churches to reaffirm their support for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth adopted a resolution of "continuing support and cooperation" with the BGCT, and First Baptist Church of Abilene expressed cooperative support for the state convention in its "Heritage of Faith and Freedom" statement.
___Broadway's resolution notes the church's affiliation with the BGCT spans more than a century and has involved its members and ministers in convention boards and committees as well as institutional employees. It notes the church's community ministry partnership with Buckner Baptist Benevolences and recognizes the BGCT's "continuing commitment to share the gospel both in Texas and around the world" and its "commitment to historic Baptist belief, faith and practice."
___Broadway members voted to reaffirm its ongoing relationship with the BGCT; to express appreciation to the convention for its "courageous stands" on behalf of historic Baptist belief, faith and practice; and to commend the BGCT for "its continuing efforts to recognize that 'there is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is no longer slave nor free, there is no longer male nor female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."
___The Abilene church's statement affirms the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message statement--which was reaffirmed by the BGCT last fall--is a "confession but not a creed." The statement expresses concern for "recent developments in Baptist life, some of which suggest a movement away from historic Baptist faith and practice," a reference to the newest version of the Baptist Faith & Message, approved by the Southern Baptist Convention this summer.
___The church's statement expresses its commitment to seven historic Baptist principles.
___They are "the supreme authority of the living Christ, who is the center of our faith and practice; the centrality of the Bible as the essential trustworthy guide for faith and life; the reality of salvation by grace through faith; the priesthood of every believer and the autonomy of the individual soul before God; the liberty of conscience and religious freedom in society and the church; the autonomy of the local church and congregational authority within the church; and the priority of missions and ministry in the life of the church."
The Baptist Standard
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