April 30, 2001

18 Atlanta churches begin forming
an alternative Baptist association
___ATLANTA (RNS)--Eighteen Southern Baptist churches in the Atlanta area have opted to form a new local association because they are displeased two churches that support homosexuals have been allowed to remain as members of the Atlanta Baptist Association.
___More than 50 representatives of the 18 churches met April 17 and chose their interim leadership.
___"I have great confidence that God's hand is upon us," said Bill Jaggar, pastor of North Peachtree Baptist Church in Doraville, Ga., who was named interim moderator of the new Metro-Atlanta Southern Baptist Association.
___The new group formed in response to two failed attempts by the Atlanta Baptist Association to vote out Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland Baptist churches, which have affirmed homosexuals. The larger association has more than 100 member congregations.
___Jagger said he hopes the new association will be known for what it is for rather than what it is against.
___"We're pro-kingdom of God, pro-Southern Baptist Convention, pro-Georgia Baptist Convention, pro-winning souls to Jesus," he said.
___The new association hopes to apply for official recognition from the Georgia Baptist Convention and will seek mission funds from the state convention as well as the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The mission board and the state convention decided to drop funding of the Atlanta Baptist Association after it retained ties with Virginia-Highland and Oakhurst churches.
___The two churches were dismissed in 1999 from the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!