May 28, 2001

CBF strategic plan drawing scrutiny
___By Bob Allen
___Associated Baptist Press
___WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP)--A proposed strategic plan is causing friction between the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and some of its affiliates.
___Two state chapters of the moderate organization have asked national leaders to reconsider recommendations altering membership qualifications and the method for electing CBF's governing board.
___National CBF leaders tout the second phase of a strategic plan, scheduled for vote at the Fellowship's 10th anniversary general assembly June 28-30, as a step toward moving the organization beyond its origins in Southern Baptist controversy into a new kind of Baptist organization for a post-denominational age.
___The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina's coordinating council, however, voted unanimously May 21 to request that the vote on recommendations by a national strategic-planning committee be delayed a year. The motion calls for referring the proposals back to the national CBF Coordinating Council for "further review" with the "input of as many CBF members as possible."
___The Coordinating Council of the CBF of Virginia earlier asked the national organization to reconsider a new proposal for electing leaders that it said "leans toward" self-perpetuation. Bylaw changes scheduled for vote at this year's CBF national gathering call for a smaller and renamed Coordinating Council that is less connected to state and regional chapters.
___National CBF leaders report criticism from other states as well but say they also have gotten feedback from members praising the plan.
___The North Carolina council expressed concerns about a part of the proposal defining member churches as those that, in addition to supporting CBF financially, choose to "embrace" the organization's mission statement and core values.
___Critics oppose the change both on principle and for practical reasons. Some say requiring churches to affirm any position statement amounts to imposing a creed.
___Other critics of the CBF strategic plan say tinkering with membership requirements will bring division by forcing the issue in local churches where CBF and SBC supporters now peacefully coexist.
___"I believe there are many churches that are dually aligned, and perhaps without formal action, because they have a few individuals who affirm CBF fully," said David Crocker, a Coordinating Council member from Fayetteville, N.C. He said requiring member churches to take action to affiliate with CBF could divide some congregations by precipitating an up-or-down vote on the question.

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