October 28, 2002
IMB: Non-signers can't stay indefinitely
___RICHMOND, Va.--The Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board will not allow missionaries to continue "indefinitely" without affirming the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, mission board leaders announced Oct. 18.
___"We have asked missionaries to affirm that their personal beliefs are consistent with the current Baptist Faith & Message or, in the case of minor disagreements, that they will work in accordance with and not contrary to the document," President Jerry Rankin said in a news release. "A few have been reluctant, for various reasons, to make that commitment. We do not feel it is appropriate for that situation to continue indefinitely."
___Nearly 99 percent of IMB missionaries have affirmed the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message as requested earlier this year by Rankin, he said.
___The news release said Avery Willis, IMB senior vice president for overseas operations, is talking personally with missionaries who have not yet signed.
___According to IMB reports, 26 missionaries have cited concerns about the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message as a reason for their resignations. Six other resignations related to the doctrinal statement are expected to be processed this week when IMB trustees meet in Dallas.
___IMB officials said "slightly more than 1 percent" of the IMB's 5,437 missionaries have not yet indicated whether they will sign the required affirmation.
___Willis insisted in the release that missionaries are not being told to change their convictions.
___"Missionaries are being asked to demonstrate integrity in continuing to serve Southern Baptists only if they can pledge to work 'in accordance with and not contrary to' the convictions of the churches that send and support them," he said. "What is happening now is that missionaries are being asked to resolve the issue in the next two or three months."
___Willis added: "Southern Baptists deserve to know that their missionaries serve in harmony with the deeply held convictions they have expressed in the Baptist Faith & Message. We believe it is a matter of integrity for missionaries to be honest with Southern Baptists and promise to honor the churches' convictions in the ways they teach and minister."
The Baptist Standard
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!/ Signup for FirstLook |