D.C. declines to let SBC look over shoulder
___By Bob Allen
___Associated Baptist Press
___WASHINGTON (ABP)--The District of Columbia Baptist Convention has refused demands for increased accountability to the Southern Baptist Convention, setting up a showdown that could end 125 years of a joint Baptist witness in the nation's capital.
___The convention's executive board voted March 11 to turn down a series of requests by the SBC North American Mission Board to address a perceived rift between Southern Baptists and the state affiliate.
___Specifically, the mission board asked the D.C. convention to change its structure so that all funding from NAMB would be administered by a person directly accountable to Southern Baptists and not the district convention's executive director.
___But D.C. leaders said the proposal would "violate basic management principles." They rejected a 12-month trial period proposed by NAMB to implement the changes.
___The response to the NAMB proposal requests a statement within 45 days from NAMB President Bob Reccord about the agency's intentions concerning the future of its partnership with the D.C. convention.
___Southern Baptists provide nearly one-third of the D.C. convention's $1.5 million budget. Most of that money comes from NAMB in the form of joint funding of projects outlined in a cooperative agreement.
___Unlike most other Southern Baptist state conventions, however, the D.C. convention isn't aligned solely with the SBC. Historically affiliated with both the SBC and American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., the group added ties to the predominantly African-American Progressive National Baptist Convention in 1998.
___NAMB officials had cited disagreement with American Baptists in stated positions on abortion, women's ordination and acceptance of homosexuals, saying those differences raised "stewardship" issues about continuing the joint witness in Washington.
___In a letter to D.C. leaders last fall, NAMB officials outlined six conditions for continuing the historic partnership:
___ Change the D.C. structure so NAMB-funded programs are distinct from other areas and are overseen by a NAMB strategist.
___D.C. leaders said this would "fragment" their work and "segregate our program and staff along denominational lines." No one has ever questioned the convention's handling and distribution of NAMB funds, they said, and the state convention has increased its giving to Southern Baptist causes.
___ Agree not to promote "cultural festivals" that include non-Christian religions.
___D.C. leaders replied no program is promoted under that title. Recognizing the autonomy of churches, however, they said they don't discourage member churches from engaging in interfaith dialogue and collaboration. Rather than implying endorsement of other faiths, they said, such relationships provide opportunities for witness.
___ The Capital Baptist newspaper should not contain articles that "denigrate" the SBC.
___The response said the paper would be careful to label opinions that do not represent official stances of the state convention and strive for balance.
___ Speakers at D.C. convention events should represent "theological tenets" of the SBC, and criticism of the SBC should follow the pattern outlined by Jesus in Matthew 18.
___D.C. leaders said they don't believe any speakers have denigrated the SBC, but they don't assume responsibility for oral and written comments of invited speakers. In addition, they said, "We affirm Matthew 18."
___ The NAMB strategist administer all NAMB funds "in consultation with" the D.C. executive director.
___The executive board response welcomed "enhancement" of administration of NAMB funds but said sufficient accountability already is in place.
___ The NAMB strategist should supervise all jointly funded mission personnel.
___"All employees receiving their checks from the DCBC come under supervision of the executive director/minister of the DCBC," the response said. "In our opinion, the introduction of a NAMB strategist would violate basic management principles."
___The response said D.C. Baptists desire to strengthen the historic relationship, and core values and missions of the D.C. convention and NAMB are consistent. It also affirmed a commitment to comply with the cooperative agreement.
___Reccord said through a spokesman last week he is "disappointed that it appears the D.C. convention has rejected NAMB's proposal."
___The vote on the response to NAMB passed on a show-of-hands vote by a "very obvious" majority, said Tish Jones, administrative assistant and treasurer for the D.C. convention
___Jim Burcham, pastor of First Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, Md., was one of the delegates opposed to the D.C. response. Burcham said he doesn't think the concerns raised by NAMB are unfounded.
___Burcham said he has been concerned for some time about the leadership of the D.C. convention. He claimed opposing views were "squelched" at the executive board meeting and one speaker was shouted down.
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