Rankin expects most missionaries to sign; trustees commend Rankin
___By Bob Allen
___Associated Baptist Press
___KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP)--International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin says he doesn't expect to lose large numbers of Southern Baptist missionaries, despite controversy over his request that all 5,100 affirm recent revisions to the Baptist Faith & Message.
___Veteran missionaries previously affirmed general agreement with a version of the confession of faith adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963. Revisions in 1998 and 2000 narrowed doctrines in several areas, however, including biblical interpretation, local church autonomy and the priesthood of the believer. Critics say the new version is more a creed than a voluntary confession of faith.
___Despite widespread criticism of his request and talk of defections, the response among most missionaries has "been overwhelming understanding and cooperation," Rankin said in an interview March 15.
___During a business session the same day in Kansas City, Mo., IMB trustees accepted resignations from 31 missionaries and moved 62 retiring missionaries to "emeritus" status. Asked about the transition, Rankin said just one resignation appeared to be directly related to his request that missionaries affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.
___Rankin said a number of missionaries are still "sorting things out" about the new requirement, but he believes most will comply.
___"It's going to take time to work through it," Rankin said. He noted there is no deadline for missionaries to reply and disputed critics who say an ultimatum of "sign or else" is implied. "That's not the purpose of this," he asserted.
___In earlier comments to IMB trustees, Rankin said many of his critics reflect a "predisposition" against the SBC and IMB and inaccurately assume that trustees and staff are suspicious of missionaries.
___"To the contrary, it was due to our confidence in the missionaries that we have given them the opportunity to take a stand with us in dispelling unfounded suspicions and mistrust that could erode confidence and support," he said.
___Rankin said he believes it is appropriate for missionaries to affirm what they believe. He said he doesn't argue with critics who say Baptists have no creed but the Bible. As a pastor and missionary, however, he said he encountered people from the Church of Christ, Pentecostals and charismatics who said the same thing.
___"It is especially alarming that so many seem to think the primary thing that distinguishes Baptists is the priesthood of the believer and autonomy of the local church, forgetting that our soul competency to come to God without any mediator other than Jesus Christ is based on the authority of God's inerrant word," he said.
___"The Holy Spirit never leads an individual contrary to the teaching and truths of God's word," Rankin said.
___Critics who attack the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, Rankin said, deny priesthood of the believer to drafters of the faith statement and autonomy to the SBC "and its authority to govern its institutions and expect accountability on the part of those who serve convention entities."
___Rankin said the controversy has "reflected once again the necessity of the conservative resurgence and the need to hold firmly to the fundamentals of our faith lest we succumb to theological relativism, social compromise, postmodern influence and be cast about by every wind of doctrine in the name of freedom."
___IMB trustees approved--with one dissenting vote--a motion affirming Rankin for asking missionary personnel to endorse the faith statement.
___"We stand firmly and 100 percent committed behind our president," said Bob Pearle of Fort Worth, chairman of the IMB's overseas committee.
___Bob Claytor, the IMB chairman who lives in Fair Play, S.C., added: "Our president has led us. That is what leaders do. They lead."
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