Southern Baptists Warn of Stagnation

[yellowcanine]

INDIANAPOLIS - With over 16 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention remains America's largest Protestant denomination and continues to grow even as more liberal Protestant groups decline. But as the SBC ended its annual meeting, some leaders said the denomination appears to be stagnating.
-snip
The warnings came even as the SBC adopted a resolution that the rightward shift it began 25 years ago strengthened its churches and re-energized mission efforts.
Also on Wednesday, the meeting:

_ Issued a statement endorsing a Constitutional amendment against gay marriage.

_ Rejected a highly sectarian proposal that would have urged parents to pull all students out of American public schools and place them in Christian schools or home schooling.

_ Rejected a study of whether to change the denomination's name and drop "Southern." Some debaters said the venerable label turns off potential converts while others felt it symbolizes biblical fidelity.

More:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=15&u=/ap/20040617/ap_on_re_us/southern_baptists_25


Note the study that was rejected and the reason (last sentence). And they wonder why they are stagnating. Carrying a term in their title that is a symbol of acceptance of slavery and racial segregation and some Southern Baptists think it symbolizes biblical fidelity? Get a clue, people.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I don't think the liberal numbers are declining

in actuality. I imagine they are basing their numbers on headcounts in churches, but I know lots of liberal Christians who do not go to church for one reason or another. Bet they don't factor into those numbers.

Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[mr_hat]

2. Heard an interview with the head dude on NPR >

the other day. He enunciated almost exactly like the minister on The Simpsons. When the interviewer thanked him at the end, he responded, "My joy." What a hoot.

[AwakeAtLast]

3. Thanks for the link, I bookmarked for later! n/t

[Skidmore]

4. Well they are in the

backwaters of Christianity. Current's real slow there.

[Jabbery]

5. That church was founded to advocate for slavery

They started up in 1856 as a protest against the rise of southern abolitionist preachers.

They admitted Jerry Falwell into their ranks a few years ago.

They are a filthy abomination before God.