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American Baptists: Our Current Landscape
We are currently in the midst of turbulent times in our denominational life. During the past several years of my service on the General Board (the basic organizational/”governing” board of the denomination) I have seen increasing moves by various individuals and groups to try to impose certain viewpoints, theological stances, and interpretations of scripture on all American Baptists and American Baptist Churches.
Tactics used to force these viewpoints include threats to “dis-fellowship” churches from association within the larger life of the denomination; the blocking or derailing of ordinations; denying people the right to participate in boards, committees, conferences and councils; the withholding of mission dollars. Quite often a smokescreen issue raised is one of human sexuality. Because this issue both evokes strong feelings in people and is often uncomfortable to discuss, it tends to distract people from perceiving the serious threat to our denominational life in the erosion of the Baptist principles of soul freedom, the priesthood of all believers, the autonomy of the local church, the right and responsibility of each individual to read and interpret scripture and the separation of church and state.
Most recently, one of the Executive Ministers of another ABC/USA region has announced the launching of an organization called the “Great Commission Network” which will link together churches that conform to a singular way of interpreting the Bible and “embrace a commitment to historic Christian orthodoxy expressed in a confession of faith.” Such a movement should ring alarm-bells for all Baptists. It cedes to another – whether one person or a small group of people – the right and responsibility of interpreting the Bible for the individual; it implies that the individual needs a human mediator to facilitate his or her relationship with God; it shuts the door on the multiple ways God speaks to each of us through our personal experiences and relationship with God and others; it inevitably leads to a hierarchical church and denominational structure. Baptists came into existence precisely in protest of such an approach to faith; from the very first, Baptists have maintained that God relates to each individual personally and directly, and that each and every person has the right and responsibility to say “yes” to God for her or himself and to live and grow into their relationship with God. As Baptists have always known, this doesn’t make for lock-step or even easy life in the church, but rather allows for deep and authentic experiences and expressions of faith.
In the midst of all this divisiveness, I have been tempted to throw up my hands and dismiss any involvement in denominational life. But, at the same time that I have seen these divisive moves taking place, I have also grown and deepened in my appreciation of the many ways that God works through our collective denominational life when we put power-struggles aside and focus on mission. I have learned of the many ways we, in missional collaboration with other churches, are able to help make real the prayer of Jesus that God’s kingdom will begin to break into being on earth, as it already is in heaven. In coming to know, work with, and worship alongside fellow Baptists from across the country, I have expanded my understanding of the ways in which our unity in Christ, not our uniformity of opinion, makes us one. And so I find myself continuing in my commitment to work together with other individuals and churches so that in small ways and large I can be a part of the transforming power of Christ in our world.
I do not know what will be the outcome of the current denominational struggles in the American Baptist Churches. We may be headed for a split; we may find a way to stay together. In five, ten or twenty years from now, we may look radically different as a denomination, whether for good or for ill. I do know that the current divisions won’t just go away or disappear if we ignore them or wish them away or pretend they don’t exist, and I know that the threat to our Baptist principles is immediate and real. It seems to me that this time offers us an opportunity to delve deeply into our Baptist roots, to rediscover once again why it is we “got this way” as a people of faith whose understanding of church is based on the freedom and responsibility of each individual to enter and live into a personal, direct relationship with God, and to recommit ourselves to upholding and living the Baptist principles that create a structural space in which this can happen. Let’s be in conversation in our local churches, our Associations, our Regions and, yes, even on the General Board, about our Baptist principles and why they matter, sharing with each other our thoughts, opinions, interpretations and ideas. After all, that’s what being Baptist is all about – each and every one of us bringing our best personal understandings of how God is speaking to us and acting among us so that we can learn from each other and work together to witness to our faith and join in the work of God’s kingdom.
In Christ’s Peace,
The Rev. Ashley C. Smith
First Baptist Church of Pittsfield, MA
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