Published on February 10, 2024, 2:11 am

The nation’s most substantial Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), is currently at a significant crossroads. SBC President Bart Barber has recently announced the formation of the Cooperation Group, a 20-member committee primarily charged with evaluating and potentially reshaping the SBC’s cooperative standards. This move comes amidst growing concerns about a feminist takeover within the church body, with this new group including influential leaders such as Jared Wellman, Victor Chayasirisobhon, Jerome Coleman, Tara Dew, Travis Kerns, Tony Wolfe, and Nathan Finn.

However, apprehension ensues among observers who question the implicit motivations and prospective ramifications of the Cooperation Group actions. Some views suggest that these actions may subtly shift SBC’s doctrinal position under unprecedented issues guise like permitting women in pastoral roles—a topic already causing phenomenal division among SBC membership.

Deepening skepticism further is that this group has been given a broad mandate to assess cooperation “fundamental processes” without any clear rule to safeguard historical SBC doctrinal positions. The absence of specific guidelines in denominational by-laws concerning women’s pastoral roles raises concerns regarding potential doctrinal watering down and deviation from traditional Baptist values. Many are now calling for an amendment known as the Mike Law Amendment aimed at banning female pastors in member churches officially.

On one hand, it seems likely that Cooperation Group will present other recommendations which could steer the denomination towards more liberal directions. Senior Pastor Heath Lambert of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville FL has expressed strong reservations about the group’s decisions and its direction within SBC. His primary concern revolves around a fearful potential revision of Baptist Faith and Message (BFM), which he perceives as moving away from fundamental doctrinal SBC standards.

In his article posted on his church website, Pastor Lambert declared: “Southern Baptists need to be crystal clear; those advocating for new cooperation standards within BFM demand we draft an entirely new confessional document containing less conviction than we currently possess.” He then discusses the two possible routes the Cooperation Group might suggest. One retains the current confession standard, which, according to him, has significantly served SBC for decades. The other is proposing a modified BFM version that could establish a tiered belief system, potentially diluting the convention’s clear doctrinal stance.

The pastor emphasizes the importance of maintaining robust doctrinal standards amidst times of discord and uncertainty. He contends that reducing doctrinal specificity can lead to division and weaken SBC’s theological foundation, resonating with Jesus’s teaching that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

In conclusion, Pastor Lambert encourages Southern Baptist Convention adherents to maintain steadfast in convictions that have historically preserved the denomination’s fidelity and theological integrity. He envisions retaining these convictions as the only feasible way forward, ensuring SBC’s future strength and unity. This latest development thus shines a spotlight on Christian communities worldwide as they navigate internal waters stirred by contemporary debates over traditional stances from a Christian worldview.