Published on February 7, 2024, 12:49 am

In a major development that could redefine the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) stance on various controversial subjects, Bart Barber, President of the SBC, announced the creation of a committee called the Cooperation Group. Led by Jared Wellman and comprising 20 members including leaders such as Victor Chayasirisobhon, Jerome Coleman, and Tara Dew, the group is tasked with evaluating and potentially redefining the SBC’s cooperation standards.

Nevertheless, this initiative has ushered in skepticism from observers who question its motivations and potential consequences. Accusations centre around an alleged attempt to subtly adjust the SBC’s doctrinal position under the pretense of addressing contentious issues like churches appointing women to pastoral roles—a matter that has caused considerable internal division.

The reasoning behind this uncertainty stems from the Cooperation Group’s mandate to scrutinize the “fundamental processes” of collaboration without explicit instruction to maintain established SBC doctrinal positions. Concerns over potential doctrine dilution have arisen due to a lack of clarity in denominational by-laws on women’s role in pastoral duties.

The ongoing debate has sparked calls for an amendment known as ‘Mike Law Amendment,’ which seeks to codify the prohibition of female pastors in member churches. The predominantly left-leaning Cooperation Group might likely introduce other recommendations that could pivot the denomination towards liberal perspectives.

Heath Lambert, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida expressed strong reservations about the group’s direction within SBC. He highlights concerns over changes to Baptist Faith and Message (BFM) that could fundamentally deviate from traditional Baptist principles.

“We need absolute clarity,” Lambert wrote on his church’s website. “A draft containing less conviction than we presently hold would establish entirely new confessional standards.”

Lambert lays out two possible strategies: keeping the current confession or suggesting a modified BFM that establishes tiered belief systems—potentially leading to diminished clarity in convention doctrine. He argues that decreasing doctrinal clarity may lead to division and undermine the SBC’s theological framework.

Lambert’s call to action urges holding fast onto convictions that have consistently reinforced the denomination’s faithfulness, considering it as the sole path forward for maintaining strength and unity within SBC.

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