I N I S T RY GOSPEL M
ENDS NEWS & TR
Seminary presidentsS S Ireaffirm BFM, declare & ONS SPORTS & T MI MEN RY N T I S I A T N I R E M T N E CRT incompatible >> by George Schroeder
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR CONVENTION NEWS WITH THE SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)—In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BFM), the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has reaffirmed “with eagerness” the BFM’s status “as the doctrinal statement that unites and defines Southern Baptist cooperation and establishes the confessional unity of our Convention.” In a statement adopted in the council’s annual session, the seminary presidents assert that as “confessional institutions,” the SBC’s six seminaries stand “together in this classic statement of biblical truth.” Additionally, the statement declares that while condemning “racism in any form,” the seminaries agree that “affirmation of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality and any version of Critical Theory is incompatible with the Baptist Faith & Message.” Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Seminary and current chairman of the Council of Seminary Presidents, said those specific issues were addressed in light of concerns raised by Southern Baptists, including resolutions on the topic adopted by several state conventions at their annual meetings this fall. “We felt that because our brothers and sisters in various state conventions have concern about this N E their L I what ON issue, they would also know W to N Ewant NT NTEteachCOare seminaries actually think, IVE we LUSwhat EB-EXCand W ing and not teaching,” Akin said. The statement noted that SBC seminary professors “must agree to teach in accordance with and not contrary to the Baptist Faith & Message,” adding: “This is our sacred commitment and privilege, and every individual faculty member and trustee of our O institutions shares this commitment. WeIN areFthankTION A IC L B U P ful for the theological commitments of the South-
CLASSIFIE
Christmas Day JAN 1
New Year’s Day JAN 7
Singing ChurchWomenWest Concert Info: 7-8:30 p.m., Clinton, First oklahomabaptists.org/ worship-music
JAN 10
Oklahoma Baptist Symphony Concert
Info: 6-7:30 p.m., Fort Gibson Field House oklahomabaptists.org/ worship-music
LT U R E U C & S W E N
DS
ern Baptist Convention, C E S against the tide V O Istanding of theological compromise and in the face of an increasingly hostile secular culture.” In separate comments, the presidents of the other SBC seminaries endorsed the statement. Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Seminary, said it “reflects Southwestern Seminary’s confessional commitments and our unfaltering cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention of churches.” R. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, said the statement was addressed “to the entire Southern Baptist Convention.” “We have great confidence in the Southern Baptist Convention, as a movement of churches, to work together as we seek to be ever more faithful to Christ with every passing year,” Mohler said. Akin noted: “This is not a statement for fringe groups. This is for the regular, faithful Southern Baptists who love us and make it possible for us to do what we do.”
SIV WEB-EXCLU JAN 14
Singing Churchmen Concert Info: 7-8:30 p.m., OKC, Southern Hills oklahomabaptists.org/ worship-music
JAN 17-18
Youth Evangelism Conference
Info: Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center oklahomabaptists.org/yec
JAN 18-20
Transitional Pastor Training Info: $75, Baptist Building For more information contact knix@oklahomabaptists.org
FOR MORE INFO ON OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS’ EVENTS, VISIT WWW.OKLAHOMABAPTISTS.ORG/EVENTS
Southern Baptists praise Court ruling against Planned Parenthood Medicaid funds TOM STRODE | NOV 30
N INFO
Southern Baptist leaders praised a federal appeals court decision that enables states to prohibit abortion giant Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled Nov. 23 the states of Texas and Louisiana have the right to find that Planned Parenthood affiliates are unqualified to participate in their Medicaid programs.
PUBLICATIO
EVENTS
COVID-19 bringing Christmas changes to many Americans AARON EARLS | DEC 2
Almost all Americans celebrate Christmas, but most say COVID-19 will cause some changes to their usual holiday habits. A new study from LifeWay Research found 93 percent of American adults say they celebrate Christmas. That number is essentially unchanged from a decade ago when 91 percent said the same in a 2010 LifeWay Research survey. FIND ALL THESE STORIES AND MORE ONLINE AT WWW.BAPTISTMESSENGER.COM
2
SBC President J.D. Greear affirmed the statement as well. Greear, pastor of Raleigh-Durham, N.C., The Summit, decried “outlandish claims, out-of-context sermons or teaching clips, along with outright lies, (which) have been used to attack people and undermine the Great Commission work of our Convention, its entities, state conventions and churches. “As this statement demonstrates, our convention leaders affirm without reservation not only our historic Baptist theological confessions, but also a biblical view of justice, which I also affirm and applaud,” Greear said. “While we lament the painful legacy that racism and discrimination have left in our country and remain committed to fighting it in every form, we also declare that ideological frameworks like Critical Race Theory are incompatible with the BFM. The Gospel gives a better answer.” Visit baptistmessenger.com/bfm-reaffirmed to read N L I N Efrom O comments W as Ewell the full statement,Nas T the N E T SIVE CON seminary presidents. WEB-EXCLU
NE N E W O NELCIONTENT
EVENTS DEC 25
PEOPLE & EWS CHURCH N
O O L B OX T H C R U H C
December 10, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | News & Trends
PUBLICATIO
N INFO
The Baptist Messenger (ISSN 07449518) is published semi-monthly by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112-6506. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Circulation last issue: 41,821. Individual subscriptions are available upon request. When writing for a change of address or a subscription renewal, please include a copy of your mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Baptist Messenger, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK 73112-6506. While the Baptist Messenger attempts to provide advertisers of integrity who furnish quality products, it is recommended that buyers be cautious, do research and get references to any advertiser with which they are not familiar. Publication of an advertisement in the Baptist Messenger does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or businesses. December 10, 2020 • Volume 109, Number 23. Member, Baptist Press News, Christian Newspaper Association, Evangelical Press Association, Oklahoma Press Association.
EVENTS
MESSENGER STAFF
>> Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@baptistmessenger.com >> Chris Doyle | Managing Editor cdoyle@baptistmessenger.com >> Lori Coats | Subscriptions/Assistant lcoats@baptistmessenger.com >> Chris Forbes | Staff Writer cforbes@oklahomabaptists.org >> Tori Hamilton | Messenger Intern thamilton@baptistmessenger.com
