BWA accepts six new members ...

BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE

INFORMATION SERVICE

Wendy Ryan, Communications Division

Denton Lotz, General Secretary

July 24, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BWA Accepts Six New Members Defers Action on CBF

Seville, Spain (BWA) -- Five new member bodies were accepted into the Baptist World Alliance during its annual General Council meetings in Seville, Spain, July 8-13 but it was the deferred action on the membership application of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) that has received the most attention.

After days and many hours of meetings, the chair of the Membership Committee, Ian Hawley, General Director of the Australian Baptist Missionary Society, announced at the Friday July 12 meeting, that the Committee believes the CBF application can be recommended to the General Council for acceptance in 2003. However, "given the years of serious differences, we consider it is necessary for the CBF to affirm publicly that they have separated themselves from the structures and organization of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and have a distinct diverse understanding to the SBC of what it means to be an organized body of Baptist churches and individuals in covenant relationship."

Hawley prefaced the report and three- page paper, noting that in the CBF application, the committee and the General Council were dealing "with issues of great pain, hurt and sorrow for many people." He stressed that both the SBC and CBF were represented at the deliberations.

"The Membership Committee, in its dependence on God has sensed God's guidance in the process through which we have passed," Hawley said. "We ask for your trust and acceptance of these paper," which outlined the process and arguments of the committee for their conclusions.

Among the key points of the report are: - the independent legal status of the CBF as an organization that serves as a global mission agency and a congregational resource for local churches. - the CBF designation as "A Baptist Association of churches and individuals."

- assurances from CBF representatives "that they have separated themselves from the structures and organization of the SBC and have a distinctly diverse understanding to the SBC of what it means to be an organized body of Baptist churches in covenant relationship." - a $20 million foundation that serves as a resource for their organization. - a Church Benefits Board that provides health care and pension facilities to more than 300 CBF workers. - a CBF understanding "to uphold the right of autonomous churches to partner with any global mission agency or congregational resource of their choice."

Before the Council was asked to receive the report, Morris Chapman, President of the SBC Executive Committee spoke to the matter. Chapman expressed his gratitude to the Committee for their hard work but said he differed with the report and with the process. "I differ with the presuppositions that undergird this report," he said.

Daniel Vestal, CBF Coordinator, also expressed appreciation to the committee. "I am pleased and deeply grateful for the integrity of the committee," he said. "The CBF will cooperate in all ways to fulfill this request so we can join. We value this body, the relationship and partnerships we already have with you. We want to participate in the world body in serving God and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Before asking for the vote, the President of the BWA, Billy Kim made an impassioned plea for unity on the issue and "to solve the really big problems of the world."

By voice vote and show of hands, all of the Council received the report with the exception of most of the SBC delegation.

The report has asked BWA President and General Secretary, Denton Lotz, "to work with others toward enabling better understanding and respect between the CBF and the SBC."

Ten groups applied for membership, five of whom were accepted, two delayed, one in process and two did not meet the criteria. Those accepted are:

- The Lower Assam Baptist Group in India with 40,000 members, founded in 1971 - The Baptist Mission of South Africa with 1,800 members, started in 1903 - The Canadian Convention of Southern Baptist Churches with 10,000 members, begun in 1985 - The Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Churches Association, India, with 30,000 members dated from 1999 - The Self Supporting Kayin Baptist Mission Society, Myanmar, started in 1912

This brings the total membership of the BWA to 206 member bodies.