Roger Williams Fellowship

This is the issue of Baptist Freedom published at the June 2007 Biennial.  Look for frequent updates to this site beginning shortly!

Baptist Freedom 2007 

The board of directors of the Roger Williams Fellowship notes two recent pastoral letters written by the Rev. A. Roy Medley, General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches/USA. In these letters, Medley addresses two pressing issues on the front pages of newspapers: first, the ongoing discussion about homosexuality in the Church and second (and separately), Israeli military action against Hezbollah militants in the country of Lebanon.

Both letters are premised upon the call of the General Secretary to interpret and articulate responses to public issues, drawn from the policy base developed by the American Baptist Churches/USA and its General Board. Medley's addressing of these two issues undoubtedly has raised concerns for some American Baptists, as anytime there is an effort to speak on behalf of a free-church polity system, it is next to impossible to speak "ex cathedra." At best, Medley states policy base. At worst, people inside and outside of the denomination presume Rev. Medley speaks for each and every American Baptist, without right of dissent on the part of his constituents.

The Roger Williams Fellowship board is grateful that it is the polity of American Baptists that is our unifying force. It is not derived from an official policy base, an impervious hermeneutic, or partisan political machinations. American Baptists are a free church, Baptist freedom loving people. While the General Secretary's public comments may reflect perhaps majority opinion within denominational circles on some matters, these letters do not abridge the freedom of individual American Baptists, local congregations, or regional bodies to dissent and differ.

RWF Board of Directors

Special Edition: American Baptists Respond To The Recent PSW Vote: "On April 29th, 2006, delegates from the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest (ABCPSW) voted in a non-binding referendum to recommend that the PSW Region leave the Covenant of Relationships with ABCUSA. Here are some reflections on that vote:

I pray that the churches of the Pacific South West and others who are troubled by recent events will wait one year to allow mistakes to be corrected and this pending divorce to be reconciled for the sake of the children… I'm old and I'm weary of fighting. I don't want to lose my friends on the left coast. They are my family.- Robert L. Harvey, Retired

I feel sad that our ABC family will lose the diversity represented by these churches and individuals. I also feel sad that there could be no mutual 'agreeing to disagree...' As a life-long American Baptist, I have always lived in the creative tension between soul freedom and scriptural authority - and I have loved sharing the creativity and tension with my faith family. I am sorry that we will lose so many people from this dynamic exploration of life and faith...Blessings to everyone who is working through these troubled times...- Nancy Morrow, ABCCT Pastor

In Pennsylvania, I know of several churches who have voted out only to come back in. Though unlikely and seemingly improbable at present, I believe a Region can vote back in, too. - Alan Berg, ABCOPAD Pastor

I grieve with the American Baptist women whose congregations will choose to leave ABCUSA. Many of these faithful women have treasured significant partnerships with American Baptist mission through their involvement in American Baptist Women's Ministries.- Virginia Holmstrom, American Baptist Women's Ministries

As predominantly African-American Baptists, the pastor and people of this congregation voluntarily chose to be aligned wiith ABCUSA because of its history of prophetic and justice-advocating ministry which motivated ABCUSA to split from what became the Southern Baptist Convention over the issue of slavery. The ABCUSA statements on homosexuality are based on Scripture and I am in agreement with them. We will remain American Baptists. - Warren Stewart, Sr., PSW Pastor

I am disappointed in the decision made by the majority of churches in the Pacific Southwest to sever relationships with ABCUSA. The decision hurts some of the finest missionary work in today’s world. More important, it runs counter to the prayer of Christ that we might all be one people.- Tony Campolo, Eastern UniversityBiblical authority and soul freedom have been Baptist distinctives since our beginnings in the early 1600's. Both of these commitments are important and are not opposed to each other. Working together, these two distinctives safeguard all that is precious to us - the clear and sole authority of Scripture in an environment in which ecclesiastical authorities do not dictate to us what the Scripture teaches.- David Scholer, Fuller Theological Seminary

I am profoundly saddened by the thought of PSW leaving the American Baptist Churches. I am still praying for a miracle that will keep us together. I am not convinced this has to happen. It doesn't make sense. I believe schism will leave everyone weaker and violate the wish of Christ for the church. However, if divide we must, let us do it in a way that will bring the least shame to the cause of Christ.- Robert Roberts, Retired

In 1981, philosopher Isaiah Berlin wrote this regarding his life long opposition to intolerance: "Few things have done more harm than the belief on the part of individuals and groups... that he or she or they are in sole possession of the truth... It is a terrible and dangerous arrogance to believe that you alone are right." Jesus came so that "all may be one" (Jn 17:21). It is a sad day for the cause of Jesus Christ when one part of the body cannot tolerate being with the rest of the body. - Judy Allbee, ABCCT Executive Minister

Note: It is still unclear at the moment exactly how many churches will actually split from the denomination. The PSW Region will decide on May 11th if it will remain American Baptist or not. PSW churches will decide for themselves which path they will take following that decision.

(Via American Baptist Churches USA.)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Rev. Timothy Bonney, Webmaster, tbonney@gmail.com
Rev. Dr. Joe Kutter, editorial, joekut@aol.com

May 1, 2006--Roger Williams Fellowship board responds to recent actions by delegates of the ABC Pacific Southwest Region.

”The board of directors of the Roger Williams Fellowship laments the announcement that delegates voted to affirm withdrawal proceedings of the ABC Pacific Southwest region from the covenant of relationships and other official ties with the American Baptist Churches/USA. We invite all concerned with this situation to pray for those persons, congregations, and denominational entities affected by this decision.

We express regret that the PSW board of directors felt that "deep differences of theological convictions and values between the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest (ABCPSW) and the American Baptist Churches in the USA (ABCUSA) are understood by the Board of Directors of the ABCPSW as irreconcilable." (source: ABC-PSW press release on 4/29/06). The churches of this region have been part of the denominational family for many decades, and their presence at the denominational Table will be missed.

Our regret, however, is tempered by a repudiation of the methods suggested by the ABC PSW board to reconcile these differences. By their insisting that one policy statement (i.e. 1992 statement on homosexuality) becomes THE normative document through which denominational identity, leadership, and even hermeneutics and Baptist principles are understood, the PSW leadership articulate a fundamentally flawed vision of what it means to be part of the American Baptist Churches/USA. While we regret that the leadership deems withdrawal is necessary, we are more deeply troubled by their insistence in undercutting the values held dear by the Baptist tradition, particular as understood by American Baptists and their Northern Baptist forebears. We affirm that God alone is sovereign over the individual conscience, and that each local church has the responsibility to determine God’s calling for that community’s time and mission.

The Roger Williams Fellowship is an American Baptist grassroots organization advocating for Baptist principles since 1935.

For more information, visit www.rogerwilliamsfellowship.org

This letter written Dr. David Scholer, Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, has been posted to the ABC/USA website as part of the response to ABC PSW's impending vote to pull out of the ABC. Dr. Scholer does a great job of describing in a few words the issues that surround much of the misunderstandings of Biblical authority and the authority of different interpretations.

The Roger Williams Fellowship would like to thank Dr. Scholer for permission to reprint his letter on our website.

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February 28, 2006

Dear colleagues and friends, There is considerable talk these days about biblical authority and soul freedom and their relationship to each other; I would like to offer some brief reflections on this from my life experience and study.

Both biblical authority and soul freedom have been Baptist distinctives since our beginnings in the early 1600s; most Baptists have treasured and nurtured these commitments over the centuries in many different contexts. Both of these commitments are important and are not opposed to each other; it is never a matter that one of them “trumps” the other. In fact, they work together to safeguard all that is precious to us – the clear and sole authority of Scripture in an environment in which ecclesiastical authorities do not dictate to us what the Scripture teaches. Soul freedom is actually, from a Baptist perspective, the commitment that guards and protects the commitment to biblical authority over against other kinds of authority.

Our history makes it clear that we have recognized from our beginnings that differences arise among us as to what the Bible teaches on various themes and in multiple contexts. We now understand quite well that the Bible does require interpretation; that is the responsibility that goes hand-in-hand with the commitment to biblical authority. And, as a Baptist, I embrace soul freedom, which allows me the option of my struggle with biblical interpretation in a context in which I want also to preserve the right of my other Baptist friends to engage in their struggles of interpretation.

I grew up in the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. When I entered my adulthood and seminary, I realized that the commitment of the GARBC to biblical authority was actually an enforced commitment to a particular interpretation. I found my new haven of hope inthe American Baptists in 1961. I embraced the ABC, knowing both its commitments to biblical authority and to soul freedom. I learned immediately that this meant there were persons within the ABC with whom I had substantial theological differences. But, I had the freedom to champion my understandings of the implications of biblical authority in our denomination,which I have done over the years (e.g., on the issue of the ordination of women and their full participation in the ministry of the church).

I have never regretted my 1961 decision. Further, I see nothing today that is substantially different than it was in 1961 – there were and are some substantial differences in how various American Baptists understand biblical authority, but we have not abandoned that commitment. In fact, our various policy statements speak to many crucial issues in the mainstream of orthodox Christian teachings on sensitive issues. It is our commitment to soul freedom that gives us the opportunity to be genuinely committed to biblical authority. It is crucial that we do not think that our ABC family has failed us in these strong, basic commitments; we do not need to enter again into the disruptions of 1932 and 1947. As a strong evangelical committed to biblical authority, I understand that we weathered those storms and built a family that is a reflection of our basic commitments, which means, of course, a family in which there are some disagreements, but these pale in light of the commitment to love, integrity, soul freedom andbiblical authority.

David M. Scholer
Ordained in the ABC in 1966, Roslindale Baptist Church, Boston, MA
Frequent contributor to the life of our denomination over many years
Member, First Baptist Church, Pasadena, CA
Professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

(Reprinted by Permission from Dr. Scholer)