The New Baptist Covenant
The New Baptist Covenant is an informal partnership of more than 30 racially, geographically and theologically diverse Baptist organizations that have come together to form an authentic and genuine prophetic voice for Baptists in North America.
CBF is among the organizations that birthed the movement on April 10, 2006, when 18 Baptist leaders gathered at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga., at the invitation of prominent Baptist and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, to discuss new ways of cooperating. The 18 representatives, including CBF executive coordinator Daniel Vestal, committed themselves and their organizations to reaffirming traditional Baptist values, including sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and its implications for public and private morality.
The group has specifically committed themselves to their obligations as Christians to fulfill the biblical mandate to promote peace with justice, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick and the marginalized, and promote religious liberty and respect for religious diversity.
On Jan. 9, 2007, more than 80 participants representing more than 30 Baptist bodies gathered at the Carter Center to plan and announce a major celebration in Atlanta Jan. 30 through Feb. 1, 2008. The three-day program will feature speakers and presenters who will address these historic Baptist commitments and explore other opportunities to work together as Christian partners.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the New Baptist Covenant
By Daniel Vestal
For too much of our history the Baptist witness has been fractured by a divisive spirit. We have found it difficult to collaborate and communicate with one another across racial, geographic and theological divides. We have focused more on our differences than on our shared commitments.
The New Baptist Covenant offers Baptists in North America an opportunity to renew our love for one another in a very public and profound way. It is, I believe, a "kairos" moment for us to forge a new Baptist ethos that shows the world our devotion to Christ's Kingdom above partisan differences. That ethos will be characterized by a vision of global justice, authentic spirituality and missional churches.
Each of the Baptist bodies represented in this covenant has unique contributions to make to this emerging ethos. Each has a treasured history and each has a valued voice in the public square. But when we join our voices in a harmonious chorus, our witness is more profound and effective. Our individual distinctives are not lost, but something beautiful happens that is greater than the sum of the parts.
A new Baptist ecumenicity will have many positive results. One is that the ministry of each of the participating organizations will be strengthened. Another is that fresh avenues for collaboration will unfold and existing partnerships will be celebrated. Relationships will be created and encouraged. Networks will be born. Fellowship will be enriched. God will be glorified.
It seems to me that something of a convergence is taking place within the Baptist family, and I am humbled and grateful for it. It is unprecedented in my lifetime, and it is worth our fervent prayer, energetic efforts and enthusiastic support.
Frequently Asked Questions for CBF about the New Baptist Covenant
Why is CBF involved with the New Baptist Covenant?
Upholding its value of cooperative ministry, the Fellowship is proud to be part of the New Baptist Covenant, an initiative to transcend differences and seek common purpose. The Fellowship is among more than 30 Baptist organizations involved, many of which are part of the North American Baptist Fellowship, a regional affiliate of the Baptist World Alliance. The Fellowship was accepted into the Baptist World Alliance in 2003.
Through involvement, the Fellowship is reaffirming its commitment to historic Baptist values, sharing the gospel, promoting peace and justice, and caring for the most neglected. The biblical foundation for the Covenant is Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus reads from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim the release of the captives, and the recovering of sight of the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Will CBF be part of starting a new denomination or convention?
Neither CBF nor any other participating group is giving up its autonomy to participate in this initiative. The aim is not the formation of a new convention but rather finding ways of cooperating that will allow Baptists to achieve more by working together than they could achieve independently. Collectively, the organizations participating in the New Baptist Covenant represent more than 20 million Baptists throughout North America.
What CBF-related leaders will be speaking at the Celebration?
Former president Jimmy Carter is a member of a CBF partner church, Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., and spoke at the 2001 CBF General Assembly. Since 2005, the General Assembly has collected a human rights and religious liberty offering named for Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Joel Gregory is a preaching professor at a CBF partner seminary, George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Julie Pennington-Russell serves as pastor of a CBF partner church, First Baptist in Decatur, Ga. Many other CBF-related individuals are leading Special Interest Sessions.
Why have so many current and former elected officials been invited to participate? Is this a Baptist meeting or a political rally?
The Celebration is a non-partisan event. Event leadership has invited several current and former elected officials – representing both Democratic and Republican parties – to participate for what they can offer about specific societal issues. As Baptist laity, they will approach issues of peace, poverty and justice from two sides – their religious calling and their public policy involvement. Because much of the Celebration focuses on global problems, public policy is a major avenue for inciting change on behalf of the poor, sick and oppressed around the world. Several pastors and other public leaders will also speak, addressing other ways that Baptists can make a difference.
Why are more Democrat than Republican elected officials speaking at the meeting?
For the public policy perspective, event organizers asked many elected officials that identify themselves as Baptist to participate in the meeting. This included both Democrats and Republicans. In the end, one more Democrat than Republican accepted the invitation. The three Democratic officials are all former elected officials. The two Republican officials are still serving.
Why was the Southern Baptist Convention not invited to participate in the New Baptist Covenant? What about the Alliance of Baptists?
While a number of the leaders in the New Baptist Covenant are members of Southern Baptist Churches, and individual Southern Baptists and Southern Baptist congregations are expected to participate in the Celebration, the SBC’s leadership has to date not been involved in this initiative. The original organizations represented in the New Baptist Covenant are members of the North American Baptist Fellowship, an affiliate of the Baptist World Alliance. The Southern Baptist Convention withdrew from membership in the North American Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance in 2004.
Similarly, attendees will include supporters of the Alliance of Baptist but the organization was not formally invited to participate.
What kind of topics will be addressed at the 2008 Celebration?
Themes for the five plenary sessions are: Unity in Seeking Peace with Justice; Unity in Bringing Good News to the Poor; Unity in Respecting Diversity; Unity in Welcoming the Stranger; Unity in Setting the Captive Free. The Celebration, whose overall theme is “Unity in Christ,” is based on Luke 4:18-19. It will also include a number of special interest sessions on topics such as racism, religious liberty, poverty, the AIDS pandemic, faith in public policy, stewardship of the earth, evangelism, financial stewardship, and prophetic preaching.
CBF already has an annual General Assembly that usually covers similar ministry topics. What can another national Baptist meeting accomplish?
The General Assembly will continue to be a vital annual gathering for Fellowship Baptists. The New Baptist Covenant is a unique, historic meeting representing a Baptist unity that has not been seen in this country for more than 150 years. The opportunity for Baptists from the North and the South, from conservative, moderate and progressive traditions, from black, white and brown congregations, to come together and focus on new ways to fulfill Christ’s mandate to share the Gospel is unique in Baptist life. It will be a gathering like no other in recent history.
Will the New Baptist Covenant sidetrack CBF from fulfilling its own mission and strategic initiatives?
While CBF is part of the New Baptist Covenant, it is still an autonomous organization with its own purpose and constituency. CBF will continue to equip individuals and churches to discover and fulfill their God-given mission. That mission often intersects with principles of the New Baptist Covenant, which is why CBF was a founding organization. New Baptist Covenant is a realization that these Baptist organizations have similar goals and can work together to do more in the world for the cause of Christ than separate. New Baptist Covenant doesn’t change who CBF is, it opens more opportunities for ministry.
Is CBF paying for the New Baptist Covenant meeting?
While CBF is among many organizations that have committed in-kind and financial support, most of the financial resources needed to stage the 2008 Celebration will be raised from foundations and individual Baptists.
What happens after the 2008 Celebration? Will CBF remain involved?
The outcome of the celebration remains to be seen, but organizers have expressed a desire to see sustained action come out of this movement. Collaborations on mission and evangelism projects, health care initiatives, poverty eradication efforts, and promotion of religious liberty are all possibilities for this movement. In the end, God’s spirit will lead. As one of the founding organizations, the Fellowship will continue involvement in whatever collaborative efforts there may be in the future.