For Immediate Release from
Second Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo.Members of Second Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo., in quarterly church conference, April 18, voted 165 to 47 to approve a resolution dissolving their 156-year affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention. The church, which celebrates its 158th anniversary in May, had been a member since the SBC was formed in 1845.
The vote came after a one-year study by the church’s Task Force on Baptist Faith, Practice and Cooperation, a series of “town hall” meetings and listening sessions, and a church-wide study of Walter Shurden’s book, The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms. Gwen Phillips, chairperson of the church’s deacon body, said, “The lengthy process and multiple opportunities for input enabled members to arrive at an informed decision.”
In the town hall meetings, members concluded that the SBC and Second Baptist had been moving away from each other since Fundamentalists began their takeover of the convention in the late 1970s. Through those years, the church decreased its SBC financial contributions to only token support. Members expressed concern that the SBC has continually taken action favoring increased pastoral authority, restrictions on free inquiry and biblical interpretation, and minimizing the value of women in church leadership roles such as teachers, deacons and ministers.
David M. Fulk, chairperson of the task force, said, “Even though the church’s ties to the SBC run deep and across many generations, making this a difficult decision for many in the congregation, the decision was ultimately made out of a strong sense of conscience.” He went on to say, “Being Baptist means being free and Second Baptist is a place that values individual and congregational freedom.”
The approved resolution also expressed “grave concerns about the state of freedom within the Missouri Baptist Convention.” As a result the church approved a reallocation of its Missouri Baptist Convention funding, reducing its annual MBC contributions by 95%. Earlier this year, the church placed these funds in escrow. The reallocation will provide significant, additional funding directly to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri, William Jewell College, The Baptist Home and the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home.
In the same meeting, members overwhelmingly approved an identity statement embracing the rights and responsibilities of biblical interpretation, the priesthood of all believers, the autonomy of the local church and the separation of church and state.
Second Baptist pastor, Dr. Stephen D. Graham, says, “I am pleased with the church’s decision. It brings greater continuity to the mission of our church in responding to God’s love as a free and faithful congregation.” He expressed gratitude for the church’s two previous pastors, William C. Link and George “Dub” Steincross, whose combined pastorates represent nearly one-third of the church’s history. Each served during the Southern Baptist controversy. Graham stated, “Their leadership and the church’s action are consistent with the rich heritage of Second Baptist Church.” Link and Steincross, who are members of Second Baptist, supported the resolution and were in attendance at the meeting.
The church was founded in 1843 when 12 individuals left the original Baptist (anti-mission) church to form the Second Baptist Church. Since that time the church has claimed a strong heritage in support of church missions. The church has been part of starting six churches in the area (including Winwood, South Liberty and Prairie Home Baptist Churches) and sending missionaries overseas. The church was instrumental in the formation of Meals on Wheels in Liberty and InAsMuch Ministry, which provides assistance to residents in the Northland through the Link Food Pantry. The church also continues its outreach to the community through Second Friends Preschool, along with recognized music, youth and children’s programs.
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