Dear Friend:
In July the Judson Association of the West Virginia Baptist
Convention sent a letter to every church in the Association
of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists. Citing Matthew 18 as the
basis for their contact
("If
another member of the church sins against you, go and point
out the fault ..." -
Matt.
18:15),
the letter writers called homosexuality a sin and urged the
churches to withdraw from AWAB. In my written response to
the Judson Association, I said that Jesusı teaching
presupposes relationship. The biblical text assumes readers
who are working on life together. But the Judson
Association made its request without even being in
relationship with our churches. They called us sinners
from afar.
I share this with you because it appears that the leaders of
the Judson Association think we have entered into this
relationship lightly. Their letter implies we have not
considered the theological implications of our association.
Perhaps there is some truth to this. Oftentimes
affiliations are made for utilitarian purposes: there is
something we aim to get out of the relationship. If it
doesnıt deliver, we leave. If there are theological
differences that make life uncomfortable, we withdraw. Or,
as is the case among American Baptists, associations cast
off those members who are out of step with the majority.
Yes, sadly, associations are entered into lightly. In our
day, many Baptists have forgotten the historic principle of
association: a voluntary covenant that is made for, as
Philadelphia Baptists put it in 1766, "still greater
purposes." These purposes have always been practical we
can accomplish more mission together than alone but the
rationale is also fundamentally theological. To be in
association is to incarnate the Body of Christ. The
association points to the reality of connection, that "we
are members one of another" (Romans 12:5).
While many Baptists neglect this heritage, the churches of
AWAB are practicing the associational principle. If our
West Virginia brothers and sisters looked closer, they would
see pastors praying for each other, churches lighting
candles for one another, and friends discerning the movement
of the Spirit across our fellowship. If our brothers and
sisters listened more intently, they would hear stories
exchanged from many points in the U.S. and Canada stories
of pain, healing, and new life.
Sure, there are practical benefits to our association. We
are sharing resources through our web site (www.wabaptists.org)
and entering into projects jointly. This fall W&A churches
will hear biblical, theological and personal perspectives on
being gay at a gathering in Austin, Texas (October 22-24 at
University Baptist Church) and explore possibilities for
collaboration at a meeting in Toronto, Ontario (October 29
at Woodbine Heights Baptist Church).
But beyond the practical rationale, we are discovering that
our essential characters, our callings as congregations,
depend on fellowship. We are saying yes to the truth
proclaimed by that Baptist preacher Martin Luther King, who
said, "I can never be what I ought to be until you are what
you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be
until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated
structure of reality."
In the coming months, there will be other requests like the
Judson Associationıs. And we can expect further
denominational actions that walk over the reality of
association. The assumption that our relationships really
donıt matter is strong. Daily we are confronted by the
pernicious lie that the Body of Christ can afford to cut off
some of its parts.
But we believe otherwise. So AWAB is working on
association. In conversations around the country, we are
reimagining the possibilities of our life together. We are
encouraging each other in our commitments and sharing each
otherıs struggles. Strange as it may sound to our critics,
we are trying to be faithful. These are the "greater
purposes."
Your financial support extends the work of the Association
our mission to advocate for the full inclusion of gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons within Baptist
communities of faith. Your gifts amplify our collective
proclamation, draw us into greater collaboration, and
witness to the reality of our interdependence.
If these "greater purposes" sound like Good News to you, I
encourage you to make a contribution today. The Association
is making it easier to give now through a secure online
process. Simply click on the link below to make a donation.
Let us continue to support each other in building up the
Body of Christ.
Blessings on your good work,
The Rev. Daniel Pryfogle
Interim Director
P.S. You can read the Judson Association letter, along with
my response and other church responses, on the AWAB web site
at:
http://www.wabaptists.org/judsonasso.htm. While youıre
on the web site, check out the growing number of resources
and news items that speak to the life of our movement.
Your contributions make this
kind of communication possible.
P.P.S. If you prefer to mail your contribution,
please note our new
mailing address: The Association of Welcoming &
Affirming Baptists, P.O. Box 1423, Cary, NC 27512. Checks
can be made payable to "AWAB."
Click Here To Donate
http://www.wabaptists.org/donations.htm
