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Southern Baptist Position Statements
Priesthood of All Believers We affirm the priesthood of all believers. Laypersons have the same right as ordained ministers to communicate with God, interpret Scripture, and minister in Christ's name. Soul Competency We affirm soul competency, the accountability of each person before God. Your family cannot save you. Neither can your church. Creeds and Confessions In some groups, statements of belief have the same authority as Scripture. We call this creedalism. Baptists also make statements of belief, but all of them are revisable in light of Scripture. The Bible is the final word. Women in Ministry Women participate equally with men in the priesthood of all believers. Their role is crucial, their wisdom, grace and commitment exemplary. Church and State We stand for a free church in a Missions We ask the people of the world to conform to Christ and His Word, and not to our merely human traditions. We seek to lift up national leadership in the countries where we serve, and to respect the cultural expressions of their faith – we honor the indigenous principle in missions. Autonomy We affirm the autonomy of the local church. Each church is free to determine its own membership and to set its own course under the headship of Jesus. Cooperation The Cooperative Program of missions is integral to the Southern Baptist genius. Sexuality We affirm God's plan for marriage and sexual intimacy – one man, and one woman, for life. Sanctity of Life Procreation is a gift from God, a precious test reserved for marriage. At the moment of conception, a new being enters the universe, a human being, a being created in God's image. This human being deserves our protection, whatever the circumstances of conception.
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"A Kingdom-informed perspective takes us beyond liberal or conservative tagging and into eternal truths" ~Author Unknown |
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After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message." Mark 1:14-15 (The Message) |
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