We were away when Jimmy Carter's oft-repeated idea about women and the Southern Baptists was recirculated in the media: he's evidently withdrawn from the Southern Baptist Convention over its tightened up restrictions on women and his perception that it has diminished equality of the sexes. He first made waves about this in 2000 and then at least one other time. And now he's repeating his point again.But I have this question: What does it mean for Jimmy Carter to resign from the SBC when (1) individuals aren't members of the SBC but of local churches that are associated with the SBC? And, more importantly, (2) when he continues to be a member of his SBC church and teaches Sunday School there? So, I ask, in what sense has Carter resigned or withdrawn?
Readers of this blog know I stand with Carter on the importance of women in ministry and of equality (though I like to use the term "mutuality"). I applaud his moral courage to stand up for what he believes and for fighting for justice for women. But why buttress this all with something about resigning from the SBC?
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Pat,
I'd have to look it up again to be sure, but I'm pretty sure that Carter's church/pastor agree with Carter, and have been "mavericks" within the SBC for quite some time.
This is a case that shows the difference between bloggers and journalists. The Carter story got a lot of play, but it's old news. He wrote an essay about it-- and probably should have made clear he was talking about an old decision -- but a quick google search or email to the church's pastor revealed that Carter is still a member of an SBC church. The SBC is pretty complicated--there are local associations and state conventions which make up the SBC. For example, Broadway Baptist Church in Forth Worth was recently voted out of the SBC, but is still in good standing with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which is part of the SBC. And many Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches are dually aligned with the SBC. Confused yet?
Carter likely gives money to the Georgia Baptist Convention, but not to the SBC.
President and Mrs. Carter are members of Maranatha Baptist in Plains, GA. The way it was explained to me by a member of the church was that the Carters expressly require that their financial offerings to the church not go to the SBC. Furthemore, President Carter does not use SBC literature in the teaching of his Sunday School class. The church supports ministries of both the SBC and CBF.
President Carter's editorial is a thoughtful oped piece about an important subject. From a 30,000 foot view, it is clear that religion has been used the world over as an excuse to subjugate women. I think President Carter's editorial was meant to make sure that we don't fool ourselves into thinking this is just a Muslim extremist problem that only exists in third-world countries. We have to constantly reexamine ourselves and what we've allowed the church to become around us.
As much as the SBC wants to claim the mantle of "unfalable supremacy of the scriptures" even their statement of faith is an attempt to "Cliff Notes" the Bible and is exactly what Jesus criticized the Pharises of doing. Jesus doesn't need me or the SBC to explain the "top 10" rules for being a Christian. What we need to be doing is encouraging people to get into the Word for themselves, let the Holy Spirit instruct them, and form a personal relationship with the one and only savior for thier life. Alot of what we're doing in the church is getting in the way of that.
Robert #17 and others ask of Carter, "So where are you in trying to bring about the change you so happily talk about in the media?"
Where?
His church, his community, his country, and the world.
How. Besides his media bully pulpit, he has written over a dozen books (two I've recently read are "The Virtues of Aging" and "Living Faith") his lectures, his Carter Center http://www.cartercenter.org/homepage.html
Why on a blog named "The Jesus Creed' would there be so many dsmissive and uncharitable remarks about Jimmy Carter or anyone, for that matter. Shame.
Doug
To Doug @ 24,
I agree with some of your thoughts, especially comments about being a politician. At his stage of life I don't think that President Carter is too concerned about the poles. I certainly hope that I won't be at his age.
Phil
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