Current Baptist History in the Making

[Crabtownboy]

Two of the best know Baptist churches in America, the Riverside Baptist Church in New York, and The First Baptist Church in America in Providence, Rhode Island, founded by Roger Williams in 1638, now have women pastors; Amy Butler at Riverside and Jamie Washam at The First Baptist Church of America. Amy is a graduate of the International Baptist Theological Seminary, now in Amsterdam. Jamie is a pursuing her PhD. at the same seminary. The seminary was begun by the Southern Baptist Convention at the end of WW II in Ruschlikon, Switzerland. In the 1990's the seminary moved to Prague and in 2013-14 the seminary moved again, this time to Amsterdam.

http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/

http://www.firstbaptistchurchinamerica.org/

 

[Deacon]

More news...

Baptist Church Ordains Transgender [LINK]
by Bob Allen July 10, 2014



In what is likely a first, Calvary Baptist Church in Washington ordained Allyson Robinson, who was previously ordained as a man, to the gospel ministry.

A transgender woman who attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary and pastored a church in Central Texas as a man has returned to the pulpit.

Allyson Robinson began June 23 as transitions pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington. The calling is temporary — helping with preaching, mentoring and pastoral care duties along with the deacons until the church names a longer-term intentional interim pastor — probably this fall.

Calvary Baptist reaffirmed Robinson’s ordination June 15, prior to Pastor Amy Butler’s departure to become senior minister of the historic and progressive Riverside Church in New York City.

 

[Alcott]

SNIP with Baptist churches? The edge is sure being pushed to say that.

 

[Rob_BW]

More news...

Baptist Church Ordains Transgender [LINK]
by Bob Allen July 10, 2014



In what is likely a first, Calvary Baptist Church in Washington ordained Allyson Robinson, who was previously ordained as a man, to the gospel ministry.

A transgender woman who attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary and pastored a church in Central Texas as a man has returned to the pulpit.

Allyson Robinson began June 23 as transitions pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington. The calling is temporary — helping with preaching, mentoring and pastoral care duties along with the deacons until the church names a longer-term intentional interim pastor — probably this fall.

Calvary Baptist reaffirmed Robinson’s ordination June 15, prior to Pastor Amy Butler’s departure to become senior minister of the historic and progressive Riverside Church in New York City.

Good grief, a West Pointer? I'm surprised the president hasn't recalled him to active duty and made him chief of the chaplain corps.

 

[Rob_BW]

SNIP with Baptist churches? The edge is sure being pushed to say that.

Is Riverside even a baptist church? They don't have baptist in their name, and their site says they are non-denominational. Or half baptist, half UCC.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

IIRC, Riverside was founded with Rockefeller Senior's money. One of the founding principles was it wouldn't make a fuss over modes of baptism.

Is Riverside even a baptist church? They don't have baptist in their name, and their site says they are non-denominational. Or half baptist, half UCC.

 

[rsr]

Riverside is associated with both the ABC-USA and the United Church of Christ, as well as the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

While Riverside may be a leader in the ABC, it isn't a role model for other segments of Baptists. It is at best a footnote.

Riverside is associated with both the ABC-USA and the United Church of Christ, as well as the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.

 

[Kevin]

It is disgusting to hear of these things going on in the Church.

 

[Jerome]

The Oklahoma Baptist convention's hospital was once a prime destination for getting those kind of operations.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

God have mercy on us all.

 

[rsr]

Calvary Baptist, BTW, is affiliated with the ABC-USA, the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, and the DC Baptist Convention (which itself is triply aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention, the ABC-USA and the National Baptist Convention), among others. A perfect smorgasbord of associations, lacking only the United Church of Christ connection.

 

[Salty]

Calvary Baptist, BTW, is affiliated with the ABC-USA, the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, and the DC Baptist Convention (which itself is triply aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention, the ABC-USA and the National Baptist Convention), among others. A perfect smorgasbord of associations, lacking only the United Church of Christ connection.

May be time for the DC SBC churches to either start a new SBC only state convention or join with MD State (or SBCV)

 

[rsr]

It's a longstanding controversy, one that seems unlikely to be resolved. Calvary cut its ties to the SBC in 2012. BTW, I misspoke (working from faulty memory) that the DC convention is associated with the National Baptist Convention. It is associated with the Progressive National Baptist Convention.