The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-06/01/2020 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Police shoot, arrest man after he interrupted church service by Dianna L. Cagle/Biblical Recorder Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday WAXHAW, N.C. (BP) -- A worship service at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Waxhaw, N.C., ended abruptly Sunday morning May 24 after a disturbance by a neighbor led to a police-involved shooting. Pastor Rich Myers said the church bears "no ill will" toward its neighbor. "We pray for God's blessings on him and his family," Myers said. Police were called when Christopher Eugene Ross, 54, was reportedly yelling obscenities across the road from the church during the congregation's outdoor drive-in service. The service, which began at 10 a.m., was interrupted around 10:30 when Ross allegedly began yelling toward the church. A Union County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to a 911 call from John Skinner, an Oak Grove deacon. A church member who knew Ross had tried to talk to him just before police were called, but Ross allegedly picked up rocks and threw them. "There was no reasoning with him," Skinner said. The deputy who first responded to the call approached Ross outside his home, which is located diagonally across the street from the church. Ross allegedly had a knife and fought with the deputy, who then tried to use his stun gun on Ross. A sheriff's department press release said Ross continued fighting and resisting even when a second deputy arrived. That deputy fired his handgun, striking Ross two times. After a third deputy arrived, they were able to take him into custody. Ross was taken to a hospital in Charlotte for treatment of his wounds, which were not life threatening. "We believe he will be released very soon," sheriff's office communications officer Tony Underwood said. Ross faces charges of disorderly conduct for interfering with the church service, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon against law enforcement officers and resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer. Two of the deputies involved were treated and released by paramedics at the scene. "In regards to the scary incident near our church today I am so grateful to Jesus for His divine intervention," Myers said on the church's Facebook page. He also thanked law enforcement and first responders, and said church members were praying for the injured deputies and Ross. Skinner said church members did not see the confrontation between Ross and police but did hear the yelling and gunfire. Skinner and Myers said this was not the first encounter with Ross. The sheriff's office confirmed a report had been made earlier in May when Ross was heard yelling at church members during another Sunday morning service. Skinner called the police then too, but was told to file a report and to call 911 if they had problems again. "He never came out," Skinner said. "We didn't hear anything from him." When the church started outdoor services in response to COVID-19 restrictions on public activity, people would honk car horns at various times during the services. After the encounter with Ross in early May, church leaders asked members not to honk their horns, and they lowered the volume of the sound system used for the services. They didn't receive complaints from Ross or anyone else, so they thought they had made the necessary changes. Myers said he continued with his sermon amid the disruption. He couldn't see from the church's front steps what was happening nearby. "First I noticed people looking and being distracted," he said. "People started getting out of their cars." He said he heard two sounds -- like firecrackers -- and thought, "Surely that's not gunfire." His sermon was cut short because of the disruption. Myers said no one had complained about the outdoor services except for Ross, and they had tried to make adjustments to alleviate the tension. Many in the community have reached out to check on the church, including Eric Cook, Union Baptist Association's associational missionary. "He prayed with me over the phone and encouraged me," Myers said, adding that church members have reached out as well. "The folks have been very concerned about one another. They've been concerned about the gentleman and his family." Because of the confrontation and shooting so close to the church, Skinner said the deacons are looking into tightening some of their security protocols. He even talked with one of the responding deputies about training for church security teams. The church is making plans to meet inside the building again when COVID-19 restrictions lift. "We're doing our best to even tighten up our security more since this incident happened," Myers said. "We plan to go above and beyond to really make sure that there's safety for everyone." According to the sheriff's department press release, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting, and the department will conduct a separate internal affairs investigation to ensure agency policies were followed. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Moore: Court's ruling on church falls short by Tom Strode Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of a California church's emergency appeal of the state's restriction on worship gatherings failed to provide the clear guidance needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Southern Baptist religious freedom leader Russell Moore. The high court declined to grant an injunction for a San Diego-area church in a 5-4 decision late May 29. After failing at the federal appeals court level, South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista had asked the Supreme Court May 23 to block enforcement of California's limitation on attendance at worship services. Gov. Gavin Newsom had issued an executive order permitting businesses such as retail stores and restaurants to open with social distancing during Phase 2 of reopening the state, but he had postponed worship services until Phase 3. On May 25, the state issued new guidelines that permitted churches and other religious groups to meet at 25 percent of building capacity. In a brief opinion in which no other justice joined, Chief Justice John Roberts -- who agreed in the majority with what is considered the court's liberal wing -- said California's restrictions "appear consistent with the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment." Roberts wrote that constraints similar to or stricter than those on churches apply to "comparable secular gatherings" such as concerts, theater shows and spectator sports "where large groups of people gather in close proximity for extended periods of time." The activities that receive more lenient treatment, including shopping at grocery stores and conducting business at banks, are unlike worship services, Roberts said. Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), said he wished the justices "had acted to bring more constitutional clarity to this pressing question. There is no dispute that the government has a compelling interest in restricting assemblies during times of pandemic, but several states [including California] have pursued policies that are inconsistent, incoherent and not neutral toward religious gatherings as opposed to non-religious gatherings." In an ERLC news release, Moore said Roberts is correct in saying "a large gathering of people is not the same as a small business where people can socially distance one by one. And yet, in many states, that's not where the distinction is being made. In some places, casinos are open while houses of worship are not. That is not sound public policy, and it sets a bad precedent. "States should set their policies according to the behaviors that can and cannot happen safely, the numbers of people that can be gathered, not on whether the assembly is a church or not a church, and they should apply those standards equally and neutrally," he said. "This pandemic is a perilous time. We need to emerge from it with both our public safety and our First Amendment intact. We can do that, but only if elected officials and the courts take seriously the matters both of public health and of constitutional freedoms." Travis Wussow, the ERLC's general counsel and vice president for public policy, told Baptist Press in written comments: "The process of reopening our communities is going to be a difficult one that is going to require grace and patience with each other as we come to this discussion with different assumptions and perspectives. At the same time, government officials have a unique obligation to listen to and serve their communities, including communities of faith. The Constitution acknowledged the unique role faith plays in the lives of Americans, and our governing officials need to come to these decisions with that in mind." Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh said in a written dissent he would grant a temporary injunction "because California's latest safety guidelines discriminate against places of worship and in favor of comparable secular businesses. Such discrimination violates the First Amendment." The "basic constitutional problem," Kavanaugh wrote, is California's 25 percent occupancy limit does not apply to "comparable secular businesses," such as restaurants, retail stores and cannabis dispensaries. Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch joined Kavanaugh in his written dissent. The overwhelming majority of churches and other religious bodies have abided by government policies during the pandemic, but restrictive policies in some states regarding the restoration of corporate worship have resulted in disagreements between faith communities and governors. An attorney representing South Bay United Pentecostal Church said it would continue with its appeal on the merits of the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which rejected the church's emergency appeal for an injunction May 22. A possible return to the Supreme Court for a decision based on the merits would offer the church "a much more favorable standard," said Charles LiMandri, who is serving as special counsel for the Thomas More Society. "Although this interim ruling is disappointing, it's clear to us that, without the filing and vigorous litigation of this lawsuit, churches would still be closed in California under Governor Newsom's original shut-down orders," LiMandri said in a written statement. When Newsom's previous order was in effect, the U.S. Department of Justice wrote him May 19 to say it believes the U.S. Constitution "calls for California to do more to accommodate religious worship." "Simply put, there is no pandemic exception to the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights," Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband told Newsom. "Religious gatherings may not be singled out for unequal treatment compared to other nonreligious gatherings that have the same effect on the government's public health interest, absent the most compelling reasons." Bill Agee, executive director of the California Southern Baptist Convention, encouraged Newsom in a May 15 letter to move churches to Phase 2 of his reopening plan, a spokesman for the convention told BP. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Trained in disaster relief, N.C. Baptists now distribute food boxes by Yonat Shimron Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday CARY, N.C. (AP/RNS) -- They're best known for their post-hurricane disaster relief efforts -- ripping up homes damaged by floodwaters and rehabilitating them from the studs. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Baptists on Mission, an auxiliary of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, is remaking itself as a food distribution network, delivering boxes of produce to people struggling to get by in a state where more than 1 million people have filed for unemployment benefits. Earlier this month, Baptists on Mission won a reimbursable $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to deliver fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese and meat as part of its Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The vast majority of that grant -- about $1.4 million —-- will be spent on purchasing food. The remainder will go toward buying or leasing seven refrigerated trucks, paying for gas and other expenses. The organization is working with volunteers at 185 churches and community centers across the state to help distribute the food -- about 8,000 boxes a week. "We've never done anything like this before," said Richard Brunson, director of Baptists on Mission. "It's really a blessing. It's helping us provide a lot of food for people who need it." Many North Carolina churches tapped to participate in the program pick up between five and 400 boxes a week for distribution to people in need. "We do a drive-up pick up in our church parking lot," said Mike Sowers, pastor of First Baptist Church in Buies Creek, N.C., 30 miles south of Raleigh. "People don't have to get out of their cars. We'll load it up for them." Sowers said his church notified nearby elementary, middle and high schools to let families know about the distribution. In Charlotte, Ebenezer Baptist Church has been picking up hundreds of boxes a week to distribute among people living in low-income apartments or taking temporary shelter in nearby hotels. "We're a hot spot," said Xzavier Curry, a team leader for missions and disaster relief at Ebenezer Baptist. "A lot of people coming to get food were essential workers, hourly wage workers who have been laid off. They're waiting for their unemployment. They're just struggling." In the early days of the outbreak, Baptists on Mission had been looking for a way to get involved. Its volunteers, organized through local churches, are trained to tear out damaged homes and rebuild them. It also has a set of mobile kitchens to provide hot meals. But the virus presented a different set of needs. The reimbursable grant from the USDA, initially for six weeks, may be renewed for up to 24 more weeks, Brunson said. As part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program, the USDA will purchase $461 million in fresh fruits and vegetables, $317 million in dairy products, $258 million in meat products and $175 million in a combination box of produce, dairy or meat products, according to its website. The USDA grants were awarded to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Class of 2019' church plants turn challenges into ministry opportunities by Brandon Elrod Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday OAKLAND, Calif. (BP) -- Church planting missionaries expect obstacles when launching new ministries in parts of North America that need Gospel-proclaiming churches. For the "class of 2019" Southern Baptist church plants that launched last year, persisting in the face of a global pandemic was not something they could have planned for. "What looked like a challenge became an opportunity," said Akeem Smith, lead church planter of Storyline Church in Oakland, Calif., about facing the hurdles created by COVID-19. One nearby resident heard about Storyline's launch in September 2019 and had interest at the time, but she was tentative about coming to a service. When she saw that Storyline was going online, however, she decided to tune in. "She came to Christ after hearing that message and joined an online virtual new members class. She is now a member of the church and is connected to a life group," Smith said. As they continued sharing the Gospel, Smith's young church also provided 1,700 meals to local refugees and immigrants who needed food after the public school system shut down and 400 homemade masks to a local medical center. "We identified those two things, and two people in our church who were working in those spaces rose up," Smith said. "We empowered them through something we call Love Local." Smith and the church's leadership challenged the church to give financial resources to make their compassion ministry possible. Jeremy Proemsey of Refuge Community Church in San Mateo, Calif., launched his services on the same Sunday as Smith -- September 19, 2019. In the months following their launch, Proemsey saw 32 people come to faith in Christ through the ministry of the church. When COVID-19 hit, Refuge Community helped meet the needs of lower income families who did not have the technology needed to continue their schooling following the shelter-in-place order. The church provided the financial resources and built lasting relationships with school administrators. "Church planters this year have faced unprecedented challenges and have adapted with creativity, courage and empathy," said Dhati Lewis, NAMB's vice president over the Send Network. "God is working and moving in churches all across North America. And although the work is challenging, we press on because we know that He who calls us is able. The mission moves forward." In 2019, Southern Baptists planted 552 new churches with another 297 churches affiliating with the SBC and 59 new campuses established for a total of 908 new congregations. "Everything we do at NAMB is about the Gospel and that is our primary reason for planting churches," NAMB president Kevin Ezell said. "Each year the numbers from church plants indicate that these new churches are incredibly effective at reaching people for Christ." In February 2020, Journey Point Church in Denver celebrated its one-year anniversary. They saw 42 people come to Christ in their first year and have baptized half of those, lead pastor and church planter Chris Philips said. "We had a lot of people coming from the community, a lot of momentum," Philips said. "God was showing out, then literally three weeks after celebrating our anniversary, the pandemic hit." The church had to transition from larger plans to serve the city of Denver through an initiative called "Love Denver" to encouraging church members to focus on serving their neighbors. "You're always ready to pivot and innovate as a church planter. That's not the problem," said Philips. "The constant that every week is something different [due to the pandemic] is difficult on a personal level." Travis Cunningham, lead church planter of Story Church in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., outside Los Angeles, baptized 25 in his church's first year. He said as soon as they are able to gather again more new believers will be baptized. The church's last gathering before the pandemic saw just shy of 300 people in attendance. Since the church shifted to online services, its members have made their neighborhoods a mission field by picking up groceries and medicine for others and hosting cookouts. "When calamity strikes, these new churches are there, serving their communities and helping people in need," Ezell said. "I am so proud of the way church plants have stepped up and helped during the COVID-19 crisis. They have been a ray of hope and literally a lifeline to so many people." -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Not all doctrinal disagreements stem from 'false doctrines' by Rhyne Putman Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- If I may botch the words of Benjamin Franklin, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and Christians fighting over doctrine." Until the Lord returns, theological disagreement is an inevitability, even among evangelical Christians who affirm the same Gospel and appeal to the same inerrant authority in Scripture. Christians who disagree over doctrine do so because they are imperfect interpreters who have different interpretations of Scripture, ways of reasoning, feelings and biases. As our 175-year history bears witness, Southern Baptists are not immune to these kinds of intramural disputes. Yet not every theological disagreement is a "false teaching" in the biblical sense, nor is everyone who disagrees with our interpretation on a doctrinal matter a "false teacher." In the New Testament, the term "false teacher" has a connotation more specific than someone who is factually incorrect in a belief or doctrine. It speaks more about the character of the teacher than the teaching itself. "False doctrine" is not a mere disagreement about the meaning of a biblical text. First, false teaching deceives the spiritually immature. Those who are like "little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching" (Ephesians 4:14) are most susceptible to "turning away from ... the grace of Christ ... to a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6), "another Jesus" and a "different spirit" (2 Corinthians 11:4). Notice the benchmarks for false doctrine here are a "different gospel" and "another Jesus." Second, Peter associates false teaching with "untaught and unstable" individuals who distort the meaning of every Scripture (2 Peter 3:16). He contrasts this "unstable" personality with those who are "established in the truth" (2 Peter 1:12). Third, biblically speaking, false teachers are more than men or women teaching mistaken ideas. They also have fatal character flaws like ungodly ambition, foolishness, greed and arrogance. According to Paul, the one who teaches false doctrine is "conceited and understands nothing." Like many of the keyboard warriors ready to pounce on anyone who disagrees with them, the false teacher has an "unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words." Their comments provoke "envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions and constant disagreement." (1 Timothy 6:4–5). Fourth, false teachers see their so-called ministries as "a way to material gain" (1 Tim. 6:5). Like modern televangelists dissatisfied with their multimillion-dollar jets, the false teachers and prophets confronted by the apostles would "market the word of God for profit" (2 Corinthians 2:17). These false teachers "exploit you in their greed with made-up stories" (2 Peter 2:3). Fifth, false teaching can stem from and result in sexual sin. Peter warns of "destructive heresies" which lead many to "follow their depraved ways" (2 Peter 2:1–2). Jesus warns the churches in Revelation of deceptive teaching that leads to sexual immorality (Revelation 2:14, 20). Those who endorse sexual behaviors contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture are properly called "false teachers." Sixth, biblical authors occasionally attribute false teaching to spiritual warfare, "to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1, Galatians 1:8). Even people who are "spiritual" in their teachings may not be under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. But how do we know when a teacher is under the work of a demonic spirit? John gave a simple litmus test for churches battling heresy: "Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God" (1 John 4:3). Paul adds, "No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). Biblically speaking, anyone who denies the true divinity or true humanity of Christ is a false teacher under spiritual deception. Finally, false teaching comes from "false brothers" who infiltrate our ranks (Galatians 2:4). From this final characteristic, we must make an important clarification: someone who is a false teacher cannot be a true brother or sister in Christ. False teachers deny "the Master who bought them" (2 Peter 2:1), evidence gross sin in their behavior and dealings with others and are characterized by immorality and wickedness. For these reasons, we must be slow to label the theological disagreements we have with others "false teaching" and especially cautious about labeling other men and women "false teachers." Grace and patience must characterize our theological conflicts, especially those which do not rise to these extremes. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE SEMINARIES: MBTS Accelerate program adds four new tracks; Greenway and Dew discuss leading beyond COVID-19 by SBC seminary staff Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday Midwestern Seminary's Accelerate program introduces four new tracks of study By T. Patrick Hudson KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College announced May 26 the addition of four new tracks of study within its Accelerate program. Accelerate, which allows students to complete a bachelor's and a master's degree in only five years, now offers studies in the areas of missions, Christian education, and two biblical counseling tracks. The new tracks will officially launch in Fall 2020, but enrollment is currently open, and students are encouraged to apply now for acceptance into the program. "At Spurgeon College, we recognize there are two things that will outlast this present age -- souls and Scripture,” said Sam Bierig, dean of Spurgeon College. “The Accelerate program has historically proven to create experts in these two domains, all while getting students to the field faster. "I am thrilled to see the benefits of the Accelerate program extend to more specific vocational training for international missions, biblical counseling, and Christian education. The Accelerate program is a time-scholarship and a budget-scholarship unto itself, and I am excited to see a new wave of students trained better and faster for service to Christ and His Kingdom." Bierig said the genius of the Accelerate program is it reduces eight or more years of study to five, thus saving students a considerable amount of money and getting them into their ministry field more quickly. Midwestern Seminary launched Accelerate in 2015. In five years, the program has graduated 18, and 115 students are currently enrolled. "These additions are helpful," Accelerate director Taylor DiRoberto said, "because they will allow for Spurgeon and Midwestern students to earn graduate degrees in more specific vocational lanes in an accelerated timeframe, all the while growing through vocational mentorship and discipleship." Of the new offerings, the missions track is residential, while the two biblical counseling and the Christian education tracks are offered residentially and online. For more information about Accelerate, to learn more about its new tracks, or to start the enrollment process, visit spurgeoncollege.com/academics/accelerate. ********** Greenway and Dew discuss leading in and beyond COVID-19 By SWBTS/NOBTS staff FORT WORTH/NEW ORLEANS (SWBTS/NOBTS) -- The presidents of two Southern Baptist Convention seminaries -- Adam W. Greenway of The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Jamie Dew of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary -- participated in a live Zoom chat on "leading in/beyond COVID-19" with hosts Matt Henslee and Kyle Bueermann of "Not Another Baptist Podcast" May 28. The two presidents, who were elected to their positions within three months of each other last year, reflected on lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic, how to lead with wisdom and grace as things gradually return to normal, and what advice they would give students currently deciding whether to attend seminary online or in person this fall. "There are some things that we can do in person or we can do online, and it's just as good online," Greenway said. "There are other things that we can do in person or online, but it's clearly better in person. COVID-19, I think, is giving us a deeper appreciation for real, in-person community." Dew agreed, adding: "If COVID-19 has done anything, it has given us a scenario that reminds us of just how much we need each other. We need each other relationally, we need each other psychologically, we need each other spiritually, we need each other missiologically. And so it's given us a context now that should forever change the way we celebrate and embrace public gathering." The two noted, however, that some lessons learned from the pandemic will be useful moving forward, such as continuing to meet with church members via Zoom during the week in order to stay connected. As students make plans for the fall and are considering whether to do their theological education online or in person -- especially in light of the seminaries' proven ability to conduct their programs fully online during the pandemic -- the two presidents encouraged them to, if possible, choose the on-campus experience. "If you have the opportunity to get to campus, get to campus," Dew said, "for this reason: the longer it takes you to do your degree program, the less likely it is that you will finish." Dew noted that residential students, on average, take 12 hours per semester, while online students take an average of only 3-6 hours. He said drawing out the education experience renders it less likely that online students will finish their degrees. "There are intangibles that you just can't get in the same way in this format," Greenway said of the online program. "Some of the best content of these Zoom meetings has been what didn't make it into the recordings -- it's the pre-conversation; it's the post-conversation. In the same way, some of the most memorable content I ever received in seminary was not part of the planned lecture from the professor; it was after class as he was walking out and I was walking with him to the office. It's organic; you can't script it, you can't plan it -- you have to be there." To listen to the full conversation, see here. -------------------------------------------------------------------- SBC Advance brings entity reports and reminder of missional focus by Tess Schoonhoven Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday NASHVILLE (BP) -- SBC Advance, the two-hour online event providing ministry updates from Southern Baptist Convention entities and SBC president J.D. Greear, will be livestreamed at 3 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 2, at SBCadvance.com. The SBC 2020 Annual Meeting, set to be held June 9-10 in Orlando, was canceled as a result of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. This online event is not meant to replace that meeting, but rather give Southern Baptists an opportunity to hear how God has continued to work throughout the SBC. The online gathering is a chance for Southern Baptists to unite around the fundamental call to proclaim the Gospel to a world in need. Ronnie Floyd, SBC Executive Committee president and CEO, encouraged all Southern Baptists to participate. "SBC Advance will be informational and inspirational for anyone who participates with us," Floyd said. "It will be composed of dynamic moments that can even be shown within a worship service in your church. This update will provide us the opportunity to tell the story of what God is doing through our work together, which will lead us to celebrate all God is doing throughout America and the world." During the event, Floyd will interview Frank Williams, pastor of Bronx Baptist Church and Wake Eden Community Baptist Church. Williams' entire immediate family contracted COVID-19 in April 2020, a challenge paired with leading two congregations of color in hard-hit Bronx, N.Y., during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will include special features on Send Relief and Who's Your One from the North American Mission Board as well as a presentation from the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Baptist Convention of New York and Baptist Convention of New England on how they have resourced churches and responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting challenges. Also featured will be updates from all SBC entity and auxiliary heads, an SBC presidential update from Greear, video updates from the entities, an overview of annual reports and audited financial statements and reports. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Líderes bautistas del sur emiten declaración conjunta por la muerte de George Floyd by Por el personal Date: June 01, 2020 - Monday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Líderes bautistas del sur han publicado una declaración en la que lamentan la reciente muerte de George Floyd y llaman a terminar la "iniquidad racial en la distribución de la justicia en nuestro país." La declaración escrita conjuntamente por el presidente de la Convención Bautista del Sur (SBC), J.D. Greear y el presidente del Seminario Teológico Bautista New Orleans, Jamie Dew fue unánimemente firmada por todos los funcionarios de la SBC, los jefes de las entidades y los directores ejecutivos de las convenciones estatales. --30-- Declaración por la muerte de George Floyd Como convención de iglesias comprometidas con la igualdad y la dignidad de toda la gente, los bautistas del sur lamentan la muerte de George Floyd, quien fue asesinado el 25 de mayo de 2020, en Minneapolis, Minn. Aunque todos debemos dolernos, entendemos que, en el corazón de nuestros compañeros ciudadanos de color, incidentes como estos se conectan a una larga historia de justicia desigual en nuestro país, que regresan a las dolorosas eras de Jim Crow y la esclavitud. Las imágenes y la información que tenemos disponibles en este caso son horrorosas y nos recuerdan que hay mucho más trabajo por hacer para asegurar que no haya ni siquiera un indicio de desigualdad racial en la distribución de la justicia en nuestro país. Nos afligimos de ver ejemplos del mal uso de la fuerza, y requerimos que esos asuntos sean tratados con rapidez y justicia. Aunque le damos gracias a Dios por los agentes del orden público que valientemente arriesgan sus vidas por el bien de otros y mantienen la justicia con dignidad e integridad, también lamentamos cuando algunos agentes del orden público usan mal su autoridad y provocan daño innecesario a las personas que son llamadas a proteger. Además, nos dolemos con nuestros hermanos y hermanas minoritarios tras la muerte de George Floyd, oramos por su familia y amigos y deseamos enormemente ver que el mal uso de la fuerza y las distribuciones desiguales de la justicia lleguen a su fin. A lo largo del Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento, la Biblia habla de asuntos de justicia y de la dignidad humana. Se nos ha enseñado a través de las Escrituras que los seres humanos son diferentes del resto de la creación como esos seres que llevan la imagen divina. Desde el principio de la vida hasta el fin, todos los seres humanos, tanto hombres como mujeres -- de todas las etnicidades, colores y edades -- son seres sagrados que Dios valora y ama. A través de toda la ley, los profetas, los evangelios y todo el canon bíblico, el asesinato es condenado y el pueblo de Dios es llamado a proteger al vulnerable. La Biblia además condena la injusticia y el mal uso de la autoridad y la fuerza. Y en el ejemplo de Jesucristo, el pueblo de Dios es llamado a amar a otros, a velar por sus necesidades, a dolerse con ellos en el quebrantamiento y a trabajar por el bienestar de nuestro prójimo. Seguir a Cristo es seguir el ejemplo que pone ante nosotros. Por lo tanto, como un asunto de obediencia cristiana y devoción, los seguidores de Cristo no pueden quedarse en silencio cuando nuestros hermanos y hermanas, amigos y/o personas que buscamos ganar para Cristo son maltratados, abusados o asesinados innecesariamente. Por consiguiente, oramos por nuestros líderes locales, estatales y nacionales cuando ellos buscan justicia, y los conminamos a actuar rápida y diligentemente para asegurar que estas situaciones sean llevadas a un fin. Como un pueblo, los bautistas del sur están listos para ayudar hacia ese fin. Quiera Dios darnos su favor, ayuda y fortaleza en este esfuerzo. Coautores: James K. Dew, Jr. President, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary J.D. Greear President, Southern Baptist Convention Pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, N.C. Firmantes: Marshal Ausberry 1st Vice President, Southern Baptist Convention President, National African-American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Fairfax Station, Va. Noe Garcia 2nd Vice President, Southern Baptist Convention Senior Pastor, North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Ariz. Kathy Litton Registration Secretary, Southern Baptist Convention John Yeats Recording Secretary, Southern Baptist Convention Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director Ronnie W. Floyd Treasurer, Southern Baptist Convention President & CEO, SBC Executive Committee Paul Chitwood President, International Mission Board Kevin Ezell President, North American Mission Board O.S. Hawkins President, GuideStone Financial Resources Ben Mandrell President & CEO, LifeWay Christian Resources Jeff Iorg President, Gateway Seminary Jason K. Allen President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Danny L. Akin President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary R. Albert Mohler, Jr. President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Adam W. Greenway President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Russell D. Moore President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Sandy Wisdom-Martin Executive Director/Treasurer, Woman's Missionary Union --30-- Rick Lance, Alabama State Baptist Convention Randy Covington, Alaska Baptist Convention David Johnson, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention J. D. "Sonny" Tucker, Arkansas Baptist State Convention Bill Agee, California Southern Baptist Convention Nathan Lorick, Colorado Baptist General Convention Fred MacDonald, Dakota Baptist Convention J. Thomas Green, Florida Baptist Convention W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., Georgia Baptist Convention Christopher Martin, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention Nate Adams, Illinois Baptist State Association Steve McNeil, State Convention of Baptist in Indiana Tim Lubinus, Baptist Convention of Iowa Robert Mills, Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists Todd Gray, Kentucky Baptist Convention Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptist Convention Kevin Smith, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware Timothy Patterson, Baptist State Convention of Michigan Leo Endel, Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention Shawn Parker, Mississippi Baptist Convention Barrett Duke, Montana Southern Baptist Convention Kevin White, Nevada Baptist Convention Terry Dorsett, Baptist Convention of New England Joseph Bunce, Baptist Convention of New Mexico Terry Robertson, Baptist Convention of New York Milton Hollifield, Jr., Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Randy Adams, Northwest Baptist Convention Jack P. Kwok, State Convention of Baptists in Ohio D. Hance Dilbeck, Jr., Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Barry Whitworth, Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania-South Jersey Felix Cabrera, Convention of Southern Baptist Churches in Puerto Rico Gary Hollingsworth, South Carolina Baptist Convention Randy C. Davis, Tennessee Baptist Convention David W. Hardage, Baptist General Convention of Texas Jim W. Richards, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Rob Lee, Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention John V. Upton, Jr., Baptist General Association of Virginia Brian Autry, Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia Eric Ramsey, West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists Quin Williams, Wyoming Southern Baptist Mission Network --30--