This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/us/southern-baptist-convention-alt-right-resolution.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
In Quick Reversal, Southern Baptists Denounce White Nationalists In Quick Reversal, Southern Baptists Denounce White Nationalists
(about 17 hours later)
Delegates of the Southern Baptist Convention, an evangelical church fellowship with about 15 million members across the United States, condemned white supremacists and the “alt-right” in a resolution on Wednesday, one day after the delegates provoked a backlash by turning down a more harshly worded resolution.Delegates of the Southern Baptist Convention, an evangelical church fellowship with about 15 million members across the United States, condemned white supremacists and the “alt-right” in a resolution on Wednesday, one day after the delegates provoked a backlash by turning down a more harshly worded resolution.
The denomination’s annual meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday in Phoenix attracted about 5,000 delegates and pastors from across the country.The denomination’s annual meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday in Phoenix attracted about 5,000 delegates and pastors from across the country.
While the convention tends to lean conservative on many issues — one resolution that was approved called for defunding Planned Parenthood — Russell Moore, who is in charge of public policy for the convention, said in an interview on Thursday that the resolution against the alt-right — a far-right, white nationalist movement — had to do with Southern Baptist values, not politics. While the convention tends to lean conservative on many issues — one resolution that was approved called for defunding Planned Parenthood — Russell Moore, who is in charge of public policy for the convention, said in an interview on Thursday that the resolution against the alt-right had to do with Southern Baptist values, not politics.
“I heard no objections, privately or publicly, to this resolution,” he said. “None.”“I heard no objections, privately or publicly, to this resolution,” he said. “None.”
The original resolution denouncing white supremacy was submitted by Dwight McKissic, a black Southern Baptist pastor in Texas. It called alt-right and white supremacists groups a “toxic menace.” The original resolution denouncing white supremacy was submitted by Dwight McKissic, a black Southern Baptist pastor in Texas. It called alt-right — a far-right, white nationalist movement — and white supremacists groups a “toxic menace.”
The convention’s resolutions committee announced on Tuesday that it had declined the resolution, provoking criticism from delegates and on social media. That led the committee to reconsider the matter on Tuesday evening, and a revised version was approved nearly unanimously by the delegates on Wednesday.The convention’s resolutions committee announced on Tuesday that it had declined the resolution, provoking criticism from delegates and on social media. That led the committee to reconsider the matter on Tuesday evening, and a revised version was approved nearly unanimously by the delegates on Wednesday.
Most of Mr. McKissic’s language did not make into the final version, which was written by the committee. His resolution referred to “a growing menace to political order and justice that seeks to reignite social animosities, reverse improvements in race relations, divide our people and foment hatred, classism and ethnic cleansing.” He also called on the church to “reject the retrograde ideologies, xenophobic biases and racial bigotries of the so-called alt-right.”Most of Mr. McKissic’s language did not make into the final version, which was written by the committee. His resolution referred to “a growing menace to political order and justice that seeks to reignite social animosities, reverse improvements in race relations, divide our people and foment hatred, classism and ethnic cleansing.” He also called on the church to “reject the retrograde ideologies, xenophobic biases and racial bigotries of the so-called alt-right.”
But the resolution that was approved did affirm that the delegates at the meeting “decry every form of racism, including alt-right white supremacy.”But the resolution that was approved did affirm that the delegates at the meeting “decry every form of racism, including alt-right white supremacy.”
Barrett Duke, who led the resolution committee, said the decision not to pass Mr. McKissic’s resolution was not a rejection of its content. (Seven of the 12 resolutions submitted this year were declined.) The committee turned down Mr. McKissic’s resolution because it would have taken a while to rework it into a version that had the right balance of conviction and compassion, Mr. Duke said. “We want to make sure that we speak with some humility, and with some grace as well,” he said.Barrett Duke, who led the resolution committee, said the decision not to pass Mr. McKissic’s resolution was not a rejection of its content. (Seven of the 12 resolutions submitted this year were declined.) The committee turned down Mr. McKissic’s resolution because it would have taken a while to rework it into a version that had the right balance of conviction and compassion, Mr. Duke said. “We want to make sure that we speak with some humility, and with some grace as well,” he said.
Mr. Moore said that delegates recognized “a special responsibility to be aware of racial injustice because the S.B.C. was founded on the basis of a defense of slaveholding.” The Southern Baptist Convention was founded in 1845 when it split from Baptists in the North over slavery.Mr. Moore said that delegates recognized “a special responsibility to be aware of racial injustice because the S.B.C. was founded on the basis of a defense of slaveholding.” The Southern Baptist Convention was founded in 1845 when it split from Baptists in the North over slavery.
The resolution included a nod to the denomination’s origins: “We know from our Southern Baptist history the effects of the horrific sins of racism and hatred.” It also added a forward-looking statistic: Its own demographics are changing. The resolution noted that more than half of the convention’s new churches established over the past three years are predominantly nonwhite.The resolution included a nod to the denomination’s origins: “We know from our Southern Baptist history the effects of the horrific sins of racism and hatred.” It also added a forward-looking statistic: Its own demographics are changing. The resolution noted that more than half of the convention’s new churches established over the past three years are predominantly nonwhite.
The convention has passed other resolutions in recent years denouncing racism, including one in 2016 urging people to “discontinue the display of the Confederate battle flag.”The convention has passed other resolutions in recent years denouncing racism, including one in 2016 urging people to “discontinue the display of the Confederate battle flag.”
At this year’s gathering, H. B. Charles Jr., a pastor from Florida, was elected the first black president of the pastors’ conference. He said the drive to pass the resolution condemning the alt-right in the final hours of the convention came from the “grass-roots level.”At this year’s gathering, H. B. Charles Jr., a pastor from Florida, was elected the first black president of the pastors’ conference. He said the drive to pass the resolution condemning the alt-right in the final hours of the convention came from the “grass-roots level.”
“It was obvious that we had fumbled the ball,” he said. “I’m glad that it was immediately picked up to make sure we didn’t leave Phoenix without making a statement.”“It was obvious that we had fumbled the ball,” he said. “I’m glad that it was immediately picked up to make sure we didn’t leave Phoenix without making a statement.”