Southern Baptist Convention Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Doctrine== [[File:Centennial Tower, LifeWay HQ, Nashville.jpg|thumb|Former [[LifeWay Christian Resources|Lifeway Christian Resources]] headquarters in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].]] The general theological perspective of the denomination's churches is represented in the [[Baptist Faith and Message]] (BF&M).<ref name="BFM2000">{{Citation |title=Comparison of 1925, 1963, 2000 versions |url=https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/ |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention}}</ref> The BF&M was first drafted in 1925 as a revision of the 1833 [[New Hampshire Confession of Faith]]. It was revised significantly in 1963, amended in 1998 with the addition of one new section on the family, and revised again in 2000. The 1998 and 2000 changes were the subject of much controversy, particularly in regard to the role of women in the church.<ref name=FeedbackResponse>{{cite web | title = Committee Response to Initial Feedback | publisher = Baptist Faith and Message Study Committee | date = May 26, 2000 | url = http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfmfeedback.asp | access-date = August 2, 2015 | archive-date = August 15, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150815000128/http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfmfeedback.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> The BF&M is not considered a [[creed]], such as the [[Nicene Creed]]. Members are not required to adhere to it, and churches and state conventions belonging to the global body are not required to use it as their statement of faith or doctrine, though many do in lieu of creating their own statement.{{Sfn | Hankins | 2002 | pp = 223, 225}} Nevertheless, key leaders, faculty in denomination-owned seminaries, and missionaries who apply to serve through the various missionary agencies must affirm that their practices, doctrine, and preaching are consistent with the BF&M.<ref name=PresMissionaries>{{Citation | contribution-url = http://imb.org/updates/storyview.aspx?StoryID=755 | title = imbConnecting: President asks missionaries to sign BF&M affirmation | contribution = imbConnecting | publisher = SBC | type = position paper | access-date = August 7, 2015 | archive-date = October 27, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151027042539/http://imb.org/updates/storyview.aspx?StoryID=755 | url-status = dead }}.</ref><ref name="Missionaries Must Decide">{{Citation | contribution-url = http://imb.org/updates/storyview.aspx?StoryID=880 | title = imbConnecting: IMB asking missionaries to decide about BF&M request | contribution = imbConnecting | publisher = SBC | type = position paper | access-date = August 7, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref> In 2012, a [[LifeWay Christian Resources|LifeWay Research]] survey of the denomination's pastors found that 30% of churches identified with the labels [[Reformed Baptists|Calvinist or Reformed]], while 30% identified with the labels [[Arminianism|Arminian]] or [[Wesleyanism|Wesleyan]]. LifeWay Research President [[Ed Stetzer]] said, "historically, many Baptists have considered themselves neither Calvinist nor Arminian, but holding a unique theological approach not framed well by either category". The survey also found that 60% of its pastors were concerned about Calvinism's impact within the convention.<ref name=CalvinismPoll>{{cite press release| title = SBC Pastors Polled on Calvinism and Its Effect | publisher = LifeWay Research | date = June 19, 2012 | url = http://www.lifewayresearch.com/2012/06/19/sbc-pastors-polled-on-calvinism-and-its-effect/ | access-date = August 2, 2015}}</ref> Nathan Finn writes that the debate over Calvinism has "periodically reignited with increasing intensity" and that non-Calvinists "seem to be especially concerned with the influence of [[Founders Ministries]]" while Calvinists "seem to be particularly concerned with the influence of [[Christian revival|revivalism]] and [[Higher Life movement|Keswick theology]]."{{sfn|Finn|2010|p=73}} Historically, the denomination has not considered [[glossolalia]] or other [[Spiritual gift|Charismatic beliefs]] to be in accordance with Scriptural teaching, though the BF&M does not mention the subject. In 2015, the [[International Mission Board]] lifted a ban on glossolalia for its missionaries, while reaffirming that it should not be taught as normative.<ref>Greg Horton and Yonat Shimron , [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/southern-baptists-to-open-their-ranks-to-missionaries-who-speak-in-tongues/2015/05/14/1fddd28a-fa7e-11e4-a47c-e56f4db884ed_story.html Southern Baptists to open their ranks to missionaries who speak in tongues], washingtonpost.com, USA, May 14, 2015</ref> The convention brings together [[Christian Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] and [[Moderate Christianity|moderate]] churches.<ref>Corrie E. Norman, Donald S. Armentrout, ''Religion in the Contemporary South: Changes, Continuities, and Contexts'', Univ. of Tennessee Press, USA, 2005, p. 80</ref> ===Position statements=== [[File:Seattle - Chinese Southern Baptist 06.jpg|thumb|Chinese Southern Baptist Church in [[Seattle, Washington]]]] In addition to the BF&M, the denomination has also issued position statements affirming the autonomy of the local church;<ref name="autonomy">{{Cite web |title=On Local Church Autonomy And Accountability - SBC.net |url=https://www.sbc.net/resource-library/resolutions/on-local-church-autonomy-and-accountability/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |language=en-US}}</ref> identifying the Cooperative Program of missions as integral to the denomination;<ref name="coop">{{Citation |title=About us |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171129/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscooperation.asp |contribution=Cooperation |contribution-url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscooperation.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> that statements of belief are revisable in light of Scripture, though [[the Bible is the final word]];<ref name="creed">{{Citation |title=About us |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171135/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscreeds.asp |contribution=Creeds |contribution-url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pscreeds.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> honoring the indigenous principle in missions without compromising doctrine or its identity for missional opportunities;<ref name="missions">{{Citation |title=About us |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171140/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/psmissions.asp |contribution=Missions |contribution-url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/psmissions.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> that laypersons have the same right as ordained ministers to communicate with God, interpret Scripture, and minister in Christ's name;<ref name="priesthood">{{Citation | url = http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pspriesthood.asp | title = Priesthood of all believers | publisher = SBC | type = position paper | access-date = July 19, 2007 | archive-date = September 21, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171145/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pspriesthood.asp }}.</ref> that "At the moment of conception, a new being enters the universe, a human being, a being created in God's image", who as such should be protected regardless of the circumstances of the conception;<ref name="sanctity">{{Citation |title=Sanctity of life |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssanctity.asp |type=position paper |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025102901/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssanctity.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref> that God's plan for marriage and sexual intimacy is a lifetime relationship of one man and one woman, rejecting homosexuality; understanding the Bible to forbid any form of extramarital sexual relations;<ref name="sexuality">{{Citation |title=Sexuality |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/positionstatements.asp |type=position paper |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727023904/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/positionstatements.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=July 27, 2020}}.</ref> affirming the accountability of each person before God;<ref name="soulcomp">{{Citation |title=Soul Competency |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssoul.asp |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921114605/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssoul.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> and that women are not eligible to serve as pastors.<ref name="women">{{Citation |title=Women in ministry |url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pswomen.asp |type=position paper |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921171219/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pswomen.asp |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=September 21, 2008}}.</ref> In 2022, it passed a resolution against [[prosperity theology]], which it considers a distortion of the message of the Bible.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-15 |title=So. Baptists denounce prosperity gospel as 'false teaching' in resolution at annual meeting |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/southern-baptists-denounce-prosperity-gospel-as-false-teaching.html |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}</ref> ==== Abortion ==== Like other conservative evangelical denominations, the Southern Baptist position on [[Abortion in the United States|abortion]] has changed significantly over time, evolving from general acceptance to opposition.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" /> In 1971, the SBC passed a resolution urging a loosening of abortion laws in the United States, stating:<ref name=":16" /><blockquote>Be it further resolved, that we call upon Southern Baptists to work for legislation that will allow the possibility of abortion under such conditions as rape, incest, clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother.</blockquote>In 1973, a "poll conducted by the ''[[Baptist General Convention of Texas|Baptist Standard]]'' news journal found that 90 percent of Texas Baptists believed their state's abortion laws were too restrictive".<ref name=":14" /> During this era, a majority of Southern Baptists, including conservatives within the denomination, supported the expansion of [[Abortion-rights movements|abortion rights]], seeing it as a matter of [[Freedom of religion|religious liberty]], what they saw [[Christianity and abortion|as a lack]] of [[Christianity and abortion|biblical condemnation]], and belief in [[Anti-statism|non-intrusive government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balmer |first=Randall |author-link=Randall Balmer |date=August 30, 2021 |title=The Evangelical Abortion Myth: An Excerpt from 'Bad Faith' |url=https://religiondispatches.org/the-evangelical-abortion-myth-an-excerpt-from-bad-faith/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Religion Dispatches |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Williams-2015">{{Cite journal |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=June 2015 |title=The Partisan Trajectory of the American Pro-Life Movement: How a Liberal Catholic Campaign Became a Conservative Evangelical Cause |journal=Religions |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=451–475 |doi=10.3390/rel6020451 |issn=2077-1444 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=2022-05-09 |title=This Really Is a Different Pro-Life Movement |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/south-abortion-pro-life-protestants-catholics/629779/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Halpern |first=Sue |date=November 8, 2018 |title=How Republicans Became Anti-Choice |language=en |work=[[The New York Review of Books]] |url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/08/how-republicans-became-anti-choice/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0028-7504}}</ref> Initial reaction among Southern Baptists and evangelicals to the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' decision was one of support or indifference; they overwhelmingly viewed [[United States anti-abortion movement|anti-abortion movements]] as a [[Sectarianism|sectarian]] and [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] concern. By the mid-1970s, this began to change, as political strategists sought to use the issue of abortion as a [[Policy|political tactic]] to incorporate [[Traditionalist Catholicism|traditionalist Catholics]] together with Southern evangelicals in order to prevent [[Segregation academy|segregation academies]] from being [[Racial integration|racially integrated]]. Southern Baptist opinion on abortion began to substantially change against abortion in subsequent years.<ref name=":16" /><ref name="Williams-2015" /> Today, the SBC strongly opposes abortion.<ref name=":16" /> ==== Gender-based roles ==== Officially, the denomination subscribes to the [[complementarianism|complementarian]] view of [[gender role]]s.{{sfn|Finn|2010|pp=68–69}} Beginning in the early 1970s, as a reaction to their perceptions of various "women's liberation movements",<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=1090 |title= Resolution on the Place of Women in Christian Service |publisher= SBC |access-date= December 10, 2011 |archive-date= January 18, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120118161933/http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=1090 |url-status= dead }}</ref> the church, along with several other historically conservative Baptist groups,<ref>See {{harvnb|Morris|Lee|2005|pp=355–363}}, for a discussion of attitudes regarding gender and their relationship to ministry.</ref> began to assert its view of the propriety and primacy of what it deemed "traditional gender roles" as a body. In 1973, at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, delegates passed a resolution that read in part: "Man was not made for woman, but the woman for the man. Woman is the glory of man. Woman would not have existed without man."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://feminist.org/resources/feminist-chronicles/the-feminist-chronicles-2/part-ii-1973/|title=Part II - 1973}}</ref> In 1998, the convention appended a male leadership understanding of marriage to the 1963 version of the Baptist Faith and Message, with an official amendment: Article XVIII, "The Family". In 2000, it revised the document to reflect support for a male-only pastorate with no mention of the office of deacon.<ref name="women" /><ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.baptist2baptist.net/b2barticle.asp?ID=228 | first = Tammi Reed | last = Ledbetter | title = SBC and Women Pastors, Comprehensive Report Does Not Sustain Inflated Statistics |date=October 2000 | newspaper = Baptist 2 Baptist | access-date = July 19, 2007}}.</ref> ===== In the pastorate and marriage ===== In 1984, when it had about 250 women pastors, the Convention adopted a resolution affirming the exclusion of women from pastoral leadership.<ref name="upi.com">David E. Anderson, [https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/06/15/Southern-Baptists-oppose-womens-ordination/3365456120000/ Southern Baptists oppose women's ordination], upi.com, USA, June 15, 1984</ref> Since 1987, various local associations and regional conventions have considered churches that have authorized the [[Ordination of women#Baptist|pastoral ministry of women]] to not be in friendly cooperation (or "disfellowshipped"), without the intervention of the national convention on the subject.<ref>David Roach, [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/tenn-assoc-disfellowships-church-with-female-pastor/ Tenn. assoc. disfellowships church with female pastor], baptistpress.com, USA, 20 octobre 2015</ref> By explicitly defining the pastoral office as the exclusive domain of males, the 2000 BF&M provision became the Southern Baptist's first-ever official position against women pastors.<ref>"Comparison of 1925, 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message". Online: http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/bfmcomparison.asp. Accessed: 7 Aug 2015</ref> As individual churches affiliated with the organization are autonomous, churches cannot be forced to adopt a male-only pastorate.<ref name="autonomy" /> Some churches that have installed women as their pastors have been disfellowshipped from membership in their local associations; a smaller number have been disfellowshipped from their affiliated state conventions.<ref>{{Citation | first = Kristen | last = Campbell | title = Baptist Church Ousted for Hiring Woman Pastor | newspaper = Religion News Service | url = http://www.beliefnet.com/story/202/story_20231_1.html | access-date = 2007-09-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071107170239/http://www.beliefnet.com/story/202/story_20231_1.html | archive-date = November 7, 2007 }}.</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Shellnutt |first=Kate |title=Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/february/saddleback-church-southern-baptist-sbc-disfellowship-female.html |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Christianity Today |date=February 21, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In February 2023, the Executive Committee for the first time deemed five churches that had appointed women pastors to not be in friendly cooperation. In June 2023, when two churches requested a review of the decision on this subject, 88% of church representatives at the annual convention voted to uphold the decision.<ref>Michael Gryboski, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/saddleback-churchs-ousting-from-sbc-upheld-at-annual-meeting.html SBC upholds ousting of Saddleback Church over woman teaching pastor], christianpost.com, USA, June 14, 2023</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Messengers sustain removal of 3 churches not in 'friendly cooperation' - The Baptist Paper |url=https://thebaptistpaper.org/messengers-sustain-removal-of-3-churches-not-in-friendly-cooperation/,%20https://thebaptistpaper.org/messengers-sustain-removal-of-3-churches-not-in-friendly-cooperation/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=thebaptistpaper.org |language=en-US}}</ref> ''American Reformer'' magazine estimated the convention would have 1,844 female pastors in 2023.<ref>Kevin McClure, [https://americanreformer.org/2023/06/how-many-female-pastors-are-in-the-sbc/ How many female pastors are in the sbc?], americanreformer.org, USA, June 10, 2023</ref> The crystallization of the church's positions on gender roles and restrictions of women's participation in the pastorate contributed to the decision by members now belonging to the [[Cooperative Baptist Fellowship]], which broke from the convention in 1991.<ref>{{Citation | first1 = Eileen R | last1 = Campbell-Reed | first2 = Pamela R | last2 = Durso | url = http://www.cbeinternational.org/files/u1/resources/14-Campbell-pdf.pdf | title = Assessing Attitudes About Women in Baptist Life | year = 2006 | publisher = CBE international | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101229121648/http://www.cbeinternational.org/files/u1/resources/14-Campbell-pdf.pdf | archive-date = December 29, 2010 }}.</ref> Another denomination that broke off, the [[Alliance of Baptists]], also accepts women's ordination. The 2000 BF&M prescribes a husband-headship authority structure, closely following the [[Paul the Apostle|apostle Paul]]'s exhortations in {{Bibleverse |Ephesians|5:21–33}}:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Baptist Convention > Commentary on Article XVIII – The Family |url=http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/articleXVIII.asp |access-date=2018-12-25 |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225230210/http://www.sbc.net/bfm2000/articleXVIII.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{blockquote|'''Article XVIII. The Family.''' The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to his people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead ''his'' family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.}} ===Ordinances=== [[File:Baptism at Northolt Park Baptist Church (cropped).jpg|thumb|Full-immersion baptism is the accepted mode of baptism among the Southern Baptist Convention]] Southern/Great Commission Baptists observe two [[Baptist ordinance|ordinances]]: the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]] and [[believer's baptism]] (also known as ''credo''-baptism, from the [[Latin]] for "I believe").<ref name="Reuters1" /><ref name="BFM2000" /> Furthermore, they hold the historic Baptist belief that [[Immersion baptism|immersion]] is the only valid mode of baptism.<ref name="Reuters1" /> The Baptist Faith and Message describes baptism as a symbolic act of obedience and a testimony of the believer's faith in [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] to other people. The BF&M also notes that baptism is a precondition to congregational church membership.<ref name="BFM2000" /> The BF&M holds to [[memorialism]],<ref name="memorial">{{cite web|url=http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/basicbeliefs.asp|title=Basic Beliefs: Baptism & the Lord's Supper|year=2018|publisher=Southern Baptist Convention|access-date=9 August 2019|quote=The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members [...] memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His Second Coming.|archive-date=March 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312082918/http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/basicbeliefs.asp}}</ref> the belief that the Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience in which believers commemorate the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|death of Christ]] and look forward to his [[Second Coming]].<ref name="BFM2000"/><ref name="memorial"/> Individual churches are free to practice either [[open communion|open]] or [[closed communion]] (due to the convention's belief in congregational polity and the autonomy of the local church), but most practice open communion. For the same reason, the frequency of observance of the Lord's Supper varies from church to church. It is commonly observed quarterly, but some churches offer it monthly and a small minority offers it weekly.<ref name=Communionsurvey>{{cite press release| title = LifeWay Surveys Lord's Supper Practices of SBC Churches | publisher = LifeWay Research | date = September 17, 2012 | url = http://www.lifewayresearch.com/2012/09/17/lifeway-surveys-lords-supper-practices-of-sbc-churches/ | access-date = August 2, 2015}}</ref> Because the organization has traditionally opposed alcoholic beverage consumption by members, [[grape juice]] is used instead of wine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-01-10 |title=Why We Don't Use Alcohol For the Lord's Supper at our Church by David R. Brumbelow |url=https://sbcvoices.com/why-we-dont-use-alcohol-for-the-lords-supper-by-david-r-brumbelow/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=SBC Voices |language=en-US}}</ref> === Worship === [[File:Easter 2016 Worship Service At Grace Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee.jpg|222x222px|thumb|right| [[Worship service (evangelicalism)|Worship service]] at Grace Baptist Church in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], affiliated to the convention, 2016]] [[File:First Baptist Church worship.jpg|thumb|349x349px|[[First Baptist Church of Jacksonville|First Baptist Church]] of [[Jacksonville, Florida]] worship service.]] Most members observe a [[low church]] form of [[Christian worship|worship]], which is less formal and uses no stated [[liturgy]]. The form of the worship services generally depend on whether the congregation uses a traditional service or a contemporary one, or a mix of both—the main differences being with regards to music and the response to the sermon. In both types of services, there will be a prayer at the opening of the service, before the sermon, and at closing. Offerings are taken, which may be around the middle of the service or at the end (with the increased popularity of electronic financial systems, some churches operate kiosks allowing givers the opportunity to do so online, or through a phone app or website link). Responsive Scripture readings are not common, but may be done on a special occasion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shoemaker |first=Stephen |date=2013-04-11 |title=An Overview of Worship in the Southern Baptist Convention |url=https://www.worshiplibrary.com/blog/an-overview-of-worship-in-the-southern-baptist-convention/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128081853/https://www.worshiplibrary.com/blog/an-overview-of-worship-in-the-southern-baptist-convention/ |archive-date=2022-11-28 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=WorshipLibrary |language=en}}</ref> In a traditional service, the music generally features hymns, accompanied by a piano or organ (the latter has been generally phased out due to a shift in worship preferences) and sometimes with a special featured soloist or choir. Smaller churches generally let anyone participate in the choir regardless of actual singing ability; larger churches will limit participation to those who have successfully tried out for a role. After the sermon, an invitation to respond (sometimes termed an [[altar call]]) might be given; people may respond during the invitation by receiving [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] as Lord and Savior and beginning Christian discipleship, seeking baptism or requesting to join the congregation, or entering into vocational ministry or making some other publicly stated decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-04-04 |title=A theological perspective on the 'invitation/altar call' |url=https://www.baptistmessenger.com/a-theological-perspective-on-the-%e2%80%98invitationaltar-call%e2%80%99/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma |language=en-US}}</ref> Baptisms may be scheduled on specific weekends, or (especially in buildings with built-in baptisteries) be readily available for anyone desiring baptism. In a contemporary service, the music generally features modern songs led by a praise team or similarly named group with featured singers. Choirs are not as common. An altar call may or may not be given at the end; if it is not, interested persons are directed to seek out people in the lobby who can address any questions. Baptismal services are usually scheduled as specific and special events. Also, church membership is usually done on a periodic basis by attending specific classes about the church's history, beliefs, what it seeks to accomplish, and what is expected of a prospective member. Controversially, a member may be asked to sign a "membership covenant", a document that has the prospective member promise to perform certain tasks (regular church attendance both at main services and small groups, regular giving—sometimes even requiring tithing, and service within the church). Such covenants are highly controversial: among other things, such a covenant may not permit a member to voluntarily withdraw from membership to avoid church discipline or, in some cases, the member cannot leave at all (even when not under discipline) without the approval of church leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Church Membership Covenants – Legal Contracts that are NOT Biblical! {{!}} The Wartburg Watch 2020|url=http://thewartburgwatch.com/permpage-church-membership-covenants-legal-contracts-that-are-not-biblical/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=thewartburgwatch.com|date=April 19, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> A Dallas/Fort Worth church was forced to apologize to a member who attempted to do so for failing to request permission to annul her marriage after her husband admitted to viewing child pornography.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/may-web-only/matt-chandler-apologizes-for-village-churchs-decision-to-di.html|title=Former Member Accepts Acts 29 Megachurch Apology in Church Discipline Case|first=Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, Morgan Lee, and Bob|last=Smietana|website=ChristianityToday.com|date=June 10, 2015 |access-date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> === Race === During the 19th and most of the 20th century, the organization supported [[Racism in the United States|white supremacy]], [[Racial segregation in the United States|racial segregation]], the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]], and the [[Lost Cause of the Confederacy|Lost Cause]].<ref name=":2b">{{Cite book |last=Newman |first=Mark |title=Getting Right With God: Southern Baptists and Desegregation, 1945-1995 |publisher=[[University of Alabama Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8173-1060-8 |pages=IX of preface}}</ref> The organization also denounced [[Interracial marriage in the United States|interracial marriage]] as an "[[Abomination (biblical)|abomination]]", citing [[The Bible and slavery|the Bible]].<ref name=":2b" /> With the advent of the civil rights movement in the 20th century, it officially denounced racism and its white supremacist history.<ref name=":10" /> Following the election of the organization's first black president in the 21st century, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted the "Great Commission Baptists" descriptor, which began to gain prominent use among several churches desiring to sever themselves from its white supremacist history and controversies.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> Although racism and white supremacy were denounced, and efforts to reconcile with minorities have been made, racism has continued to persist among the denomination's churches and affiliated organizations. In 2012, an African American couple in [[Crystal Springs, Mississippi]] attending an affiliated church were prevented from being married in that church because they were black. The church's pastor was threatened with being voted out if he hosted the wedding at the church (the pastor performed the ceremony at a different church).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kenney |first=David |date=2012-07-27 |title=Black wedding banned by Baptist church |url=https://www.wlbt.com/story/19125864/black-wedding-banned-by-baptist-church |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=WLBT |language=en}}</ref> By November 2020, the six convention seminary presidents called [[critical race theory]] "unbiblical" and emphasized the need to turn not to secular ideas to confront racism, but to the Word of God in the love of Christ.<ref>Michael Gryboski, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/sbc-seminary-presidents-denounce-critical-race-theory.html Southern Baptist seminary presidents release statement denouncing critical race theory], christianpost.com, USA, December 01, 2020</ref> At least four African American churches left the denomination over the leadership's refusal to recognize critical race theory.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Several Black pastors break with the Southern Baptist Convention over a statement on race |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/12/23/black-pastors-break-southern-baptist-critical-race-theory/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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