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Liberal Baptists Meet With Focus on Unity

Conservative SBC group absent from Carter-led gathering

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 30, 2008 3:29 PM CST
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(Newser) – Organized by Jimmy Carter and other leaders, thousands of Baptists begin a three-day meeting in Atlanta today to show that the denomination encompasses a broad range of viewpoints and can work together despite differences. Social issues are a focus, the Christian Science Monitor reports, though leaders of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention aren't on board at the gathering.

Some SBC members say the meeting is an attempt to "rebrand" Baptists away from its traditionally conservative ideology. Carter ended his longtime tie to the SBC—at 16 million strong, the largest US Protestant denomination, the Monitor reports—after it issued a statement in 2000 banning female pastors and calling on wives to be submissive to their husbands.

Former President Clinton is also involved in organizing the meeting. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Former President Clinton is also involved in organizing the meeting. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)   (Associated Press)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter attends a ceremony to mark U.S. China relations in Beijing, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. Led by Carter, Baptists divided for more than a century by theology and race are trying to overcome their differences and show that their faith tradition is broader than...
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter attends a ceremony to mark U.S. China relations in Beijing, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. Led by Carter, Baptists divided for more than a century by theology and race are...   (Associated Press)
Former president Jimmy Carter works on building a house Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
Former president Jimmy Carter works on building a house Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)   (Associated Press)
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