1. Baptist History Lesson 31 Baptists in the North

2. “A movement who’s adherents were seeking to reshape the Christian faith into a form which would be acceptable to modern man” George Marsden Dr. George Marsden Fundamentalism and the American Culture SOCIETAL Rise of Modernism-Liberalism POLITICAL/ECONOMIC PHILOSPHICAL/SCIENTIFIC THEOLOGICAL/PRACTICAL 1923-G. Gresham Machen’s Christianity & Liberalism Fatherhood of God Brotherhood of Man

3. REACTION TO MODERNISM Dr. Jack Arnold Indifferent Attitude Fighting Attitude Bible Conferences Bible Colleges Questioning Attitude

4. Northern Baptists Societal verses Denominational 1908 – formation of the Northern Baptist Convention Accepted regional name Changed from single society to denomination Appointed a general convention executive board Inherent problems with the NBC No history of sustained commitment to a denomination Mixture of conservative and ‘progressive’ or liberal churches University of Chicago - 1890 University of Rochester – A.H.Strong Walter Rauschenbusch Christianity & Social Crises Harry Emerson Fosdick “Shall the Fundamentalist Win?”

5. Tensions within the NBC 1919 – The New World Movement Societies had their own budgets Not enough time to prepare Economic downturn Connection with the Interchurch World Movement W. B. Riley (1861-1947) J. Frank Norris & John Roach Straton (1875-1929) 1920 –Buffalo Convention Fundamental Fellowship Curtis Lee Laws Watchman Examiner “Fundamentalist” “do battle royal” for certain doctrines 1.Named a movement 2.Documented its belligerent spirit

6. Fundamentalists attached NBC Heresy in schools missions publications 1922 – a proposed confession Fundamental Fellowship Moderates: change from within Militant separatists 1923 - Baptist Bible Union 1927/28 - Debacle of Des Moines University 1926 - Shooting of Dexter E. Chipps by J. Frank Norris “The Northern Baptist Convention affirms the New Testament is the all-sufficient ground of our faith and practice and we need no other statement” Resolution offered by Cornelius Woelfin, NYC How could you vote against the NT? Defeated 1264 to 657 Always contained two parties: J.C. Massee; Frank M. Goodchild John Roach Straton; J. Frank Norris; T. T. Shields; A. C. Dixon; W.B. Riley

7. 1932: final meeting of Baptist Bible Union; first meeting of General Association of Regular Baptist Churches Haven for fundamental fellowship Promote Independent, orthodox Baptist missions Disseminate accurate information on the NBC 2005: 1383 churches; 132,900 members Five approved mission boards Several approved colleges & seminaries Baptist Mid Missions; ABWE Bible Baptist College & Seminary –Clarks Summit, PA. Faith Baptist College & Seminary-Ankeny, IA Cedarville University – No More!

8. What about moderates in the NBC? 1943 – Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society 1947 – Conservative Baptist of America Association 1953 – 500 member churches/240 ‘fellowshipping’ churches Myron Cedarholm (2 nd national director) listed several fundamental principles of this movement: It was a confessional body It was a fellowship of independent churches It had ‘no organic relationship’ to the organizations which its churches supported It refused to make contributions a prerequisite for membership 2004: CBAmerica Board of Directors voted a new paradigm for the relationship of the local churches; a new model – a church driven through Regional Ministry Hubs Individual believers enter into a covenantal fellowship (membership) of a local CB church Individual churches enter into a covenantal fellowship of a CB regional association Individual regional associations enter into a covenantal fellowship of CBAmerica Individual national fellowships enter into a covenantal fellowship of CBGlobal 2003: 1200+ churches; 200,000+ members

9. What about the Northern Baptists Convention? 1949 American Baptist Convention “We hold the name in trust for all Christians of like faith and mind” Note: The SBC wasn’t impressed! 1950 – Convention in Chicago 1951 – Convention in Los Angeles Not SBC towns! 1972 – American Baptist Churches in the USA Denomination ‘run’ by General Board of 200 elected members Are there any lessons from today’s lesson? The LORD will build His church; man will mess it up!