I noted in a recent blog that emergent church leader Doug Pagitt, popular pastor of Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis and author of several books that challenge traditional thinking about church, has been dis-invited from speaking at the annual Wired2Grow event sponsored by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC).
Apparently, there was a fear that participants might be exposed to heresy.
The event, scheduled for Oct. 16 and designed for innovative church leaders, has previously drawn other speakers related to the emergent movement, including Brian McLaren. But, strong conservatives are increasingly characterizing the emergent movement as a "neo-liberal cult."
Pagitt, in particular, was criticized following a recent CNN appearance in which he was asked about a Christian-oriented version of yoga that he practices. Several doctrinal-watchdog blogsites quickly criticized Pagitt -- and the BSCNC for inviting him. Connecticut-based Ken Silva of "Apprising Ministries," Dave and Deborah Dombrowski of Oregon who blog at Lighthouse Trails, and Bud Press of the no-physical-location-on-his-website "Christian Research Service" all took issue with Pagitt's proposed appearance and rejoiced in his dis-invitation. In the process, Press wrongly described the event as a "Southern Baptist" conference. Though the BSCNC relates to the SBC and most of is affiliated churches are Southern Baptist, it is an autonomous organization.
Pagitt was also was criticized by Acts 29 Network leader Mark Driscoll during a recent conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Driscoll was originally involved in the emergent movement but later broke with it and went his own innovative way. At least some churches in the Acts 29 network approve of culture-friendly practices like Bible study sessions in a bar (beer included), but hold the fundamentalist line on other issues, such as women serving as pastors or elders (not allowed).
Driscoll lambasted "emergent village theology" during the conference and named Pagitt as one of several who hold "heretical" views on issues such as the penal substutionary view of the atonement (Pagitt thinks other views explain it better).
Driscoll also questioned why the BSCNC would invite Pagitt. Others picked up the drumbeat and BSC officials received e-mails and phone calls from people (including at least one who actually lives in North Carolina) who did not believe Pagitt should be on the program.
Soon, he wasn't.
Lynn Sasser, executive leader for the Congregational Services group at the BSCNC, told me the decision was his, in concert with other leaders of the BSCNC's Innovative Church Community network, based on additional information they had learned about Pagitt. Sasser expected the BSCNC to make no further comment, but Convention spokesperson Doug Baker apparently told Bud Press that information concerning Pagitt's views "on homosexuality, Christology, (and) the innerancy of scripture had been provided to the BSCNC" after the initial invitation was extended.
Chad Hall, former leader of the Innovative Church Team for the BSC, said he had invited Pagitt because he thought he would offer a good counterpoint for dialogue with Rick McKinley, pastor of Imago Dei Church in Portland, Oregon, who is also scheduled to speak. In surveys, previous Wired2Grow participants had asked for Pagitt, he said.
Hall left the BSCNC during the past year and is now a consultant for SAS Institute in Cary.
In a phone call, Pagitt told me that criticism ramped up after the CNN appearance. But, he said, the yoga classes taught in his church are holistic and practiced in a completely Christian context. Though yoga was developed within the Hindu tradition, one does not have to be a universalist in order to practice it, he said.
Regarding the withdrawn invitation, Pagitt said "I have no sour grapes about it. My feelings aren't hurt. I don't blame them for making the decision if they believe their constituency would not be happy with my appearance."
Pagitt said Sasser asked him about his beliefs regarding universalism, his view of scripture, and his views on homosexuality. He did not discuss the matters in detail, he said, because it seemed obvious that the dis-invitation was a foregone conclusion.
Pagitt affirmed that his views are likely to be different than the typical North Carolina Baptist. But, he said, "I was invited for a conference on innovation. What’s the point on having an event on innovation if you’re not willing to listen to the outsider at some level? If they’re not willing to be open to implications of ministry that we share, who are they willing to listen to?"
It's hard to learn from others when "pre-screening the belief system" is needed "to find out first if you believe as we do, and then we’ll listen to you," he said.
Aside from the locked door at the BSCNC, Pagitt expressed enthusiasm in that he is being asked to speak to many different denominational groups, and the emergent conversation is bringing many people together who ordinarily wouldn’t talk. "A special moment is going on in a cross-denominational expression of Christianity," he said.
To hear more about it, however, you'll have to look somewhere other than this year's Wired2Grow.
8 comments:
one more reason why the BSCNC stinks. good post.
"pre-screening the belief system?" Why does it sometimes seem impossible for persons to realize that there will always be some certain non-negotiables, like the strict distinction between creation and creator? Acts29 & Rick McKinley are hardly typical Baptist fare, and their innovations hardly call into question catholic orthodoxy.
Ha 'innovation.' yup Pagitt's all about 'innovation.' He 'innovates' brand new teachings all the time. Why do we think there's anything new under the sun, and why are we not satisfied with God as he is, and his Word as it is, unchanging, not INNOVATING?
BSCNC serves their own purpose. I hardly think they "stink" because they disagree with you. That's probably a little short-sighted.
Tony Cartledge wrote:
"...Bud Press of the no-physical-location-on-his-website 'Christian Research Service' all took issue with Pagitt's proposed appearance and rejoiced in his dis-invitation. In the process, Press wrongly described the event as a 'Southern Baptist' conference. Though the BSCNC relates to the SBC and most of is affiliated churches are Southern Baptist, it is an autonomous organization."
Setting your sensationalism aside, I have some questions, and answers, for your consideration.
1. Is the Southern Baptist Convention indeed Southern Baptist? Yes
( http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/default.asp ).
2. Does the Southern Baptist Convention cooperate with State Conventions as a part of the Southern Baptist Convention? Yes
( http://www.cpmissions.net/2003/what%20is%20cp.asp ).
3. Are the State Conventions affiliated with or a part of the Southern Baptist Convention? Yes (see the May 1874 Resolution On State Conventions at http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=992 ).
4. Is the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Southern Baptist? Yes
( http://www.sbc.net/stateconvention.asp?state=NC ).
5. Is the Congregational Services and Missions Growth Evangelism Group a part of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina? Yes
( http://www.ncbaptist.org/index.php?id=congregational_services ).
6. Is the 2007 Wired2Grow Conference sponsored by the Congregational Services and Missions Growth Evangelism Group of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina? Yes ( http://www.wired2grow.com/ ).
7. Was Doug Pagitt dropped or removed from the 2007 Wired2Grow Conference? Yes ( http://www.christianresearchservice.com/SBCandDougPagitt.htm ).
8. Are Southern Baptist churches, local associations, state and national conventions subject to the Southern Baptist Convention's "Autonomy" Position Statement? Yes ( http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/psautonomy.asp ).
9. Does the Southern Baptist Convention have the autority to remove a pastor, church, or school from its ranks or financial support? Yes:
"If, in its autonomy, a Baptist body expels a church from its fellowship, it does not negate that church's autonomy. The church is perfectly free to go on with its business – but not as a member of that larger Baptist body" (Position Statement on Autonomy, http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/psautonomy.asp ).
10. Does the Southern Baptist Convention's Position Statement on Autonomy supercede the authority of God's word? No.
Thank you, Tony. I certainly wouldn't want anyone to be mislead into thinking I "wrongly described" the 2007 Wired2Grow Conference as a "Southern Baptist conference."
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
Jude 3
Thanks for the comment, Bud. There's no question that you can draw all kind of connections between the BSCNC and the SBC. None of them, however, make a BSCNC-sponsored event a "Southern Baptist" event. I note that all of your citations regarding the relationship of the SBC to state conventions are from SBC sources, not the BSCNC's documents, which indicate that the BSCNC "cooperates with" the SBC, a far cry from the kind of subsidiary relationship the SBC does indeed like to claim.
I'm still curious to know why your location remains a mystery. Still in Alabama?
Tony:
As an example, the Pepsi Bottling Group is a part of the Pepsi-Cola Corporation, and has plants and distribution centers here in the U.S. and abroad ( http://www.pbg.com/about/facilities.html ).
Pepsi-Cola, regardless of where it is produced or distributed, is still Pepsi-Cola.
The Southern Baptist Convention is made up in part of State Conventions and local associations ( http://www.sbc.net/stateconvassoc.asp ), which includes the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Congregational Services and Missions Growth Evangelism Group.
Both the BSCNC and the CSMGEG are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention, and are subject to the guidelines established by the Southern Baptist Convention.
The State Conventions, regardless of their autonomy, are still Southern Baptist.
Had the 2007 Wired2Grow Conference been sponsored by another denomination, the title of my article would have reflected that.
Thank you, Tony, for allowing me to post on your blog.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
Jude 3
semper reformandi, terriergal, semper reformandi
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