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Al Gore Among Speakers Expected At Baptist Meeting

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A non partisan meeting to discuss issues of the day including religious liberty put together by President Jimmy Carter.//////Excerpt://////Associated Press///// 12/14/07/////Major political figures from both parties are tentatively planning to come to a conference in Atlanta next month that aims to unite Baptists from more than 30 denominations, organizers say.////// Former Vice President Al Gore, former President Bill Clinton and Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Charles Grassley of Iowa, are scheduled to appear at the event, organized by former President Jimmy Carter and others./////Among the conference topics are evangelism, criminal justice, preaching, interfaith relations, racism, HIV/AIDS and religious liberty. The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 30-Feb. 1./////The gathering is part of an effort, called the New Baptist Covenant, that's meant to pool the resources of the many Baptist groups and escape the shadow of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention./////
"For the first time in more than 160 years, we will have a major convocation of Baptists in America with neither our unity nor freedom threatened by differences of race, politics, geography, or legalistic interpretations of the Scriptures," Carter said in a statement this week./////Organizers want "to speak and work together to create an authentic and genuine prophetic Baptist voice in these complex times," according to the central document for the effort./////end of excerpt.
JanforGore

3 responses // Al Gore Among Speakers Expected At Baptist Meeting

  • One of the greatest tenants of the baptists faith is a strong seperation of church and state, as the origin of the baptist church in america is from annabaptists fleeing persecution in germany. That is something that the Southern Baptists Bible Convention often forgets.
    ocanada
  • Yes, and as one who was brought up as Lutheran, I understand that separation as well. Now I am not really part of any organized religion as I have grown into a person who feels more spiritually free and content to think for myself instead of following any dogma. I'd rather stand in a field or a forest or on a mountain to get my spiritual satisfaction. That is where I find inner peace.There is no denying that fundamentalism has destroyed the basic tennents of democracy, religion, and the separation of the two. It is good to see people coming together to fight that as it has led to nothing but war and the destruction of the moral fabric of our society.
    JanforGore
  • Baptists are evangelical, but that doesn't make them fundamentalitsts. The idea that faith, goodwill, and compassion are virtues to be shared with your fellow man is what should be considered fundamental to christianity and evangelism. Like the measured and peaceful aproach of people like Billy Graham. Being able to choose or to seek faith is a blessing not everyone has, we should be working in this country to uphold religous principles within our own lives, not augment them in others.
    ocanada

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