about the political nature of the Covenant meeting, from Today's ed.com
Phelps:
Somewhere along the way, however, we falsely assumed that this Baptist hallmark limited our voice in the public square. We were told that politics and religion don't mix, that churches should only focus on personal conversions instead of worrying about today's needs.
This notion that politics and religion were a toxic cocktail was exacerbated in the last two decades when fundamentalist Baptists used partisan politics as a way to promote their particular religious agenda. They rewrote history to their liking, turned the First Amendment disestablishment clause on its ear, and worked to restore the U.S. to its supposed place as a Christian nation.
Progressive Baptists wanted no part of this bastardized history or this partisan conscripting of politics.
And so some worried when politicians were invited to last week's Atlanta gathering, fearing that partisan politicking and electioneering would creep into the agenda.
What we are discovering is that there is a profound difference between sectarian partisan politics that seeks power, and politics that selflessly focuses on the common good of all people regardless or religion or practice.
The New Baptist Covenant was political but not partisan. It talked about Jesus' concerns for poverty, child welfare, equality, the environment and other issues that affect the common good. It never once came close to promoting one candidate or party over the other, but rather held up those concerns that we believe Jesus would champion.
This felt faithful to our Baptist heritage and to the people of our communities who need us to be our best.
Joe Phelps is pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=10049