Normal Park Baptist Church in Chicago has called Milton M. McGorrill to be the shepherd of its flock. A few months ago the Long Island Baptist Association refused to ordain Mr. McGorrill because he declined to affirm the Virgin birth. There immediately arose a question the answer to which has never been made plain to the public: When is a church Baptist and when is it not? Ditto, every Protestant denomination?
In general, the Protestant churches of any one sect are linked together in some sort of association. The association controls certain general moneys, and can therefore withhold such moneys or privileges from churches it deems deficient in creedal glory. On the other hand, the association collects its money chiefly through its individual churches and cannot collect money from a church which it has expelled from the association. The question resolves itself to this. For what creedal deficiencies or other cause will a Protestant association shed one of its own?
Normal Park Baptist Church has a pastor who will not recite the Apostles’Creed. Is it Baptist? If so, why? If not, why not?
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