Religion: Bursting Baptists

Nothing less than “Problems Threatening the Welfare of the Entire Human Race” were on the agenda for hot discussion last fortnight when 2,000 Northern Baptists convened in Colorado Springs. Hard-shelled delegates wished to stick to the oldtime religion, to wrestle with old-time problems like dancing and card-playing in church buildings. But liberal Baptists felt that the time had come for their church to burst its religious bonds, step out into social, economic and political arenas. To that end. months ago, the Christian Social Action Commission had prepared a 15,000-word report. Baptists up & down the land heard and discussed the report. Because of it, some Baptist churches threatened to leave the Convention. Typical of its opponents was Rev. Rex A. Mitchell of Paso Robles, Calif. who sent urchins racing among the delegates in Colorado Springs, distributing a broadside headed: CHOICE BETWEEN REDS AND GOD FACES BAPTISTS.

Last week after all views had been aired, the Convention got around to voting on the report. Unanimously adopted was a slick compromise, by which the Social Action Commission is authorized to distribute the report to such churches as wish to study it. By no means is it to be made a test for Baptist “fellowship or service.”

Mild as this was, it seemed a victory for liberal Baptists, who now could look forward to following the Commission’s urging that they employ education, ballots and buying power, enter politics if necessary, to attack un-Christian social, eco-nomic and political forces.