Remembering Herb Reynolds` Forgotten Vision
\nBy Robert Parham, Executive Director of the Baptist Center for Ethics
\nNashville, TN<\/p>\n
Herb Reynolds envisioned nine years ago a forerunner of the New Baptist Covenant, a 2008 gathering of Baptists in North America. The former Baylor University president called his vision the Baptist Convention of the Americas. <\/p>\n
Missing from the accolades in news stories about his death last May is one of the most important matters that goodwill Baptists ought to remember about Reynolds` impressive career of preserving the best of the Baptist tradition through existing institutions and the creation of new entities.<\/p>\n
In November 1998, Reynolds spelled out an idea for a pan-Baptist organization at the Texas Baptists Committed annual breakfast. <\/p>\n
The Baylor University chancellor foresaw a lean staff, located in Texas, what he considered the half-point between the tip of South America and Alaska. He underscored the centrality of technology and missions. He articulated the need for educational resources and seminary-trained clergy. He emphasized the importance of ethics and suggested a new way for corporate decision-making for the body.<\/p>\n
Some of the specifics for his 13-point outline must be seen today as illustrative potential, not concrete recommendations. Clearly, technology has leaped light years ahead of what he envisioned.<\/p>\n
Some of his organizational suggestions were too Texas-centric to be appealing to the broad sweep of Baptist bodies. A few of his organizational ideas never developed into viable channels, but his final point is still a breathing reality.<\/p>\n
"As we view the world`s stage and our global involvement, we might want to partner in various ways with the Baptist World Alliance if that body remains free of the forces of Fundamentalism," said Reynolds.<\/p>\n
He recommended that the Baptist Convention of the Americas work with the six regional bodies of the BWA, one of which is the North American Baptist Fellowship.<\/p>\n
Today, NABF is at the heart of the New Baptist Covenant and clearly the most viable option for housing future collaborative efforts among goodwill Baptists in North America.<\/p>\n
Reynolds concluded his 1998 speech with the hope he might stimulate the thinking of Baptists "in very large terms about how we . . . can best chart our course for the 21st century."<\/p>\n
"All of us need to learn the difficulties of the last 20 years behind us and embrace a far-reaching vision to win the world for Christ and to serve others to the glory of God," he said. "God help us to advance the cause of Christ by remaining a bastion of freedom for Baptists and for people e everywhere," he said.<\/p>\n
The Baylor leader believed enough in his idea to spend his own money to register the name of the Baptist Convention of the Americas.<\/p>\n
Reynolds` vision was received with less consideration than it merited, as often happens to visionaries. <\/p>\n
Yet nearly a decade later, Reynolds attended the Jan. 9, 2007 meeting at The Carter Center, where the 2008 gathering was announced.<\/p>\n
The group photo has him standing in the front row, exactly where he deserved to be. One of the real leaders of a movement come of age.<\/p>\n
This article is reprinted by permission from the May 29, 2007, Ethicsdaily.com site of the Baptist Center for Ethics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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