Your Sept. 27 article reported that 96 percent of SBC local churches do not restrict the Lord’s Supper to their own members. It notes a conflict with the Baptist Faith & Message, Article 7, which says the Lord’s Supper is for “members of the church” and lists baptism as a “prequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.”
The only time in attending 33 Southern Baptist conventions that I ever spoke from the floor was in Orlando when the 2000 BF&M was being approved. I noted the above discrepancy and moved to amend the Lord’s Supper recipients from “members of the church” to “believers.” The committee apparently wanted no changes in their report and spoke against the motion, which was defeated.
I attend many ordination councils as a DOM. I always ask the candidate what the Baptist Faith & Message is, and whether they have read it. I give them a copy if they do not have one. I also make them and the council aware of the above discrepancy as a good example of the local autonomy we Baptists cherish.
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