Читать книгу The Craft of Innovative Theology. Argument and Process онлайн

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Some African American pastors who were a part of the resolution-drafting meeting no doubt realized that the 1995 resolution would be met with skepticism and mistrust by African American pastors. Frost mentioned that African American National Baptists were cool to the 1995 resolution for several reasons. The resolution was seen by many African Americans as an opportunity to steal African American Baptists and bring them into the SBC at a time when its white membership had plateaued. Frost was personally hurt by the National Baptists’ reaction because they were not willing to accept the possibility that the SBC had a changed heart toward racism. It would seem that the SBC’s stained reputation would be difficult to overcome immediately.

African Americans outside the SBC pointed to the history of racism and abuse that African Americans historically had endured. A test for many in the African American Christian community would be whether words matched deeds and whether the SBC transformed from its original roots of racism. According to the Rev. Arlee Griffin, Jr., who served as historian for the African American Progressive National Baptist Convention during the time of the SBC’s historic resolution, “It is only when one’s request for forgiveness is reflected in a change of attitude and actions that the victim can then believe that the request for forgiveness is authentic.” The proof, for the Rev. Griffin Jr., would be in the integration of the SBC’s institutions and churches, including seminary faculties and agency staffs.⁴⁷