Despite our long-standing ties to the Southern Baptist Convention, Calvary has for some time been at odds with many of the policies and public positions of the SBC. There have been many specific issues, like a rejection of the ordination of women, for example, over which we disagreed. But increasingly these differences became more foundational.

(Editor’s Note:  Rev. Amy Butler is Senior Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in the District of Columbia)

I’ve been a little surprised at the outpouring of interest and support that has come Calvary’s way after we voted this week to disaffiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). We are not the first Baptist church to leave the SBC, but perhaps we’re a congregation whose history of relationship with the SBC made that separation a little harder.

Calvary’s affiliation with the SBC was long-standing and historic, a source of much pride in years past. In our church archives, we have a photograph of the president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the time, Congressman Brooks Hays, and the president of the American Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Clarence Cranford, both Calvary members (Cranford was Calvary’s pastor then), clasping each others’ arms in friendship, partnership and cooperation.

I haven’t seen any such reenactment in the years since that picture was taken; it was very possibly a moment that was the last of its kind.

Despite our long-standing ties to the Southern Baptist Convention, Calvary has for some time been at odds with many of the policies and public positions of the SBC. There have been many specific issues, like a rejection of the ordination of women, for example, over which we disagreed. But increasingly these differences became more foundational.

For example, as Calvary deacon chair Rachel Johnson reflected, “Throughout our history, Calvary Baptist Church has affirmed the vibrant role faith can play in the public sphere and the call of the Church to be a prophetic voice in our policy decisions, but always in a manner that is keeping with the Baptist distinctives of soul freedom and separation of church and state.”

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