From time to time someone will ask me, "Why does Mainstream still exist?"  The question is prompted by their perception that the battle for the Southern Baptist Convention is over.  The answer to the question is twofold.     

First, as recent developments among the trustees of the International Missions Board indicate, the battle for the Southern Baptist Convention is not over.  Those who are part of the "conservative resurgence" are now battling among themselves over some of the issues moderates raised in the beginning. (See related article inside)       Secondly, Mainstream Baptists is not about the Southern Baptist Convention.  Neither is it about the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Alliance of Baptists, the Baptist World Alliance, the Alabama Baptist State Convention, nor any other Baptist body.  What we are about is promoting principles that made Baptists distinctive in the first place, principles that are not aggressively promoted by any of these organizations currently.  At one time the Southern Baptist Convention did promote them.  As a teenager in Baptist Training Union, I learned how Baptists were different and the great contribution Baptists made to the nation in promoting freedom for everyone.                               

Evidently, many leaders of the "conservative resurgence" no longer believe in these principles.  And other groups of Baptists, cooperating together for missions and mutual edification, do not treat them as priorities.                                                            

Our purpose is to help older Baptists recall, and to educate younger Baptists concerning, our historical and distinctive principles of freedom.  As long as anyone anywhere places religious authority in anything other than the Bible, whether it is confessions of faith, creeds, denominational hierarchies, someone else's "word from God" or any other source, Mainstream will contend for the sole authority of the scripture.

As long as anyone anywhere seeks to insert themselves between a believer and God, have spiritual dominion over a believer, or assert themselves as ruler of the church, Mainstream will contend for soul liberty, the priesthood of each believer, and the spiritual equality of all believers.

As long as anyone anywhere, as an outsider, seeks to control or coerce a local congregation of Baptists, Mainstream will contend for the autonomy of each local church.

As long as anyone anywhere seeks to rewrite the history of the United States, impose religious beliefs through the power of government, use the government to tax all citizens to support religious institutions and activities, or use the government to control or suppress religion, Mainstream will contend for the separation of church and state.

It looks like Mainstream will be around a long time.  If you believe in these principles, why don't you join us?  The other Baptist groups you cooperate with are not our business. At any point one of these groups violates historic Baptist principles we will oppose them.