Is there anything that can bring unity to the Baptist groups participating in the New Baptist Covenant? In an interview in the current issue of Baptists Today (May 2007), Grady Cothen, former president of the Sunday School Board (now know as Lifeway) of the Southern Baptist Convention, was asked essentially the same question.  In part of his response he stated,

“…meeting once a year absent a great cause won’t energize Baptists,…So I wish they could find a cause that would drive them.  I don’t think – and I hope I’m wrong – I don’t think unity is going to do it. But I wish it would.”

Baptist autonomy reigned supreme in Baptists churches in America until Adoniram Judson and Luther Rice challenged them to cooperate in missions.  The first convention, the Triennial Convention, grew out of their efforts.  Baptists were able to achieve some unity over the Great Commission task.  That convention divided over the slavery issue in 1845, but missions is the glue that held the Southern Baptist Convention together.

            The dozens of groups committed to be present in Atlanta in January of next year are mission minded, but they have their own mission organizations.  Many churches within these groups have their own missional operations above and beyond any mission cooperation with its denominational affiliates.  It is highly unlikely that missions will become the unifying dynamic in the New Baptist Covenant.

            Is there a “great cause” which can unify the Baptists of North America?  Cothen fears just the desire for unity will not be enough.  As Mainstream Baptists, our concern is for our cherished principles; the sole authority of the Bible, soul liberty/priesthood of the believer, the  autonomy of the local church and separation of church and state.  There already is some cooperation through the Baptist Joint Committee on church and state, and through the Baptist History and Heritage Society in defining who Baptists are historically and preserving traditions.  Could these be the “great cause?”

            What can we do together much more effectively than we can do separately?  I don’t know the answer, but I am already praying that God will reveal it, in His timing.  There will be some value in getting all these Baptists together for a good time of fellowship, worship and encouragement.  But what can we do together to impact our world in our time for Jesus Christ.  Unity for unity’s sake is fine, but much better will be unity around God’s “great cause.”