Progressive Baptists critique war in Iraq
Posted: 8/18/06
Progressive Baptists critique war in Iraq
By Adelle Banks
Religion News Service
CINCINNATI, Ohio (RNS)— The Progressive National Baptist Convention continued its call for an end to the war in Iraq during its annual meeting in Cincinnati, saying resources spent on the conflict are needed to address the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Delegates to the meeting held their 45th annual session in the city where the historically African-American denomination was founded.
| "This unnecessary, unwise and destructive war in Iraq is rupturing our nation, corrupting our foreign relations and disrupting our future. Iraq is now a growing cancer rapidly and deeply spreading nationally and globally." |
“The rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the post-Katrina age should be done with financial and other support systems comparable to the resources available to Iraq,” reads one of almost two dozen resolutions passed at the convention.
Another resolution stated: “This unnecessary, unwise and destructive war in Iraq is rupturing our nation, corrupting our foreign relations and disrupting our future. Iraq is now a growing cancer rapidly and deeply spreading nationally and globally.”
The 2.5 million-member de-nomination has decried the war in Iraq since it began in 2003.
“We believe it to be unnecessary and that we should have our troops home,” said DeWitt Smith Jr., the new president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Convention messengers also passed resolutions urging enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, “a just and humane immigration policy,” lifting travel restrictions to Cuba and a continuing commitment to affirmative action.
Smith succeeds Major Jemison, an Oklahoma City pastor who served four years as president. Smith is the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church of metro Atlanta and the former first vice president of the denomination.
Smith said he intended to continue Jemison’s efforts to work with three other historically African-American denominations—the National Baptist Convention of America, the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America and the National Baptist Convention, USA—after the groups severed ties years ago.
The Progressive National Baptist Convention broke away from the National Baptist Convention, USA, in 1961 when National Baptist leaders chose not to fully endorse the civil rights movement.
The four conventions held a historic joint meeting in January 2005.
“We are working out plans for another joint meeting,” Smith said. “I believe that these dialogues are important to the welfare of our African-American witness as Baptists in America and abroad.”