Georgia: Can Jimmy Carter Say ‘Farewell’?

Although former President Jimmy Carter announced he was withdrawing from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), that's not an option for individuals, says James Merritt, the denomination's president. "No individual can disassociate himself from the SBC," Merritt told Christianity Today. "He's still a member. He will remain a Southern Baptist until he moves his letter or Maranatha Baptist Church [Carter's church in Plains, Georgia] leaves."

Carter, 79, is one of the SBC's most famous members.

Carter announced in an October letter to his fellow Baptists that he could no longer remain part of the SBC, the largest Protestant denomination in the nation.

Carter mentioned the convention's opposition to the ordination of women as one reason for his announcement. He has been a key broker in bringing together SBC moderates and conservatives. But he is now openly associating himself with the convention's moderate wing.

Merritt said he wasn't surprised by Carter's announcement. "Anyone who knows the President knows he is not very happy, to put it very mildly," with the SBC. "At best, he is a theological moderate. That's not where we are as a denomination."

Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School, said in a Wall Street Journal commentary, "I am sorry to see him go. His departure, I fear, accelerates the very schism he worked with such good faith to avoid."

Copyright © 2000 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Anonymous Are the Peacemakers: The Nobel Peace Prize has brought fame to many peacemakers, but many unsung Christians have thwarted warfare by quiet, prayerful work.

Cover Story

Anonymous Are the Peacemakers

Briefs: North America

Quotations to Contemplate

Readers' Forum: Get Thou Over It!

Guest Columnist: Andy Crouch Crunching the Numbers

What Is Truth (About Pilate)?

Humility's Many Faces

Southern Baptists: Cracks in the Convention

Updates

Sexual Politics: InterVarsity Group on Probation

Bitter Pills

Intelligent Design: Design Interference

Outreach: More than 12 Steps

Chile: Leveling the Playing Field

Philippines: Hostage Drama Exposes Christians' Vulnerability

Briefs: The World

Uganda: Ebola Strikes Again

India: Christians Scorn 'China Model'

Messianic Ethiopians Face Discrimination

Not Just Another Megachurch

Wire Story

Jubilee 2000: Grassroots Activism Delivers Debt Relief

Review

The New/Old CCM

100 Years of Beatitude

Fellowship Without Borders

Reclaiming Santa

The Evolution of St. Nick

The Kinkade Crusade

The Making of an Original

Wire Story

Ariel Sharon: Mideast Peace Process Is Dead

Between the Temple Mount and a Hard Place

Brazil's Surging Spirituality

Kingdom Prodigy

The Business of Resurrection

Using Wesley's Old Playbook

From the CEO: Who's Who on the CTI Masthead

Real Political Realism

The Artist as Prophet

View issue

Our Latest

Wicked or Misunderstood?

A conversation with Beth Moore about UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione and the nature of sin.

Why Armenian Christians Recall Noah’s Ark in December

The biblical account of the Flood resonates with a persecuted church born near Mount Ararat.

Review

The Virgin Birth Is More Than an Incredible Occurrence

We’re eager to ask whether it could have happened. We shouldn’t forget to ask what it means.

The Nine Days of Filipino Christmas

Some Protestants observe the Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi, predawn services in the days leading up to Christmas.

The Bulletin

Neighborhood Threat

The Bulletin talks about Christians in Syria, Bible education, and the “bad guys” of NYC.

Join CT for a Live Book Awards Event

A conversation with Russell Moore, Book of the Year winner Gavin Ortlund, and Award of Merit winner Brad East.

Excerpt

There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Proper’ Christmas Carol

As we learn from the surprising journeys of several holiday classics, the term defies easy definition.

Advent Calls Us Out of Our Despair

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube