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Southern Baptist Convention faces declining membership
- Article from:
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Winnipeg Free Press
- Article date:
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June 15, 2008
- Author:
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Copyright informationCopyright F.P. Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership Jun 15, 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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By Sam Hodges
DALLAS -- The voices in the wilderness of the Southern Baptist Convention have become a chorus. And the message is that the 16.3 million-member SBC, the nation's largest Protestant group, is in trouble.
Steadily declining baptism rates. A slight drop in membership. A dearth of young leaders.
These realities and more are weighing on the SBC as it holds its annual meeting this week in Indianapolis, with an unusually high number of six candidates for president.
"People sense that we're at something of a crossroads in Southern Baptist life," said the Rev. Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas.
Among those most concerned is the Rev. Frank Page, who's ...