Resolutions passed by Southern Baptist and United Methodist denominational leaders are non-binding on members of local congregations, and nobody is going to be “excommunicated” or kicked out of the church for disagreeing with them.
But recent resolutions passed by the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis and at the state’s United Methodist Conference should give momentum to a movement that’s bound to come to fruition sooner or later: removing the Confederate battle emblem from the official state flag of Mississippi.
The Southern Baptist Convention adopted the following resolution: “We call our brothers and sisters in Christ to discontinue the display of the Confederate battle flag as a sign of solidarity of the whole Body of Christ, including our African-American brothers and sisters.”
The sentiment was echoed by William Perkins, editor of the influential Mississippi Baptist Record, who supported the resolution and referenced Paul’s New Testament admonition to refrain from activity that “causes my brother to stumble.” As a lifelong Southerner, Perkins said he understands the flag is a symbol of history to some, but to others it’s a symbol “of strife and offends. If it compromises my Christian witness then I need to seriously think about whether to defend that symbol or not.”
Last week, the United Methodist Church, at its Annual Conference, passed a similar measure. Brad Chism, who authored it, said: “We had no knowledge of anything happening with the Southern Baptist Convention. The Lord moves in mysterious ways.”
As already noted, individual Baptists and Methodists, as well as local congregations, are not bound by the resolutions, and many will oppose or ignore them. But, as time passes, more Mississippians are coming to the realization that keeping the Confederate emblem on the state flag is divisive and putting the state in a bad light in much of the rest of the nation.
The question is how long will it take the governor, lieutenant governor and legislative leaders to become leaders in the movement. To his credit, House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Baptist, has come out in support of changing the flag, but he hasn’t given it much more than lip service. Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves haven’t even gone that far.
