Beth Moore, a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), has made headlines for her departure from the organization and her shift to the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Moore, known for her best-selling books and significant revenue generation, faced criticism for her preaching style within the SBC, which promotes complementarianism and limits the role of pastor to men only. Despite leaving the SBC, Moore remained a Baptist and began attending an Anglican church in June 2023. Her move led to a flurry of activity on Twitter and sparked discussions about the differences between the SBC and the ACNA.
The SBC, formed in 1845, is a conservative denomination with a focus on theological liberalism. It has a statement of faith called the Baptist Faith and Message, but local churches are not always required to subscribe to it. The SBC practices two ordinances: baptism by immersion for believers only, and the Lord's supper or communion, which is viewed as symbolic. The SBC denies that baptism and the Lord's supper play any role in salvation. The SBC affirms a 66-book canon of scripture and views the Bible as inerrant and the unchangeable standard for Christian faith.
The ACNA, much smaller than the SBC and much newer, is part of the Anglican Communion. It has a more liberal theological approach, with varying views on the presence of Christ in the elements of the Lord's supper. The ACNA accepts baptisms from denominations that don't teach eternal security or baptismal regeneration. The ACNA also practices confirmation and marriage, which are not recognized as ordinances in the SBC. The ACNA affirms a human sin nature and a view of salvation that differs from the SBC's view of a one-time moment of salvation.
In terms of liturgy, ACNA churches generally have a more formal and liturgical style of worship, with common elements like readings from the Book of Common Prayer and a set liturgy. In contrast, SBC churches have a wider range of worship styles due to their autonomous nature, from contemporary worship with praise bands to more traditional hymn-based services.
In terms of church polity, the SBC is congregational and each local church is entirely voluntary. The SBC can't tell churches what to teach and cannot discipline or ordain ministers. The ACNA, on the other hand, has an episcopal structure with bishops consecrated by the church and the highest bishop of the church is the archbishop. The ACNA does allow congregations to exit the denomination and will not attempt to keep their property if they do so.
In conclusion, while both the SBC and ACNA share a common faith rooted in the Trinity, Christ's deity, His virgin birth, His literal bodily resurrection, ascension, future return, and the literal concepts of heaven and hell, they differ significantly in their theological stances, practices, and structures.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Beth Moore was a best-selling author for the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing arm, Lifeway Resources, for two decades.
2. In March 2021, Beth Moore announced that she was no longer a Southern Baptist, citing critiques from prominent SBC leaders over her preaching in churches.
3. The SBC limits the role of pastor to men only and promotes complementarianism, a doctrine that Moore apologized for promoting in April.
4. Despite leaving the SBC, Moore said she was still a Baptist and began attending an Anglican church in June.
5. The SBC was formed in 1845 from a split in the Triennial Convention.
6. The SBC has a statement of faith called the Baptist Faith and Message, but local churches are not always required to subscribe to it.
7. The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has 28 dioceses and one missionary district.
8. The ACNA considers itself to be promoting biblical, orthodox Anglicanism.
9. The SBC and ACNA both affirm a 66-book canon of scripture.
10. The SBC views the Bible as inerrant, while the ACNA does not officially use this term.
11. The SBC teaches that salvation takes place when a person willingly believes in Christ and trusts him for their eternal salvation.
12. The ACNA views salvation as a process that begins at baptism and continues through participation in the Lord's Supper.
13. The SBC is primarily premillennial, while the ACNA is amillennial.
14. The SBC teaches that the miraculous spiritual gifts are no longer available, while the ACNA is more open to charismatic practices.
15. The SBC and ACNA both teach that marriage should be between one man and one woman and that ordaining those who engage in homosexual behavior is not acceptable.
16. The SBC and ACNA both oppose abortion.
17. The ACNA has a more liturgical style of worship, with common elements such as readings from the Book of Common Prayer and a set liturgy.
18. The SBC has a more congregational polity, while the ACNA has an episcopal polity with bishops and dioceses.
19. The SBC does not allow women to be pastors, while the ACNA allows each diocese to choose whether to ordain women to the priesthood.
20. The SBC has 47,592 congregations and 14 million members, while the ACNA has 972 congregations and 126,000 members.