PRESENT AT THE CREATION: LOMBARD CONFERENCE CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW ORGANIZATION FOR BAPTISTS; MAKES PLANS

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2005

Conferees at the Lombard Meeting agreed today that a new organization for conservative American Baptists will be created and launched within months--essentially a new Baptist denomination.

This comes days after the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest began a process of separation from ABCUSA and two days after a group of like minded executive ministers in the ABC met with and affirmed a continuing relationship with Dale Salico, the PSW executive.

A task force was partially created to work out the details, including the statement of faith, mission and values, after a lengthy discussion by the attendees.


The following vision statement was adopted by acclaimation:

We intend to be...“A group of Baptist congregations committed together to an orthodox, biblical and theological foundation that will result in the growth of the church of Jesus Christ as demonstrated by healthy congregations.”

The new movement can be for churches that stay in the ABC have left the ABC, and that may be attracted to the new movement.

There was also a wide-ranging discussion of core values. Bill Nicoson of ABE presented some, which were expanded upon by the whole body.

Core Values

• Biblical authority
• Healthy churches
• Relationships
• Confessing (that is, a clear strong statement of faith)
• Transformation (of churches and of individuals)
• Reproduction (Evangelism and church planting)
• Mission
• Authenticity (of relationships)
• Accountability
• Leadership

A presentation from Green Lake Conference Center and from Purpose Driven was also received.

The morning ended in a time of prayer.