New Baptist Covenant in Birmingham

This Saturday will be the first regional meeting that is a follow-up of last year's Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant (for more information on these meetings, see my Ethics Daily article). There have been a couple of recent news items about the meeting. The Birmingham News interviewed former President Jimmy Carter, who will be speaking at the event. Here are a few of Carter's comments from the piece:

We're not a denomination; we are not in competition with anyone. ... We wanted a completely interracial or nonracial assembly of Baptists. ... We're not starting a new convention.

... It was patterned after the Baptist World Alliance. ... We wanted to have an all-inclusive, welcoming assembly of Baptists.

Another piece in The Anniston Star highlights the focus the regional gathering will have on fighting poverty. This will especially occur in the breakout sessions and service opportunities.