Aid to Protesting Baptist Missionaries Pledged

DALLAS--Moderate Baptists in Texas have pledged $1 million to help Southern Baptist missionaries who decline to endorse a conservative doctrinal statement they are being asked to approve.

The moderate Baptist General Convention of Texas said it created the fund after hearing from more than 60 missionary families who said they could not sign the statement, which opposes women pastors and says wives should “submit graciously” to their husbands. The doctrinal statement also created controversy when it was initially approved in 2000.

Some missionaries feared they would lose their jobs if they resisted, the Texas group said.

“The call to stand by those who are being asked to put either calling or conscience at risk cannot go unanswered,” said Charles Wade, executive director of the Texas convention. “We must provide places of refuge and renewal.”