History "Out of the Southern Baptist “Holy Wars” that were fought during the 1980s emerged an organization which was committed to preserving historic Baptist principles of freedom such as religious freedom, local church freedom and academic freedom in theological education. This organization, now known as the Alliance of Baptists, quickly found a small niche in Baptist life as the most progressive or liberal Baptist body in the United States. From its opposition to the death penalty to its support of a Palestinian state, the Alliance has taken numerous controversial positions since its founding in 1987. Due to their role as radical dissenters that constantly challenge that Baptist status-quo, the Alliance of Baptists has continued the “genealogy of dissent” started by progressive Baptist advocates of racial integration in the 1940s. Thus, this paper examines several of the Alliance’s dissenting viewpoints such as its welcoming and affirming stance towards homosexuals in both the life of the church and in the political arena. Other areas explored include the Alliance’s emphasis on ecumenical cooperation, interfaith dialogue and missions partnerships."
So begins a history of the Alliance of Baptists written by Baylor University Ph.D. student Aaron Douglas Weaver. Read the full history in his paper entitled: Progressive Baptist Dissenters: A History of the Alliance of Baptists.
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