Missouri Baptists Cut Ties With Acts 29

I have been watching this one for a few days in silence - waiting to see what would happen. It saddens me to see what the Missouri Baptist Convention is doing. Here's the story in part:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP)--The Executive Board of the Missouri Baptist Convention met Dec. 10 in part to discuss their concerns about alcohol use and alcohol-based evangelism strategies within the greater Missouri Baptist family. They concluded by taking significant action on the issue. In an historic move members of the board voted by a nearly 3-1 margin to cut off state convention Cooperative Program support to Acts 29 Network churches/church plants in Missouri. The vote does not impact MBC churches who, on their own, are assisting Acts 29 churches.The controversy over Acts 29 began when one church, The Journey, started holding regular discussion sessions in a bar where some participants drank alcohol. The "Theology at the Bottleworks" (the name of the bar) sessions were the focus of a handful of secular media reports, including one on NBC's "Today" show. Acts 29 is a nationwide non-denominational organization that receives funding from multiple denominations...

The result is that all Acts 29 church plants, not just those with barroom ministries, are being de-funded. And the decision was not tied to just one issue. Board Member Vic Borden of Kansas City broadened the debate beyond alcohol by stating he is even more offended by The Journey's movie ministry that includes R-rated films."There is becoming more and more of an abuse of Christian liberty, and it is most prevalent in the churches that have been connected with the Acts 29 Network," said Marr, who was part of a theological study committee that examined this issue from February through July. "That's why this motion is stated this way."...
(full story)

The events that led to these actions in Mo took place at one church. As a result, 9 churches will lose funding. One new church is set to lose $12,000 in support for the pastor and his family in 2008. The MBC voted to go back on their pledge to support 8 churches and pastor's because one church apparently did not fully keep its pledge.

I ask again, where would Jesus be in all of this? A recent post should answer that for us! He wasn't called a friend of sinners, a drunkard and a glutton because he lived life apart from "such evils." Jesus should be our model.