Simon Cox Blog: As SBC Backs Refugee Resettlement, World Relief Leader Resigns

Wednesday 15 June 2016

As SBC Backs Refugee Resettlement, World Relief Leader Resigns

Southern Baptist vote comes hours before Stephan Bauman reveals next move.

Southern Baptists adopted a resolution this morning encouraging fellow Christians to offer “care, compassion, and the gospel” to refugees resettled in the United States, while at the same time calling on the American government to “implement the strictest security measures possible in the refugee screening and selection process.”

While on the floor of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting, Resolution 12 on “refugee ministry” was amended to encourage Southern Baptists “to welcome and adopt refugees into their churches and homes as a means to demonstrate to the nations that our God longs for every tribe, tongue, and nation to be welcomed at His Throne.”

“We’re of course very encouraged by this,” Matthew Soerens, US director of church mobilization for World Relief, told CT. “One of World Relief’s core programs is helping local churches (including many Southern Baptist congregations) welcome refugees.”

Hours later, World Relief had an announcement of its own: After 11 years with the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, president Stephan Bauman will leave to become the executive director at Cornerstone Trust, a Grand Rapids-based grant management firm.

“I am sorry to see Stephan go,” stated World Relief CEO Tim Breene. “He has made a huge contribution to World Relief over his 12 years, including his tenure as president and CEO. Stephan played a pivotal role in bringing World Relief back to its core mission and roots.

“He has overseen the expansion of World Relief’s footprint both in the US and the Middle East. In the last year in particular, Stephan has been a leading voice on the ...