Southern Baptists that claim 'no creed but the Bible,' take no action to add the Nicene Creed to their statement of faith
The Nicene Creed, first articulated at the Council of Nicaea in the third century, and widely used within Christianity for centuries, emerged as a point of discussion at the 2024 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Indianapolis.
Before the meeting, a group of theologians and pastors announced their intention to introduce a motion to add the Nicene Creed to the BF&M.
Malcolm Yarnell, research professor of theology in the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said on a website that the motion aimed to provide “doctrinal clarity” and “increased unity” within the SBC.
Yarnell said he and other proponents of the motion believe 1) the Nicene Creed authoritatively articulates primary Christian doctrines and has been used for teaching and worship for nearly two millennia, 2) the Creed is a robust summary of orthodox Christian belief, particularly regarding the Trinity and the Lord Jesus Christ, and 3) The motion is seen as a response to internal debates within the SBC, with one group advocating for strict doctrinal purity and another seeking unity on essential doctrines.
Others listed as supporting the motion were Andrew Brown, pastor of First Baptist Church of Starkville, Miss.; Stephen Lorance, pastor of leadership development at Two Cities Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Steve McKinion, professor of theology and patristics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
At a presidential forum held June 10, David Allen, the dean of the Adrian Rogers Center for Preaching at Mid-America Baptist Seminary and 2024 SBC presidential candidate, expressed concern about Southern Baptists’ quick amendment of the BF&M at the 2023 annual meeting. Allen suggested that Southern Baptists need time to reflect and evaluate their doctrinal statement before making any changes such as adding the Nicene Creed.
By the end of the annual meeting, three messengers brought separate motions to the floor to add the creed to the BF&M.
An ad hoc committee called the Cooperative Group recommended that any change to the BF&M require a two-thirds vote at two consecutive annual meetings of the denomination. The recommendation was adopted. The result was no action was taken at this year’s meeting regarding the creed, but the debate continues and could resurface at future SBC gatherings.
The Nicene Creed was established as a summary of Christian doctrine, in response to the Arian Controversy – a heretical viewpoint on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The creed originated with the Council of Nicaea in 325 and was further amended at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. It provides more detail than the earlier Apostle’s Creed regarding the Persons of the Trinity. The Nicene Creed is a widely recognized Christian statement of faith, used and referenced by Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Episcopalians.
Historically, Baptists have claimed “no creed but the Bible,” clearly distinguishing themselves from other denominations that use creeds in worship.