ATLANTA – A recent meeting of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s ecumenical task force resulted in the group’s name change to the Task Force on Ecumenism and Justice. The meeting was held Oct. 25-26 in Atlanta.

"We wanted to acknowledge that we, as a task force, were not an ecumenical body because we are composed only of Baptists. But we are Baptists uniting to do the work of ecumenism, justice and interfaith dialogue," said task force member Chris Skidmore, who works as associate director of the Kentucky Council of Churches.

The task force discussed creating tools for interfaith dialogue with religious groups including Jews and Muslims. "Because we live in a pluralistic society, it is imperative that we learn to live together with people of other faiths. Our Christian witness will be greatly diminished if we cannot first seek understanding and show respect for all persons regardless of their faith tradition," said task force member Kathy Dobbins, who serves as minister of adult education and outreach at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Plans are also underway for developing an ecumenism resource kit for pastors and churches. The kit would include a bibliography of important literature about ecumenism and "Building Bridges," a brochure describing the Fellowship’s position on ecumenism. Initial versions of the kit will focus on relationships between Christian groups.

"The material will enable churches to take some steps forward in ecumenical relationships. We want to move beyond good intentions to real dialogue and action," said task force member John Finley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.