Historically the Southern Baptist denomination drew members from different political philosophies, strongly supported the separation of church and state, and let local congregations have control of their own affairs. Women were even allowed to pastor churches.

Not anymore. A conservative take over of the church hierarchy has forced liberals and moderates to flee, caused the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to form, stripped women of the right to be ordained as clergy, and taken away local control from churches. Some of America’s most prominent Southern Baptists, including Jimmy Carter, have left the church and some congregations have all together split from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

These days the church seems little more than the religious arm of the Republican Party. Their newsletter and web site are filled with articles praising George W. Bush and assailing John Kerry and other democrats. The SBC was one of the only Christian denominations to back the Iraq war.

Southern Baptist leaders have done a great job of getting their message out. When you hear about the “Christian position” on a social issue in the media you often find a Southern Baptist behind the microphone.

The reality is quite different. There are both progressive and conservative Christians in America (and a lot more people in between these two extremes). When you hear the Southern Baptists tell you this election year that they represent God’s position remember that a lot of Christians disagree and think the SBC really just represents the Republicans.