This is a traditional ‘Letters to the Editor’ for the people in our union of 240 churches across New Zealand. For more about this: baptist.nz/mailbox Mike Crudge is Communications Director at the Baptist National Support Centre in Auckland. He is also part of Royal Oak Baptist Church.
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Prompted by Ashley Church’s reflections, I was drawn to respond to the recent “Statement concerning Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem” circulated within the Baptist movement.
This statement was not issued by the Baptist Union of New Zealand but by a group speaking as if they represent all 240 Baptist churches. That misrepresentation deeply troubles me. Baptists have always affirmed the liberty of each local church in matters of conscience, yet this statement bypasses that principle to issue political demands without consultation.
More concerning is what it omits. Civilian suffering in Gaza is real, but the statement frames Israel as the sole oppressor, while ignoring Hamas’ deliberate strategy of embedding its fighters among civilians. Even Egypt has sealed its Rafah border, blocking both aid and refugees. Why? Because Egypt understands the consequences of giving Hamas free movement. Yet on this, silence.
And what of far greater crises? Since 2009, jihadists have killed more than 50,000 Christians in Nigeria alone, an average of 3,500 per year. Tens of thousands more perished in Aleppo, Mosul, and Mariupol. Where were the Baptist statements then? Again, silence.
Such selectivity reflects not biblical clarity but an ideological drift, progressive activism dressed as theology. The Church’s task is not to echo propaganda or issue manifestos, but to remain faithful to Christ, preaching the Word, shepherding the flock, and proclaiming salvation through Him alone.
As Jesus said in Matthew 7, “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly.”
Leave politics to the politicians. Preach the Gospel.
Patrick Baker, Glen Eden Baptist Church
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I want to thank you for having the courage to publish the statement regarding Gaza, Israel the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
I appreciated having this statement to express something of my own feelings regarding this situation and to point people in the church to, to consider for themselves if they wanted to make their own response. This is not about being pro-Palestine or anti-Israel it is about being pro-humanity. One group of people should not be starving to death because another group of people are refusing to let food be delivered to them.
I was surprised to see that people were confused as to the status of this statement. It seemed very clear to me from when it was first published that this was not a statement from the Baptist Union as a whole, but a statement of individuals associated with the Baptist Union, expressing their personal opinions.
I hope the negative experience of publishing this statement does not weaken our resolve to express our opinions on important topics in the future.
Andrew Baldwin, Petone Baptist Church
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To the Editor,
Regarding the recent statement under the Baptist NZ opinion collection Concerning Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, signed by various leaders within the Baptist movement. Congratulations to the original signatories for their willingness to call for an end to the violence in Palestine. It was a thoughtful and significant contribution to an important conversation. I appreciated how it was unambiguous that the statement was signed by individuals, not on behalf of the wider movement. This distinction matters, as it both honours the integrity of those who signed and respects the diversity within the Baptist community.
Given that the distinction that was explicitly articulated, I was surprised to read your editor’s note and apology, acknowledging that some had mistaken it for a national statement. I am unsure how you, nor the other signatories could have made that clearer. However, your decision to apologise for the misunderstanding is commendable. I hope the significance of the statement is recognised in the hundreds who have since signed.
Sincerely
Steven Goulstone, Pastor, Wellington South Baptist Church
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Dear editor.
Can I please congratulate you on the return of letters to the editor. The New Zealand Baptist was always an independent paper. I was personally disappointed that we brought it in under the auspices of the Baptist Union in terms of the fact that it then became a publication for the administration rather than the thoughts of the people. However, I recognise that sometimes one has to bow to financial realities and changing media methodology. Anyway, really glad to see the return of letters to the editor and three really good contributions to kick the process off [first 3 letters published in May]. I look forward to seeing useful and informative letters as well as good and respectful debate on issues into the future.
Sincerely
Rob Kilpatrick, Ponsonby Baptist Church
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Got something on your mind to share?
Send an email to: [email protected] or post a letter to: Baptist NZ Letters, C/- Mike Crudge, PO Box 12 149, Penrose, Auckland 1642.
We will occasionally collate a selection of letters to share with the wider Baptist family.
- Limit your letter to around 300 words (we may abridge if longer).
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Photo credit: overlayed image of the ‘Mailbox’ column in the last newsprint version of The Baptist magazine, December 2014, over a photo of a desk.
