Baptists, Pentecostals seek common ground

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) – Leaders of two large Christian traditions held
preliminary conversations Dec. 13-15 to lay groundwork for ecumenical
dialogue between Baptists and Pentecostals around the world.

Delegations from the Baptist World Alliance and Pentecostal World
Fellowship set guidelines for anticipated multi-year meetings to pursue
closer ties between two groups that together represent about one fifth
of the world’s Christians.

"The purpose of the dialogue is to examine what it may mean for Baptists
and Pentecostals to walk together in step with the Holy Spirit,"
representatives of the two groups said in a statement issued at Samford
University's Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala. "Our intention
is for the dialogue to be holistic in its evaluation of faith and
practice."