The evangelism director of the Baptist World Alliance says reported statistics on activity by U.S. Southern Baptist missionaries "convey a very false picture" that exaggerates missionaries' role.
The Southern Baptist Convention quit the World Alliance last June, alleging liberal tendencies in some member denominations.
Tony Cupit of the World Alliance responded to a query from EthicsDaily.com, a Nashville-based Web site that often criticizes Southern Baptist policies.
Cupit commented on a review of International Mission Board work by Morris Chapman, president of the Southern Baptists' Executive Committee. He said that in 2003 "Southern Baptists were responsible for 600,000 baptisms overseas and the start of 21,000 churches, from a force of about 5,400 international missionaries."
Cupit said few missionaries do the baptizing and pastors win converts without missionary involvement, so "to glibly claim that this is because of (Southern Baptist) missionaries is misleading and unfair to national leaders and pastors all over the globe."
In response, Chapman said the statistics were accurate and counted only churches that are "partners" with Southern Baptists. He said his denomination never claimed U.S. missionaries do most of the baptizing and church planting, but they do assist, including evangelistic training provided to 130,000 foreign Baptists.