Why I Support our State Conventions

There is a lot of buzz around the SBC world about our state conventions. The upcoming state convention meetings will be especially interesting as state-level GCR committees in Florida and Kentucky will be proposing new CP giving breakdowns as part of their recommendations. (This is a topic of debate because the 50/50 split is a little deceptive since the states often take a portion off the top before breaking the money up 50-50) There are some more extreme opinions concerning the state convention - proposing the complete abandonment of state conventions or proposing a 70/30 split.

Over the last few months I have heard a number of passionate appeals concerning how our state conventions use CP monies and how much of that money is kept within the state. The appeal is usually that we are neglecting our international mission efforts so that we might continue spinning a worthless wheel of bureaucracy in our state convention offices. Some of these appeals make the state conventions out to be money-hungry fat-cats, living off huge salaries and performing imaginary ministries. Before we jump to such extreme conclusions we should take a good look at what is really happening in our state conventions. I, for one, support our state conventions and this is why . . .

1. I support our state conventions because lostness is not just an international problem. I realize that this may not be the ‘trendiness’ topic to bring up but it is something we must reconcile with our current ideology because I feel we may be on the verge of ignoring what God wants to do among our partnerships here in the states. Understand this, before we move on, I heartily support our International Mission Board. At First Sparkman we are passionate about what God is doing all around the world and will continue to show our support through praying, giving and going. That being said, I am convinced that Scripture points us towards a holistic and balanced understanding of mission, especially in Acts 1:8. We must not de-fund or de-support our stateside mission work because America is lost and people need Christ. We must distance ourselves from the type of missionary and theological arrogance that can easily plague our churches. We don’t hold all the answers and what God is doing is global. Global includes where we are - even within the southern states. This does NOT mean that we ignore what God is doing all over the world. This does not mean we should be selfish with our resources. This simply means that we believe God is doing something here that we could never do on our own. We must always be looking at ways to be better stewards with what God has blessed us with. We must always be concerned with what God is doing around the world. We have to come to terms with the possibility that our problem is not really with our structure but with our unwillingness to give sacrificially.

2. I support our state conventions because they help us fulfill the work of the Great Commission. The argument usually goes that we can reduce our support of our state conventions because the work should be done by our churches instead. A couple of things follow this.

a. The work of the state conventions is done by local churches and through local churches

b. The vast majority of SBC churches are small and do not have the local resources to complete all the vital ministries that are supported through our state conventions.

Gospel partnership goes back to the evidence we find in the letters of Paul as he would travel from church to church collecting offerings for the church in Jerusalem. Baptist churches have partnered together, despite our fierce independent spirit, in order to do things we could never do alone. There is misunderstanding when someone says that we are ‘out-sourcing’ our mission work in the SBC. What happens in our state conventions happens through the ministries of churches. The state convention works to support and bolster what God is doing through the local church. These ministries do no replace what is happening in churches. Instead, they enrich what God is doing in local churches.
Being a small church, First Sparkman is unable to sustain ministries like children homes, disaster relief, pregnancy centers or new church plants. When we partner with our state convention, we have a part in what God is doing through those ministries. Our partnership does not stop there. We are able to go and be involved with disaster relief following a hurricane. We are able to go to our Children’s home here in Arkansas and be a part of the lives of the kids that live there. This is far from ‘out-sourcing’ ministry. This is gospel partnership.
There appears to be a disconnect in our denomination’s understanding concerning the work of the state convention. From my experience (and this is only my opinion from my experience and is by no means an official opinion) there is often a disconnect when it comes to church size and resource availability. In Sparkman we really appreciate the ability to call our convention office when we need help. There are many times when we need guidance concerning a ministry, administration issue or vision planning. Our state convention office has helped us promote missions, start new ministries and get through some rough spots in the journey. There are churches that pay thousands of dollars for ministry consultation. For us, it is only a free phone call away. Their work is part of our work. We partner together for the good of the gospel.

3. I support the work of our state conventions because I believe they are uniquely equipped to do certain ministries. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that NAMB or the IMB may not be able to do. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that no one church could accomplish on their own. Through the partnership of a state convention, unique ministries are able to take place. Each state is unique - with certain needs and opportunities. A church-start model that is successful in Southern California or North Dallas may not be suited for rural Arkansas or suburban Little Rock. The work of our state conventions happen because our churches are passionate about these ministries. The ministries that populate the work of our conventions did not just magically appear as a way to spend money. No, they are the result of prayer, partnership and work based upon the call of our local churches.

There are many changes coming in our Southern Baptist work. We must not, in my opinion, ignore what God has done, is doing and will do through the work of our state conventions. We must always ensure that we are using God’s resources to his glory and, in my opinion, that is what is happening in many of our state conventions.

God is working all around the world - even down in Arkansas.

Why I Support the Cooperative Program

How much does your church give to CP?

What was your Lottie offering last year?

Are your promoting Annie during Easter?

Are you bypassing the state convention?

What about ACP reports?

We Southern Baptists are passing around alot of lingo and for a number of years the question of CP giving and support has been at the forefront of debate. When we have a candidate for a leadership position, the conversation quickly turns toward that candidate’s church and their CP support and SBC missions giving. There is a debate going on in the SBC world (which we kinda made up) about the validity of this question. During the Orlando convention this June, some were calling for the end of the CP giving litmus test, proclaiming that we should move to more ‘spiritual’ indicators. Some have, with special passion, explained how CP giving is burdened with an overwhelming bureaucracy and has been made impotent with regards to missions.

How important, then, is CP support? Why are so many people making such a big deal about CP support? Well, here is my take on it. You can take it or leave it.

My understanding of the Cooperative Program has changed drastically in the last few years. Growing up I understood the importance of CP giving but never really saw or understood its potential. CP made sense but since I grew up within SBC culture it was just another thing that we did as a church. When my wife and I came to First Baptist Church in Sparkman, Arkansas, where we serve now, my CP knowledge was greatly increased. I remember my surprise when I first looked at our budget and realized that our church, of about 65 worshippers on a Sunday, were giving nearly 30% of our un-designated offerings to the Cooperative Program. I was also amazed at the monthly gives to our association, Ouachita Baptist University, SBC world hunger fund a a handful of other ministries all around the world. When our first Christmas here came around I almost fainted when I saw that our Lottie Moon offering usually hovers around $15,000. Something was different in Sparkman. They really, really, really supported the Cooperative Program.

Over the last few years I have heard all types of responses to this type of giving. Many have expressed how our church is giving too much or have a bad understanding of missions. Some have expressed joy over this. Either way, people always have an opinion about CP giving. As I have grown here in Sparkman I have learned something wonderful about CP and the SBC - we can do more together than we can do apart. In Sparkman we have obvious limitations to what we can do with missions and church planting. We don’t have the people to start a satellite church in a Sparkman suburb. (That is a joke) We have one full-time staff member (me), no missions pastor or technology pastor or parking lot pastor. (Another bad joke) While we do go on mission trips, our resources are limited in how many ventures we can take. It is here that I see the beauty of CP giving. A tiny church in rural Arkansas is partnering all over the world with what God is doing. We give to the Cooperative Program, in a sacrificial way, because we believe in what God is doing through Southern Baptists. The Cooperative Program gives us an opportunity to join in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. It gives us the opportunity to participate in the fulfillment of Acts 1:8 - with the realization that God’s global mission INCLUDES Arkansas, North American and the entire world.

What much of the debate has centered around in the last couple of years is how CP works and the amount of money that is used within our state conventions. While I believe this is a legitimate concern, I have not been convinced that this is really what is holding us back from fulfilling the Great Commission. Living in Arkansas, I feel blessed to be a part of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. I have looked very hard for proof of bloated budgets, wasted money and unnecessary personnel. Within Arkansas I feel confident that the CP we sent to Little Rock is being used to God’s glory for the advance of the gospel among the nations. I cannot vouch for other states but I know that in Arkansas our CP money is being used appropriately. God’s global mission includes where we are and were we have yet to go. It is a perversion of Acts 1:8 to ignore where we are.

What I fear happening across the Southern Baptist Convention is a weakening of the Cooperative Program based upon poor reasons. I can understand the fear of bloated bureaucracy, misappropriation of funds and lack of vision of focus among our agencies. Yet, I have yet to see justification for totally bypassing the Cooperative Program structure. I find it funny that we Baptists are ready to de-fund any ministry but our own. (We never hear seminary presidents telling us that we need to de-fund seminaries. We only hear them saying that about state conventions) We are willing to build our own ‘mini-denominations’ and spend money on our own ministries and personal goals and then complain about not being able to reach the nations - pointing the blame to our denomination. We refuse to give to the very ministries that can help us, as churches, reach the nation - all the while complaining about where the money is going. It seems the question is really a question of our heart. Is what’s holding us back really a concern about our denomination - or is it the unwillingness and unselfishness of our own churches to sacrifice our personal agendas?

SBC and Your Future

As many of you have heard, this summer has been somewhat unbelievable. I was elected the 2nd V.P. of the Southern Baptist Convention, much to my surprise. Please understand, before we go any future, that I am under no delusion that this position means anything. More than likely, you didn't even know the SBC has a 2nd V.P.

Do I make any decisions? no

Do I make any policy that impacts the convention? no

Do I control any nominations, committees, or such? no

Do I do anything? not really

What I have found, though, is that the 2nd V.P. position offers me a chance to share my perspective and Southern Baptist Experience. I am not your 'typical' SBC officer. I am 26. I Pastor a Church of less than 100 people. I live in a town of 500. I don't like to wear ties. Because of this a-typical situation my desire over the next year is to learn and share.

I want to learn, first of all, about your experience with the SBC. What is your involvement? Why are you Southern Baptist? Why are you not Southern Baptist? What do you foresee for the SBC ? The future of this denomination is constantly in flux and in question, it is the nature of the Baptist ecclesiology and cooperation. What do you think we are doing right? How can we improve? What are we doing wrong? What are you concerns? I want to hear these types of things! Let me know in comments, e-mails or tweets.

Second, I really want to share. I want to share with people why I am Southern Baptist. It is a question I have struggled through and will continue to struggle through. It is a question we always have to ask ourselves about any denomination or group. I want to express my support of small churches, the Cooperative Program and Biblical literacy. I want to discuss these things.

So, here is my favor to ask - tell me what you think about the SBC. Let me know what is on your heart. . .