Of the four objections offered by the Executive Committee, I am most sympathetic to the observation that, "Southern Baptists have always been a relational people." I love being a Baptist, and I love being with Baptists especially with a cup of coffee in hand and a plate of beignets in front of me.
Several Baptists who agree with the idea of returning to biennial meetings have shared with me that the only minor reservation they have is the loss of an annual opportunity to meet fellow Baptists.
They also add, however, that they are often unable to attend annually anyway, primarily due to the costs associated with attending a Convention.
The Baptists who are most capable of attending annually are those whose Convention trip is paid for by: the Convention, a denominational agency, or a large church. The vast majority of Southern Baptists are still members of smaller churches, and annual meetings are often beyond their reach.
Moving to a biennial meeting could put the Convention within reach of more pastors and smaller churches and actually broaden the scope of relationships that are forged and deepened at the Convention.
The average American family has a net worth today that is 39.9 percent lower than it was in the spring of 2008. We live in different times; we are facing significantly reduced church and denominational budgets; resources are scarce; we should be discussing the high price of meeting annually and seeking ways to invest more resources directly into mission and ministry.
The lostness of the world, the presently very low attendance at annual meetings, and Christ's expectation that we exercise faithful stewardship of His resources demands that we at least seriously consider biennial meetings.
Of course, moving to biennial meetings would not stop Baptists from being "a relational people." Southern Baptists were relational when they met on a Triennial basis, and they are relational today.
Fortunately, we have opportunities to foster relationships in ways that Baptists, even 25 years ago, could have never envisioned. From North Carolina, I frequently keep up with fellow Baptists of a wide variety of ages living in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Virginia, Tennessee, and etc.
Furthermore, if the SBC moved to a biennial meeting schedule in even-numbered years, and the states moved to a biennial meeting schedule in odd-numbered years, Baptists would still have an annual opportunity to "relate" to one another. I recognize the SBC cannot make states adopt a biennial meeting schedule, but it can be recommended. This approach would, I believe, facilitate greater participation by greater numbers of messengers from greater numbers of churches at both the state and national levels.
As much as Baptists are relational, they are also missional. We are never more obedient to Christ than when we are scattered among our neighbors and the nations extending God's salvation to the ends of the earth by showing and telling those in the wilderness that the world is not as it should be, that we know the Way to a better land.
For the sake of Christ and the Gospel, biennial meetings are worthy of our strong consideration. We can make this change and remain a relational -- and missional -- people doing everything possible to exercise faithful stewardship of the resources Christ has entrusted to us for the advance of His Kingdom.
2 comments:
I echo your desire to at least look at the feasibility of such a move. Have you had much objection from other people with whom you have spoken, other than the EC?
Marty, most of the people I've actually had an opportunity to discuss the idea with have been initially hesitant and then very supportive. The hesitancy, obviously, comes with any change and especially a change that SEEMS to make us more hierarchical - but it does not. In fact, it actually makes particiption by more Baptists more likely.
The other objection is simply loss of an opportunity to "hang out" with other Baptists. I get that, but in the same sentence most conceed that they do not make every meeting as it is and they would be more likely to make every meeting if it was only every 2 years.
So, to answer more succincly, no. :)
Post a Comment