The SBC ‘23 - What It Means for Our Church
Last week our Southern Baptist Convention met for our annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. As has been the trend the past few years, attendance was high and numerous conversations, presentations, and even controversies took place. Our church, First Baptist Church of Orange Park is a Southern Baptist church. Our members are aware of this and know we also cooperate as a member of the Florida Baptist Convention and the local association, First Coast Churches, it is true that many still are not certain what this means.
When it comes to denominationalism and the rise of non-denominational and independent churches in our region, it leaves many in the local body a bit unclear as to what being a Southern Baptist actually means. Then, after our annual meeting occurs, there are numerous news stories in mainstream media reports that also adds to confusion. Therefore, as pastor of our church, I will give a synopsis of what was observed at our meeting as well as a short descriptor of what makes Southern Baptists unique among denominations (and by the strict definition of the term, not a denomination at all.)
A Brief History of the SBC
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was formed in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia. While God has used the SBC for his glory for many years, it is sadly true that our launch was due to a disagreement with the abolitionist and anti-slavery beliefs of Baptists in the northern portion of the United States. Thus, not unlike the nation as a whole, Baptists divided into two groups. As Southern Baptists, we have publicly repented of these beliefs and actions related to racism and segregation. While some question why modern-day Baptists would feel the need to repent for the actions of long-dead ancestors, we have but to look at Nehemiah for a biblical example of corporate repentance for sins that occurred in prior generations. (Neh 9 & 10.)
Both Northern and Southern Baptists could trace our heritage to the American colonies of the 17th century. The Philadelphia Baptist Association organized in 1707 by five Baptist churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. As Baptists increased in number, associations of churches developed in South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Autonomous, Cooperating Churches
In each case, the local Baptist churches retained their autonomy. That remains a steadfast descriptor of Baptists even now. Every Baptist church is autonomous and idependent. While some Baptist churches actually differentiate themselves from Southern Baptists or other cooperative groups by emphasizing the word Independent (often followed by Fundamental) the fact is that all Baptist churches are independent. Thus, our denomination of Southern Baptists is not a denomination by the strictest definition of the term. We are a group of over 50,000 autonomous, independent churches who cooperate with one another by choice. We are united by our agreement of cooperation and our confessional statement.
The SBC Only Exists for Two Days Annually
And when we speak of the Southern Baptist Convention, it is just that – a convention. In other words, the SBC only truly exists for two days annually…at our convention. The convention is a large business meeting presided over by our moderator – the annually elected President of the SBC.
During this business meeting reports from entities (North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, seminaries, LifeWay Christian Resources, Woman’s Missionary Union) and committees are presented to the messengers. Oh, and we use the term “messenger” to describe the delegates of local churches represented. Each Southern Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the SBC may send messengers as representatives to the meeting. There are limits to how many each church may send and each church selects their messengers based on their independent church polity. This year, our church sent our three pastors as messengers.
This may explain if you watched the meetings online why every individual who was given time to speak at a microphone during the question and answer portions had to state his/her name along with the name of the church from whom they represent. It should be noted that even entity employees who speak at microphones from the audience do not represent their entity when they speak. Thus, even if the president of an SBC entity speaks, they must too state their name and the local church they represent, NOT their entity.
As for the remaining 363 days of the year, the SBC Executive Committee functions as the de-facto denomination for business decisions that must take place in the interim. The Executive Committee is comprised of 86 representatives chosen from states and local conventions throughout the nation and acts on behalf of the Convention. The officers of the Executive Committee are elected from these representatives. For more on the Executive Committee, click here.
Actions from SBC ‘23
Each year motions are brought to the body for action and often there are some that create quite a buzz among members and even the media. This year was no different. The most notable issues that came to the floor in New Orleans had to do with the removal of a number of churches who are no longer deemed “in friendly cooperation” (the term we use for an autonomous church who has stepped away from our confessional understanding or is practicing unapologetically actions contrary to SBC beliefs or statements) with the SBC. These recommendations came from our Executive Committee months ago for a vote to be taken by messengers at the annual meeting.
At our annual meetings only messengers are allowed to speak from the floor microphones to the entire gathering. Yet, in our bylaws there is a special dispensation that allows non-messengers to speak. When a church has been determined to not be “in friendly cooperation” by the Executive Committee, that church is allowed one representative to speak for three minutes to the gathering of messengers. This is designed to give the church a moment to plead their case as to why they should continue to remain as part of the SBC.
I was informed that throughout the history of the SBC, no church has ever taken advantage of this opportunity. Yet, this year three churches did take the opportunity.
One church is from Florida and while I was serving on our state’s Board of Missions, we disfellowshipped this particular church on the basis that that they had knowingly hired a man to serve as pastor who was credibly accused of sexual abuse while serving as a pastor in the Anglican denomination. With recent revelations of numerous sexual abuse scandals involving pastors and church leaders throughout the nation and our Convention, this action placed this church out of fellowship with the state convention and ultimately the entire SBC. This church appealed to stay and while not mentioned from the microphone, the impetus was not a corrective regarding the hiring of said pastor, but due to the discovery of a reverter clause in their constitution and bylaws that stated if the church ever was not SBC or folded, their property would be transferred to the local Southern Baptist association. Thus, the desire to remain SBC was built not on convictional repentance, but most likely on other issues.
A second church that presented an appeal was Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. For decades, this small church had been led by a female lead pastor. Her appeal to the convention was clear and the church’s Baptist polity and makeup was clear. However, as stated in our confessional statement, the office of pastor is affirmed in Scripture to be for men only and thus, they were disfellowshipped. Why, after almost two decades did this happen? That’s a story for another day, but suffice to say, this has moved to the front-burner.
The third church appealing was the most famous and one of the largest churches in the world. Pastor Rick Warren, now retired, represented his church, Saddleback Church in California before the messengers. Warren is known globally as a pastor, author of Purpose-Driven Church, Purpose-Driven Life, and numerous other books. He is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, which grew into one of the most influential mega-churches in the world since its founding. Numerous ministries, such as the PEACE Plan, Celebrate Recovery, and more were birthed at Saddleback. Rick Warren is now retired and Pastor Andy Wood now leads the church, but Rick is still very involved and perhaps the most influential voice. Saddleback was deemed to not be “in friendly cooperation” primarily due to the ordaining of women as associate pastors/elders and campus pastors throughout their network of campuses. This is not unlike the Fern Creek Baptist Church situation, but exponentially more notable. In weeks prior to the annual meeting, Pastor Rick sent emails to thousands of SBC pastors pleading his case and then went on Twitter and other social media sites as an apologist for egalitarianism in the church. His arguments were clear, but in my opinion rather than drumming up support for his and Saddleback’s cause within the SBC, he actually positioned his church more likely to be removed from the list of cooperating, autonomous churches.
There were other churches disfellowshipped, but these are the only three speaking in appeal.
The votes of the messengers were taken and in each case, the overwhelming vote to deem these churches “not in friendly cooperation” remained intact.
I am saddened we had to take these steps, but not saddened in the results. As a messenger, I voted in each case to disfellowship the churches for reasons given.
Kicked Out?
The media reports began immediately as there were no less than a dozen cameras focused on Warren as he spoke. The press conference he held following was well-done and the mainstream media presented his take. Thus, church members now are talking about how we kicked churches out of our denomination.
My response is “Well, to say we ‘kicked them out’ may be a bit too harsh. We voted them ‘not in friendly cooperation’ due to their own actions and choices.” Some will say “it’s the same thing” and while the result may be the same, I beg to differ. Others will state that I’m just using softer words to declare the harsh thing we did. Perhaps, but let me reiterate something I have said for years – words matter.
And, let me encourage all Southern Baptists to not get the updates on what is happening in our local churches, mission entities, seminaries, agencies, and annual meetings solely from media sources with no vested interest in the propagation of the Gospel. I am not saying that all the reports are false. I am saying that worldview matters and when it comes to describing polity of Southern Baptists, many outside our tribe simply fail at explaining the nuances well.
Words Matter – Pastors/Elders/Overseers
Perhaps larger than the disfellowshipping issues is the vote taken to clarify who we believe biblically can hold the office of pastor in a local church. In fact, this fire is still burning for many and will continue for some time.
You may hear the words complementarian and egalitarian used regarding this. To define it simply (maybe too simply, but for sake of brevity) an egalitarian church believes that men and women can hold the office of pastor in the local church and that there are no divisions related to biological sex for those seeking these positions. In complementarian churches, the belief is that the office of pastor/elder/overseer (the words are interchangeable) is specifically to be held by a man while other positions of leadership and ministry are not specific to men and women.
The gathering of messengers voted to clarify this office in our statement of faith (The Baptist Faith & Message 2000) to ensure our understanding. For decades this was unnecessary, but as times change, words shift meaning, and cloudiness of understanding often occurs. Thus, a clarifying statement of what is, and for many years most believe was made.
What does this mean for First Baptist Church of Orange Park? Nothing really. Why? Because years ago we began ensuring that our understanding of roles and terms were clear. Thus, in our church we have three pastors. We only have three. We have used adjectives for these titles over the years to delineate and while I may be called Lead Pastor or Senior Pastor, my title of pastor is that of the office for the church body. We have an Associate Pastor and a Worship Pastor, as determined by the church, but remove the adjectives and we have three full-time, pastors of FBC Orange Park and all are male (by birth.)
Regarding the men and women who serve on our staff, their roles are vital and focused on ministry. Whether primarily working with preschoolers, children, young adults, single adults, benevolence, missions, or more, these men and women serve as ministers and/or dirctors of ministries.
The office of “Minister” does not exist in scripture. Therefore, it is not one of the two offices (pastor and deacon) defined in the New Testament. Yet, in the local church, it is a position of leadership and essential. It is not unbiblical to have people serving in these roles. It is not unbiblical to have men and women serving as ministers of certain foci within the body. It is, in our estimation, unbiblical to have women serve as pastors. It is also unbiblical to have unqualified men serve as pastors.
What has happened over the past few decades has been the overuse and weakening of terms within the church. Thus, we have seen “pastor of” everything added to church’s leadership team. We have also seen deacons in Baptist life become functional elders. Both are wrong and thankfully, our church has made corrective steps years ago.
I am thankful for the godly men and women who serve our church on our Leadership Team and that their voices are not muted, their individual gifts are not ignored, and their influence upon the entirety of those redeemed who are the First Baptist Church of Orange Park are not secondary.
Words matter, and so do titles.
The question that arises now is “Are you saying women cannot serve in the church?” The answer is a loud NO, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE’RE SAYING. To say such would simply be sinful. Ministry gifts and voices of leadership from men and women are needed within the body.
A dictatorial pastor who leans too heavily in the patriarchal mode of angrily mansplaining scripture to the masses is not the picture of the man who is called by God, affirmed by the church, and winsomely, honestly, and even sternly leads and shepherds his gifted flock in love to glorify God. I fear that some are concerned that a complementarian belief ends only with such a negative image.
I believe this year our gathering of churches did the right thing. I do not think we, as a convention of churches, were or are drifting leftward. I do think that clarity of beliefs, doctrine, and agreement to our collectively agreed upon confessional statement are needed. I am thankful our meeting ended as it did.
More Actions by the SBC
There were more reports, votes, and actions taken by messengers over the two days of business. Reports on the specific actions and auxiliary events of the annual meeting can be found at Baptist Press here.
Will the SBC Last?
Every year we see tweets of “Goodbye SBC” that seem to state that we are so far gone in our polity, practice, and function that we will cease to exist soon. Others loudly declare their exit from the SBC. Since we believe in autonomy, this is fine.
Will the SBC remain? Will we have a future decades from now? I don’t know. I tend to believe we will. We have survived numerous cultural shifts and even our own corporate sins have been revealed throughout history and yet, with corporate repentance, we remain.
The beauty of the SBC remains our cooperative efforts to send Gospel-centered missionaries globally. This cooperative effort that developed in the 1920s continues to allow the spread of the Gospel to occur well. This is highlighted during our International Mission Board presentation primarily as we annually commission missionaries who are leaving the comforts of home to go where the Lord has led. In many cases, these are dangerous, undisclosed locations. While we know these men and women (and their children) are going with the Lord’s protection and preparation, we are thankful to be used by God to fund, pray, and be the sending agents.
And if the SBC does end at some point, that is okay. Christ’s bride is the church, not a denomination (even a denomination that is not really a denomination.)
Sometimes the annual meeting of Southern Baptists is like a car wreck on the highway. People slow down to take a look, while complaining they are inconvenienced by the traffic. It seems that even since 1845 Southern Baptists are drawn to controversies and fights. I mean, even our genesis was centered on a disagreement. It has been said that if you have three Baptists in a room, you end up with five opinions. This may be true.
Yet, even with all our disfunction, I am thankful at this point God has chosen to use our collection of local churches for his glory. I am also thankful that Baptists in a room together are nicer to each other than Baptists on social media.
The annual meeting is over. The messengers are home. Now the real work occurs, in the local church, for the glory of God.
