READ THE LAST POST CONCERNING MY THOUGHTS ON THE GREAT COMMISSION RESURGENCE (GCR) TASK FOR REPORT & THEN READ THIS ONE
For this post I want to share two books that I have read and lingering thoughts concerning why I wrote the last report...
In college at Charleston Southern University, my (youth ministry) classmates joked that I would become the next SBC president. I say that to say that I am an avid follower of all things SBC. I read Baptist Press just about daily. I like to engage in understanding the work of SBC both today and in the past. Twice now, I have had both the mandate and opportunity to take a course (for Masters and PhD degrees) concerning the SBC with special emphasis on New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) and the Cooperative Program (CP).
In my experience the past three and a half years in associational work, I think the CP and the work of the local baptist association have much in common. The idea that "what we can not do ourselves we can do together" is found in both the association and the CP. Some have said "the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." I think they understand that cooperation and association is the meat behind the reality.
I resonate with the words of the Apostle Peter (in 1 Peter 2:9) when he wrote, "you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession...." I am a believer in Christ. As a believer in Christ I hold to the reality that my life must worship God, which is evidenced by the cry of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31. As a believer who worships God, I think that Baptist doctrine closely aligns with the Truth of God's Word. I do not have a problem endorsing a faith statement like the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
Realizing who I am, Whose I am, and that God's Word speaks to this "penetrating of lostness," I fully agree we must be actively sharing our faith in Christ and our love for Christ. My goal as an associational worker and (NAMB) Mission Service Core missionary is to 'empower, excite, and equip local churches and mission groups to do the Great Commission through the Great Commandment.' I am continuing in Southeast Georgia a goal that I began implementing in my ministry in Myrtle Beach.
These two books have helped me along the way:
1. I read the Baptist Reformation by Jerry Sutton in the Summer of 2007. This is a great review of the Conservative Resurgence that happened in SBC life.
2. I finished the book One Sacred Effort by Chad Owen and David Hankins a week and a half ago. I think that this book would be a great read following Sutton's book because it gives a more detailed history of the work of the SBC and it's entities, even up to 2004.
The past month has been incredible. I thought a post was in order to get some things off my chest and maybe for you to research for yourself.
First, I have written before and I will write again -- I am a struggling PhD student. This school year has taught me yet again how much I write like I talk. Yes, Fuge that means "preachy". If anyone knows a good writing coach in the Wick (aka Brunswick) I need their contact info.
Second, I have read much about the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) over the past months that Southern Baptist messengers will vote on at this years SBC annual summer meeting in Orlando, Florida. I have read a myriad of viewpoints across the spectrum and I have come to my own conclusions:
*** I can not vote for the full seven report recommendations of the task force***
Why not?
- Recommendation One - Since when did the SBC need a mission statement, and when did this committee find it their responsibility to give the SBC this statement? However, I like this missional vision statement.
- Recommendation Two - Since when did the SBC need core values, and when did this committee find it their responsibility to give the SBC this statement? Furthermore, I like how these values add to that which we as Southern Baptists adhere to in the Baptist Faith & Message 2000.
- Recommendation Three - We have forgotten the magnitude of the work of the Cooperative Program (CP) and this Great Commission giving only gives definition to what many are already doing. The CP is the CP - don't touch it!
- Recommendation Four - Southern Baptists have forgotten North America, and it's not the North America Mission Board's (NAMB) fault. We don't need to decentralize, nor do we need to break off cooperative agreements. The 5300 missionaries serving with NAMB, funded - jointly funded - or volunteer must partner with state conventions and local associations to get the most Kingdom effort and work done. I speak from this missionary perspective with great concern for the NAMB and SBC missions education for North America.
- Recommendation Five - Subsidizing NAMB ministry efforts and work does not reach more. NAMB should work closely with the IMB to minister to these unreached and underserved people groups. Good in theory, wrong in practice.
- Recommendation Six - the CP works best with the Executive Committee (EC) as its head. SBC made this change years ago, and later reversed it back to its present position because it worked better that way it is. Don't try it again. Instead, let us embrace the work, giving, and education of the CP from the local church, to the association, and the state convention, and the SBC as a whole.
- Recommendation Seven - The increase is great in practice, but I think the theory is wrong. What we do not know in this report is where this decrease in EC comes from so we can give the one percent increase to the International Mission Board (IMB). What this report should have done was to encourage healthy giving instead of reallocating funds.
I realize that many have worked long and hard over the past year in proposing this GCR report. I do not hate nor do I judge any person on this committee concerning their details of this very urgent matter--to take the Gospel to every Person in the World.
I will not leave the convention if this GCR is adopted by the messengers of the SBC convention in Orlando next month. I will continue in my life and work as a MSC missionary of NAMB to continue reaching the resort and community ministries in Southeast Coastal Georgia through the Golden Isles Ministries of the Southeast Baptist Association.
