November 17, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
Autonomous Baptist
entities relate voluntarily
___"From whom the whole body, being fitted and joined together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:16
___The annual session of the Baptist General Convention of Texas for 1999 is history. Itwas preceded during recent months by 113 annual associational meetings throughout Texas. During these months, many churches also conducted business meetings. Information already is being distributed about the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention next June.
WILLIAM M. PINSON JR.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___How do these Baptist entities relate to one another? The answer is simple and yet often misunderstood. Each relates to the other only voluntarily. To be sure, the actions of each may affect the other, but these actions have no authority over the others. For example, no motion or resolution of the recent BGCT has any authority for any Baptist church or association. The authority of the action relates only to entities that are under the control of the BGCT.
___Thus the budget adopted by the messengers in El Paso for operation of the BGCT Executive Board is the budget for the Executive Board; the board must abide by it. Although the budget has a "giving goal" in regard to Cooperative Program giving from churches, the churches are not required to give any certain amount. What each church contributes is solely up to the members of that congregation. The BGCT does not assess churches for support.
___Similarly, associations may pass resolutions or motions about matters related to the SBC or the BGCT, but these are not binding on either body, even though they may choose to consider them. Associations vote on whether churches will be members of the association (neither the BGCT nor the SBC vote on churches being "members"), but the association cannot dictate to the churches in any way.
___Neither the SBC, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist World Alliance nor any other national or international Baptist body has any authority over any church, association or state convention. Motions or resolutions, for example, passed by the SBC have no authority over a church, association or the BGCT.
___Each of these Baptist bodies may relate to the others. A church may send messengers to the business meetings of the association of which it is a member as well as to the annual sessions of the BGCT and the SBC. And associations in Texas have cooperative agreements with the BGCT. Also the BGCT has agreements with SBC agencies. But each and all of these relations are voluntary.
___Voluntary cooperation is the essence of how Baptists work together for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Autonomous Baptist entities voluntarily choose to cooperate or not to cooperate. None has authority over the others. This may seem to be an organizational nightmare, but it fits the New Testament model and Baptist polity, and furthermore it has been effective.
___Please pray for Baptist entities as they voluntarily cooperate for kingdom business. Pray for understanding among Baptists and others about this relationship. Pray that the effectiveness of this relationship of voluntary cooperation will continue to the glory of God.
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