May 12, 1999

GRACE & PEACE:
Associations play vital
role among Texas Baptists
___"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
___Baptists in Texas: They come from many places. They hold different views on important subjects such as church organization, missions, evangelism and theology. Strong leaders advocate these viewpoints. The advance of the gospel is hindered by the differences.
___That is how an observer would have viewed Baptists in Texas in the early 1840s. And what did these Baptists do? They launched the first Baptist association of churches in Texas--Union Baptist Associa-tion. It was named Union or Unity more out of hope than as a reflection of fact. But it was an effort to draw churches together in a fellowship to advance the cause of Christ.
___Not all the Baptists in Texas applauded the formation of the association. Some feared

William M. Pinson Jr. Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

the association would try to exercise some sort of authority or control over the churches, and the churches were fiercely autonomous, valuing the freedom that is a characteristic of a New Testament church.
___However, most of the Baptists believed an association would be valuable in fostering fellowship among the churches, preserving the basic doctrines of Baptist churches and advancing the cause of Christ in the new nation of Texas. This proved to be the case. The association formed a "society," or group, for missions and another for education, viewing the two as inseparably linked.
___Soon other associations were formed as Baptists spread out across the vastness of Texas. Within a few years, the Baptists of Texas formed a statewide organization--the Baptist State Convention--to further extend the fruits of cooperation.
___Today, 113 associations of Baptist churches are related to the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___Cooperation. Voluntary cooperation. Voluntary cooperation among churches. Voluntary cooperation to help fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
___These words and phrases describe the basis for associations as well as for all Baptist organizations beyond the local church.
___About 6,000 congregations are related to the Baptist General Convention of Texas today--a far cry from the three churches that formed the first association. A Baptist association is the only Baptist entity which a church "joins" or is a "member" of. Churches do not "join" state or national Baptist conventions; the relationship is solely one of cooperation. A church is not "voted" into a state or national convention but is "voted" into an association. This means that associations play a unique and vital role.
___Associations related voluntarily with the Baptist General Convention of Texas are of two types--those that link voluntarily with other associations into an "area" and those that "stand alone." Each association elects a moderator, a volunteer position. Areas and associations are served by elected paid staff, usually termed director of missions. These Baptist servants play an especially important part in Baptist life in Texas.
___Please pray for your association to be an effective fellowship for helping churches to make and mature disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for the moderator and other officers. And pray for your associational director of missions.

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