Featured If you think the Southern Bap Convention controls local churches...

How thinks the SBC controls local churches?

 

My Church of Christ friends for one. They think that local church autonomy is a CoC distinctive.

 

wow.

I had never read that before, in all my years as a baptist. I really love the degree to which the SBC keeps thier nose out of the local churchs buisiness.

But THIS..is just breathtaking to me....

There are only 2 times in that material where the SBC will deviate from their wonderfull practice of allowing each church total autonomy, and take charge.

Those 2 times are...

1) If a church condones homosexuality and the gay agenda.(I agree)

2) Women pastors.

It almost takes ones breath away, to have women pastors being equated with homosexuality.

 

Salty.....

Actually, Homosexuality, yes. But there is is a veeeeery looooong thread on this site that contains abundent evidence that that is not true regarding women in leadership. Teaching men, pastoring, etc.

Look it up sometime when you have some free time.

 

I would hope they would say that the have no policy on that because the church is autonomous.

Of course, I wont be attending any snake handling services.

 

W.A. Criswell would have been okay with it, as long as they were fundamentalist snake handlers.

 

Correct. The fact that we have long threads on women pastors is only proof that it is still hotly debated on many circles.

 

He did change his view concerning abortion in 1973 (http://www.baptiststandard.com/2002/1_14/pages/criswell_timeline.html)

 

If they own it they control it.

Look at this link and read who owns the church...

http://www.cbbaptist.com/

Then see if you can construct an argument that the SBC doesn't control the local church.

Could this local group withdraw from the convention? Nope

Could this local group demolish or construct without SBC approval? Nope

Could this local group determine to higher an arm. thinking preacher rather than a calvinistic thinker? Nope

Could this local group change their covenant, creed or bi-laws without the SBC approval? Nope.

But, then no one at the convention would admit they would padlock and change the locks on a church that determined to become independent back some 40 years ago.

But certainly the SBC doesn't "control" the local assembly.

:tonofbricks:

 

I cant find any of this on that churches web site. Where are all of those restrictions you speak of ?

How do they control them?

 

If you own it - you control it. The SBC owns it - they certainly control it.

Would you assume the SBC would own something and not have control over it?

 

Late to the discussion, but just be very aware of what happens at state level.

If church A borrows money from the state association to build, of course the state has every right to insist that if church A leaves said association or the SBC, the association can have the building. And church A in that case will be far wiser to borrow from a secular bank.

But sometimes a zealous leader will try to change the rules midstream on old loans. Maybe it had a reversion clause that simply says "if the church ceases to be in full fellowship" or something. Ten years down the line, that church cannot send in the new amount set for it to send the CP or state association, or refuses to sign off on yet another revision to the Baptist Faith and Message, and they can lose their building.

Yes, what the SBC owns, it controls.

Keep them off the deed and don't borrow except from secular banks or you DO forfeit your autonomy.

 

One may not directly control something but they can control by influence.

 

Yes Ageman....Could you please share with us how this autonomous Baptist church is actually being "controlled" by the Southern Baptist Convention. We find ZERO evidence on the link you provided.

Did you give us the wrong link?

Thank You