Featured Mission Agencies (From Independent Baptist Thread)

http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/acloserlook.asp

 

Well I have answered your question. Whether you are convinced or not is not pressing on me. You will have to do what you want to do. However, you might want to view the following.


"What makes a church “Southern Baptist”?
SBC Constitution Articles III and IV describe a cooperating Southern Baptist church as an autonomous Baptist congregation that . . .

MISSIONALLY and formally identifies itself as part of the Southern Baptist fellowship of churches;

COOPERATIVELY affirms its willing cooperation with the Convention’s purpose, processes, missions, and ministries;

DOCTRINALLY embraces the biblical faith and practice by which Southern Baptists have historically identified themselves; and

FINANCIALLY provides regular financial support for the Convention’s work as part of the church’s adopted budget.

We refer to these churches as “cooperating Southern Baptist churches.”

http://www.sbc.net/BecomingSouthernBaptist/FAQs.asp

 

Revmitchell, the fact that you have answered does not mean you have answered correctly. The information from the SBC FAQs does not say they have to been a member of a local association and in the information from SBC's a closer look that that Jerome linked explains "a church may be part of the 'denomination' without participating with a cooperating state convention or local Baptist association." That sounds like a definitive explanation.

Before seeing the above posts, I did a test check. For example, Calvary BC in Jacksonville, Texas is not in the local Dogwood Trails Baptist Association, but is listed in the SBC church search for Southern Baptist churches in Jacksonville.

 

Thank you. Right there in FAQ #17 at your link it says that while the SBC encourages churches to cooperate with state conventions and local associations, there is provision for national-only cooperation:

"If my church is autonomous, must we cooperate with the both a state convention and the national SBC, or can we cooperate with the national SBC only?

More than 99 percent of churches that cooperate with the SBC also maintain a cooperative relationship with a state or regional Baptist convention. Due to the long-established practice of cooperation with state Baptist conventions and local associations, the SBC encourages such multi-level cooperation (local, state, and national) and does not encourage churches to practice national-only cooperation.

However, since each church is autonomous and determines for itself how it chooses to participate with ministries outside its own church, the Convention provides for a church to cooperate at the national level. Churches that choose this option can contact the Executive Committee to inquire about a credentialing process to that end."

 

How do I participate in the annual meeting?
The SBC Bylaws state that a church must have indicated it is in “friendly cooperation with the Convention and sympathetic with its purposes and work” and have made financial contributions to Convention work in the fiscal year preceding the annual meeting in June in order to seat messengers. The fiscal year ends on September 30 each year.

Each qualifying church automatically receives two messengers and can qualify for up to ten additional messengers based on the level of financial support the church has given to Convention causes (see SBC Constitution, Article III, for greater detail.)

Churches can pre-register their messengers at SBCAnnualMeeting.net beginning in April each year by using the seven-digit SBC ID number assigned when the church became identified as a cooperating church with the Convention.

If a church is recognized by a cooperating state or regional Baptist convention as a cooperating church and makes CP contributions through the state convention, the church’s name is forwarded to the SBC through the state’s Annual Church Profile report as a church in friendly cooperation with the Convention.

http://www.sbc.net/BecomingSouthernBaptist/FAQs.asp

 

Anyway you cannot be a member without giving nor can one attend the annual convention without giving.

 

Probably for the great retirement benefits. I had a supporting pastor who did the same for that reason--then died before he could retire.