Southern Baptists Propose Changing Name...

[Salty]

They should change it to: "The Baptist Convention of the Americas"

That would take care of two continents. Now someone tell them I said this.

Why limit it to just the Americas - by having a name that be inclusive world wide, then the International Baptist Convention could then be considered a "State" convention

(note - many of the churches are English speaking as most were started for US military- so check out the positions available - churches are always looking for pastors)

 

[gb93433]

I'm ministering in the North... I get it. I've also served in the upper-south, where Baptist is a common thing. South of the Ohio River, Baptists are seen as mainstream, okay, doing good things, helping communities, most persons in any given community are probably either aware of them or even members with them. North of the Ohio River, Baptists are seen as some form of cult, snake handlers, places were weird preachers do weirder stuff, and distinctly some place to be avoided at almost all cost. Persons coming into a Baptist congregation in the north do so at the risk of being shunned from their family and community -- much as a Catholic might be treated in Alpharetta, Georgia, where there is but one Parish. In Wisconsin, there is a Lutheran and a Catholic parish in every community of a size (or not) to sustain them. That is certainly not true of Baptist works, especially SBC, where only 1/3 of all the counties (COUNTIES) in the state have been entered so far.

It seems like you are faced with a lot of baggage from previous generations. That is unfortunate but now the challenge to be real and transparent lies ahead. I grew up in a home that was antagonistic toward Christians. Fast forward almost 40 years and most of my family are Christians. I think that when we win the skeptics they soon become our biggest supporters.

I think if you are real and transparent you will see God work in ways you have never seen. Most of my ministry has been in areas like where you are. I like those kind of people. They talk direct and tell you what they think. I am honest with them when they tell about something that went wrong. When people tell me that churches have troubles I tell them that I agree but the number one things is our relationship with Jesus. Their antagonism does not last long. They know I am a straight shooter with them. The common comment I have heard people say to me is "I have never been in a Baptist Church before but it is a lot different than what I expected." If I ask them what they expected it is similar to what you experience.

I tend to think that what you are experiencing is typical of much of America and that is the direction we will continue to see. I have noticed that the younger people will not bite easily. They want to see a genuine authentic Christianity that reflects what they know a Christian should be. They want to not just go to church and classes but be a part of a community of believers that genuinely care for one another. I currently live in a city that is growing rather rapidly and the average age is 29. I think most pastors would welcome that on the surface but it takes a lot of time to reach people because they are skeptical.It is not easy work with people that age.

There are about the same number of SBC congregations in the two-state convention of Min/Wi as there are in Jefferson County (Louisville) Kentucky. The other brands of Baptist are not doing that much better, and when they are present (about a total of 2/3 of the counties have at least one) they are small, running below 100 and often below 25 in number.

The NAME makes a huge difference for the MISSION in pioneer territory like Wisconsin where the evangelism percentage is about 3% for some areas!

When I lived on the west coast what we saw was a number of Baptist congregations that were started by people who were displaced during their military service there. The problem was that so many were pastored by men from the south and the church never really reached people in the immediate location. In recent years there have been some great pastors who are serious about doing the hard work of planting churches and realize that the culture is not the south. Few men from the south are very welcomed because of such differences. They are warned ahead of time about the differences. What they are doing seems to be working well. The churches that do not reach the local people tend to be dying.

While it may seem like we have obstacles it can also be a time that people will see if we are real and transparent.

May God richly bless you as you follow Him.

 

[gb93433]

Why limit it to just the Americas - by having a name that be inclusive world wide, then the International Baptist Convention could then be considered a "State" convention

(note - many of the churches are English speaking as most were started for US military- so check out the positions available - churches are always looking for pastors)

That name is already taken. "The International Baptist Convention (IBC) is a fellowship of English-language churches and missions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America which voluntarily cooperate with each other for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 28:18-20. The convention is comprised of more than 70 English-language churches and missions located in 27 countries."

http://www.ibc-churches.org/

 

[Jerome]

Uh oh.

"Great Commission Association of Baptists" is already taken:

http://newlagosbaptist.com/About Page.html

the Ola-Oluwa Baptist Association [Nigeria] which has now been divided for the expansion of the Gospel into Ola-Oluwa and The Great Commission Association.

 

[mont974x4]

I am an SBC pastor in the northwest. I have yet to find the term "southern" to be an issue.

 

[Salty]

That name is already taken. "The International Baptist Convention (IBC) is a fellowship of English-language churches and missions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America which voluntarily cooperate with each other for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 28:18-20. The convention is comprised of more than 70 English-language churches and missions located in 27 countries."

http://www.ibc-churches.org/

Apparently you misunderstood what I said. I am fully aware of the IBC. I was a member of one of the churches (@ the time it was known as the EBC). What I saying is that the SBC should be a worldwide organization - then the IBC could officaly be part of the "SBC"

 

[gb93433]

Apparently you misunderstood what I said. I am fully aware of the IBC. I was a member of one of the churches (@ the time it was known as the EBC). What I saying is that the SBC should be a worldwide organization - then the IBC could officaly be part of the "SBC"

Oh okay. Aren't the SBC and IBC completely separate?

 

[jonathan.borland]

I don't think the Standard Baptist Convention is taken yet. It would allow "SBC" to stand, and allude to the "canon" as our standard for faith and practice. Besides, we already have the hcSb translation!

 

[michael-acts17:11]

I attend a prominent Southern Baptist church and I can tell you that I DON'T CARE what is on the sign outside the church house. The church is not a building, a denomination, or a NAME. Those who have been covenanted with God through the broken body & shed blood of the Savior ARE the Church. Why do we get so hung up on what we call our sect of Christianity?

It's not about marketing, and that's what this debate is really about, it's about Christ & Christ alone. Do you think believers in Iran & other anti-Christian nations are concerned over what to call their denominations? Good grief!! Let's just vote on a name, get it over with, & move on to the important things! :BangHead:

 

[Salty]

Oh okay. Aren't the SBC and IBC completely separate?

Yes, they are. However most of the pastors, if not all are from SBC stateside churches. Most will serve 3-8 years then come back stateside.

I remember our church in Zweibruecken did support the SBC as well as the European Baptist Convention (now IBC).

In fact, Zweibruecken Bap had a provision in our Constitution that a pastor had to be a grad of a SBC college or Seminary.

 

[Rangerus]

What do you want them to call it? Roman Baptists? A denomination as large and far reaching as the SBC should not have a "point-on-the-compass" name such as Southern.

Why Great Commission Baptist? Because "Go-therefore-and-make-disciples-of-all-the-nations-baptizing-them-in-the-name-of-the-Father-and-of-the-Son-and-of-the-Holy-Spirit-teaching-them-to-observe-all-things-that-I-have-commanded-you" won't fit on the business card.

 

[Alive in Christ]

I might be the only one, but I like it. I hope it comes to be.

For those who say it doent "flow" or roll off the toung" easilly, dont worry.

Just like people shorten the currant name to "Southern Baptists", this would quickly become just "Great Comission Baptists"

..which sounds great to me. :wavey: