State Conventions/Associations

Yes, 14 total churches that make up the Northeastern Bapist Association (New Mexico). In fact we having an associational picnic tomarrow and hosting a missions conference in
October. We meet every month.

 

Yes, part of a 6-church association, but no affiliation with a larger national group, since there is none for Primitive Baptists. Our association "corresponds" with 15 other associations, who in turn "correspond" with other associations, and so on to make a network of like-minded churches.

We have an annual session, and rotate a 5-Sunday meeting among the churches, so in essence the association meets 5-times a year, but only one session has any business session with it.

 

Both the church I'm a member of, Fremont Community Church, and the church I attend most often (and where my fiancée is a member), Japanese Baptist Church, are affiliated with three groups: the new ABC Region called the Evergreen Baptist Association; the Washington Baptist Convention (which mainly owns our camps); and the Seattle Baptist Union (which mainly as far as I can tell disburses trust funds). Fremont is part of the EBA Euro-American Caucus, and Japanese Baptist is part of the EBA Asian-American Caucus. I think JBC may also be part of an association of Asian Baptist ethnic churches that continues to include both EBA and ABCNW churches (e.g. Chinese Baptist is ABCNW).

BTW, JBC also recently held a "reunion" joint worship service with Tabernacle Baptist, a (now)GARBC church that was involved in the planting of Japanese Baptist over a hundred years ago. Dr. Aita preached from Tabernacle's pulpit at the evening service attended by dozens from both churches. I think this sort of fraternization between ABC and GARBC congregations is a bit unusual, and highly laudable.

Haruo

 

We have 34 churchs in the local SBC association, Liberty Associaion of Baptists.

 

I am the state missions director for the Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches. It was founded in 1950 in the state which had gotten the reputation of the "graveyard of evangelism." Begun with 5 churches in 1950 there are over 100 churches listed in our directory today. God has been good through the vehicle of church planting to build this fellowship of fundamental, independent, Baptist churches.

 

Yes. At the most local level, the Goshen Association (it appears their site is down). At the state level we are moving to the SBCV from the BGAV this Sunday in a called business meeting ("like-minded" being the operative phrase). At the national level, we are SBC.

 

How can I as a pastor of a Cooperating Southern Baptist Church have real fellowship with the pastor of a former SBC Church that has affiliated with the CBF?

There is a philosophical difference, a theological difference and a political difference between our two churches. Why aren't these sufficient grounds to cease fellowship? What kind of work does an association have that can be carried on in an atmosphere like this?

 

For me, it's a matter of accountability in stewardship. The BGAV has begun moving towards an ecumenical agenda, thereby using funds given by well intentioned pew sitters to teach doctrine that is not in accordance with their beliefs.

As it stands, only 35% of received funds were going to the Cooperative Program from the BGAV and that is only IF the church designated the funds to one particular giving program among four (the SBCV gives 50% with no extraneous affiliations - pure SBC).

Then there's the question of what was being done with the other 65% which the BGAV retained. I fear that the doctrine being promoted was not in accordance with my own. There was also a strong movement away from the SBC at the state level and towards the CBF. The lack of any firm doctrinal position on that association's part meant that my church's mission offering could be going to teach ANYTHING. One just never knew.

In short, the SBCV is a far better alternative for the mission that my church wishes to support. The agenda is quite clear and their is no question about the doctrine that the funds will support. The Virginia state affiliation we supported had become a mess. If we were not moving towards the SBCV, we may well have moved towards independent status on that level.

 

Hardsheller,

You could still operate a soup kitchen, build a Habitat house, run a homeless shelter, teach adult education courses...

There are all sorts of shared ministries that SBC, CBF, and Alliance churches can cooperate on.

Joshua

 

Yes. Brown Deer Baptist Church is a member of the Lakeland Baptist Association which is a part of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention which is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention which has the Lord Jesus as the head no matter who happens to be the current earthly president. (And Dr. Graham is doin' just fine)

 

Joshua,

Granted we do participate with churches not of our own faith in community activities and social ministries but mere participation with other churches does not a "Baptist Association" make.

Historically a Baptist Association was a group of churches in a geographical region that were linked together by their commonly held doctrines and they purposely associated themselves together because of that common doctrine for fellowship and ministry.

Quite frankly I could not in good conscience as a Southern Baptist participate and cooperate in an association with other Baptists who did not share my core beliefs.

 

Our church is Southern Baptist and a major member in the Georgia Baptist Convention. We also are part of our county convention... all SBC groups.

We are partners in a pulpit exchange with a number of black churches in our area and share a sunrise service for the community with some Baptist churches who are much smaller and are not affiliated with any convention.

Diane

 

Our association has churches that are affiliated with the Southern Baptist of Texas as well as the Baptist Convention of Texas. All of our churches support the Southern Baptist Convention on the national level. We meet at least once a month for fellowship and cooperate with two associational camps, an evangelism rally, and other events throughout the year. Despite some of our difference we have remained committed to cooperate with each other within the association.

 

I think "Hardsheller" seems to have forgotten the original reason associations were formed. They were created so that churches could work together to spread the love of Jesus in their communities. That is much more important that making sure we agree on all issues! And we must remember that the association is not a part of the SBC or state convention, but is autonomous. Thus a church does not have to be in one to be in the other.

 

Then perhaps "Kaylor" could fill in the vacant spots in my Baptist Education as to why the early Baptist Associations spent so much time hammering out doctrinal matters at their meetings?

The earliest associations were formed by Baptists of like faith and order. There was no compromising on basic Baptist Doctrines in order to do good works together.

 

Though we are officially SBC here in Thomson the Kilpatrick association is very close together in fellowship and support. We give generously to the association as they have their own local missions projects and evangelism efforts. Everything our Church does is fully supported by the other Churches in my area association. Though we are linked to the SBC we are almost like a separate group of Churches who just help one another, even non SBC Churches!!!