As has been tradition, Southern Baptist leaders will continue to ask overseas
missionaries to commit to work “in accordance with and not contrary to”
the conventions Baptist Faith and Message.
As has been tradition, Southern Baptist leaders will continue to ask overseas
missionaries to commit to work “in accordance with and not contrary to”
the conventions Baptist Faith and Message.
Missionaries and Southern Baptist International Mission Board
staff members will not be required to sign the document.
Whether they would or not became an issue during last years
annual Southern Baptist Convention, when a motion was made that denominational
employees not be required to do so.
The motion was referred to all convention entities for consideration.
Some have responded by continuing their practice of requiring employees to sign
the denominations confessional statement.
Likewise, International Mission Board trustees voted unanimnously
last week to continue their longstanding practice – and to put it in writing.
In doing so, trustees also voted to “wholeheartedly” affirm the 2000
Baptist Faith and Message as the “standard for carrying out the programs
and ministries” of the agency.
Under the continuing practice, prospective missionaries and
staff members will continue to write a statement of beliefs in their own words.
Those will be reviewed by administrators and a trustee subcommittee, providing
leaders an opportunity to discuss areas of concern with persons before they
are recommended for service.
Later, prospects will be asked if they have read and agree
with the current Baptist Faith and Message statement. If they answer “no,”
they then are asked to explain any area of difference.
Either way, the propsective worker is asked to sign an affirmation
that reads: “In accountability to the International Mission Board and Southern
Baptists, I agree to carry out my responsibilities in accordance with and not
contrary to the current Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by
the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Board leaders emphasized the practice is the same that has
been followed for years. “We are simply affirming our historical practice
and putting it into our policies,” trustee Chair Tim McCoy of Georgia said.
International Mission Board trustees discussed the issue at
length before deciding there is no need to change the current practice, noted
McCoy, pastor at Ingleside Baptist Church in Macon, Ga. “Our process has
served us well in the past.”
Given the boards track record both for appointments and
for dealing with theological aberrations that crop up after missionaries are
on the field, trustees decided the current practice is adequate, McCoy added.
He noted established policies already forbid missionaries from
repeatedly advocating views that are contrary to those outlined in the Baptist
Faith and Message.
The trustee action represents a strong vote of confidence,
board President Jerry Rankin added. “The trustees commended the quality
of our personnel and their wholehearted commitment to Southern Baptist doctrinal
positions and to the task of taking the good news of Gods love to all
peoples.”
During discussion of the practice, Rankin decried time-consuming
processes and restrictive policies that might hinder missionary appointments.
“By what criteria should anyone be deprived of hearing the gospel of Jesus
Christ?” he asked. “By what justification can any people group or
nation be denied the opportunity to know of Gods love and Christs
saving power?”
In a later interview, Rankin said that when missionary candidates
have indicated problems with the Baptist Faith and Message in the past, it commonly
was over articles that most Southern Baptists would consider secondary or non-essential
doctrines. For example, an occasional prospect will come from a church that
has elders, while the Baptist Faith and Message says the biblical offices of
church leaders are limited to pastors and deacons, he noted.
Meanwhile, unlike other employees, senior-level administrators
such as vice presidents and regional leaders will be required to affirm the
Baptist Faith and Message, Rankin said. He added that individuals currently
in those posts already have reported they have no problem with the current version
of the doctrinal statement.
In his general report to trustees, Rankin described “a
radical increase in global harvest,” as reflected in baptisms and overseas
church growth in recent years.
Overseas baptisms increased 24 percent last year, reaching
451,000, he said. The establishment of new churches on mission fields grew 37
percent – to 6,525.
Three years ago, the mission board was targeting 338 people
groups, Rankin continued. Today, missionaries work with 1,000 people groups,
he said.
At that rate of growth, Rankin said the mission board might
report 1 million overseas baptisms and 10,000 new churches each year by the
year 2005. In 10 years, Southern Baptists might have 10,000 overseas missionaries,
he added.
And by 2010, it is possible there will be no more unreached
people groups, he said.
“We will be unable to identify any people group without
access to the gospel in 10 years,” Rankin emphasized.
Indeed, it now appears practical to achieve the Great Commission
command to preach the gospel to all the world, he said.
“We have found that cultural, religious and political
barriers cannot prohibit the gospel penetrating the most remote people group
or unevangelized society when it is Gods timing and intention to make
himself known,” Rankin stressed.
“The only barrier is our own lack of vision and boldness,
a lethargy that results in dissipating resources in self-centered programs and
a prayerlessness that deprives us of knowing the heart of God and gives us a
passion for fulfilling his mission.”
Rankin challenged board trustees to follow the example of many
international missionaries whose passion for missions is being driven by the
motto, “Whatever its going to take.” He called on trustees to
“do whatever it takes to mobilize and focus the resources of Southern Baptists
and support the strategies that will enable us to complete the unfinished task.”
In response, McCoy commented, “God is at work in an awesome
way, and he is going to be at work in the days ahead.”
Meanwhile, in other actions, board trustees approved $2 million
to upgrade the boards video, photo and printing operations, received a
report on new directions for the agencys public relations and development
office and created a trustee executive committee to handle emergencies that
may develop between board meetings.
In addition, they participated in the commissioning of 50 new
missionaries, increasing the denominations total international missions
force to 4,924 workers.
(This article includes information from Associated Baptist
Press and Baptist Press releases)
