How the Southern Baptist Denomination Functions

Revised by Rudolph D. Gonzalez

Original manuscript by David T. Bunch Copyright Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention Atlanta, Georgia, 1984,1998, 1999 Revised Edition 2003 Copyright 2003, North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Alpharetta, Georgia All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to: Editorial and Design Manager, North American Mission Board, 4200 North Point Pkwy., Alpharetta, GA 30022-4176; or fax (770) 410-6006; or e-mail permissions@namb.net

Southern Baptist Primer

How the Southern Baptist Denomination Functions

Table of Contents
Preface ..................................................................................................................................2 Foreword ................................................................................................................................3 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................4 How Southern Baptists Function in Organizational Relationships ........................................6 The Local Church ......................................................................................................7 The Association ..........................................................................................................11 The State Convention ................................................................................................13 The Southern Baptist Convention ..............................................................................15 How Local Churches Relate to Other Southern Baptist Organizations ..................................17 Cooperation ..............................................................................................................17 Messengers and Annual Meetings ..............................................................................17 Finances......................................................................................................................17 How Tithes/Offerings Support Churches and All Denominational Causes ............................19 Gifts ..........................................................................................................................19 Cooperative Program ..................................................................................................19 Special Offerings ........................................................................................................22 How the Southern Baptist Convention Delegates Its Work ....................................................23 SBC Ministries and Services ......................................................................................24 Ministries/Assignments ..............................................................................................27 How Missionaries Relate to Boards and Ministries ................................................................32 A Simple View............................................................................................................32 North American Missionaries ....................................................................................32 International Missionaries ..........................................................................................32 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................36 Resources for Further Study....................................................................................................37 Appendices ............................................................................................................................38 1. Southern Baptist Convention Flowchart 2. International Mission Board Administrative Chart 3. LifeWay Christian Resources Administrative Chart 4. Directory of State Conventions/Fellowships & Executive Directors 5. Directory of SBC Agencies 6. 2003 Ethnic Fellowship Directory Bibliography ..........................................................................................................................51 Author ....................................................................................................................................52

Preface
This Southern Baptist Primer gives a simple explanation of the Southern Baptist denomination. It is the result of an instructional period in the Mission Service Corps orientation, which discusses how the denomination functions and how missionaries relate to its structure. I was unable to locate a simple explanation of the denomination and its relationship to local churches and missionaries. My goal was to write a primer for understanding the denomination, not an exhaustive work. This attempts to express the polity and relationships in Southern Baptist life as they function today. My first introduction to the denominational structures was in Junior Training Union in the 1940s, by my father, T.W. Bunch, Training Union director for the Miller County Baptist Association in Missouri. I accompanied him to several churches to help begin Training Unions (now called Discipleship Training). A week of study always preceded the first Sunday night meeting. I sat and often helped lead discussion about church polity and the denomination. An emphasis about denominational polity was introduced by James L. Sullivan in the late 1950s when he lectured at the St. Louis Baptist Pastors Conference, of which I was a member. His book, Polity As I See It, expounds on his lecture. I appreciate suggestions from my colleagues, Gerald B. Palmer and J.C. Bradley; the counsel of Ralph Bobo, Loganville, Georgia; and help form Richard Kay and Gomer Leach of the former Sunday School Board, known as LifeWay Christian Resources and Ronald Boswell from the former Foreign Mission Board (known today as the International Mission Board. David T. Bunch

Foreword
Throughout its history, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has continued to grow, primarily on the twin tiers of evangelism and church planting. Not surprisingly, growth brings with it the need to educate new believers and congregations on SBC denominational structure and life. To this end, David Bunchs, A Southern Baptist Primer: How the Southern Baptist Denomination Functions, has been revised and updated. It is the desire of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) to equip all Southern Baptists with the knowledge necessary to be full participants in the rich opportunities the Lord has given our denomination to serve Him faithfully. A Southern Baptist Primer is an excellent tool for understanding the various functions of the Convention and how to access and work within denominational structures. Additionally, I would like to thank Tom Cheyney and David Putman of the Church Planting Group, Readiness Team for seeing the need to help church planters and young pastors learn more about our great Convention. The Compass I: SBC Church Planter Start-up Kit that hosts this work is an excellent tool for training men of God about working within the SBC. I would like to thank Tal Davis and Bill Gordon for their input into the necessary revisions of this primer. I would also like to thank the secretarial staff of the Interfaith Evangelism Team for their expeditious work in preparing the manuscript in its revised form. Finally, my thanks go out to the various SBC agencies that provided up-to-date information. Rudolph D. Gonzalez Director, Interfaith Evangelism North American Mission Board

Introduction

he Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), with approximately 42,775 cooperating churches and a membership of 16,247,736 in 2002, is the second largest religious body in the United States. A knowledge of the denominational structure helps in understanding how missionary activities are accomplished, evangelism and church planting are promoted, benevolences are supported and finances are allocated. This is a primer to understand the denomination, not an exhaustive discussion about the Southern Baptist Convention and its organizations. Even though this is not a discussion of theology, theology provides the basis for organization. Baptists believe that the Bible is the guide for all faiths, beliefs, and practices. Baptist theology emphasizes the competency of an individual to approach God in faith, salvation, and discipleship. This theology influences the structure and activities of the local church. The church, as a community of believers, is to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ, to aid the development of believers, to aid believers in ministering to others and in sharing their faith to evangelize the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. Denominational organizations, influenced by the accepted theology, are to help individuals and churches, local associations and state conventions, as well as local assemblies of believers. Unless Christ is magnified, we have nothing to say. Unless the lost are redeemed and the redeemed instructed, we have little to do,1 wrote James L. Sullivan about the denomination. The objective of the denomination is to aid local churches. The denomination is not viewed as a superstructure, a hierarchical system, or a presbyterial structure. The denomination, both local and national expressions, is considered as an extension of the churches, rather than the churches an enhancement of it. In the discussion about how churches relate to the denomination, you will note the direction of financial flow and controls within the structure. The denomination is an avenue for a church to accomplish the commission of our Lord by collective action and cooperative pooling of finances in ways which the commission could not

be implemented by a church alone. The church is a corporate group of believers in Jesus Christ as the only Savior, committed together for worship, fellowship, teaching, discipling, and extending the kingdom of God. The local church is a concept with practical implications. Even though all Christians of the world are a community, it is the local church structure that is the practical demonstration of the incarnation. The local church is the place to worship, fellowship, do evangelism, have corporate prayer, structure into teaching activities that create Christian growth, do the social acts that provide for the needs of people and bring our tithes and offerings. The autonomy, or self-governing, of a local church is important to Baptists. But autonomy is in the context of the lordship and commission of Jesus Christ the Savior. Autonomy is always balanced with the interdependence of churches, thus the value of autonomous churches is enhanced through cooperation. Violating the teachings and concepts of Jesus in the claims of autonomy is hypocrisy impossible. Autonomy enables churches to determine their activities and procedures. Autonomy is not a license to criticize fellow Christians, deny individuals their calling, withhold missions involvement or misinterpret Scriptures. Autonomy provides the ability to do the work of God in the local context in a manner more productive for the kingdom of God. The association is a self-governing fellowship of autonomous churches sharing a common faith and are on mission in their setting. Its purpose is to enable churches to be in active fellowship and to be on mission, individually and together, in their setting.2 The Southern Baptist Convention, which meets annually, is composed of messengers3 from churches that are in friendly cooperation with this Convention and sympathetic with its purposes and work and have during the fiscal year preceding been bona fide contributors to the Conventions work.4

The Southern Baptist denomination is the total of all Southern Baptist life including, but not limited to, the churches, the membership, associations, institutions, entities, benevolences, state conventions, colleges, seminaries, commissions, and boards. Cooperation is a key word in understanding Southern Baptists. The 42,775 local churches, composed of more than 16 million believers, are bound together by cooperative action rather than signed documents, contracts, or creeds. Southern Baptists cooperate to facilitate missions, evangelism, church planting, benevolences, Christian education, and other ministries that emerge from the teachings of Jesus. Practical ways in which Southern Baptists cooperate are through financial systems and planned activities that promote the kingdom of God. The financial systems are: (1) the Cooperative Program, (2) associational mission gifts, and (3) special offerings. Planned activities include leader training events, rallies, conferences, simultaneous events such as revivals, Vacation Bible Schools, annual meetings, and support of educational and benevolent institutions. Participation in Southern Baptist life is contingent upon (1) financial contributions through the Cooperative Program and to local associations, and (2) participation in functions that address ministries, missions, evangelistic outreach (church planting efforts), training, fellowship, and development of institutions. The theology and polity of a denomination ultimately is delineated by activities. Activities, which demonstrate that churches are participating with the Southern Baptist Convention, are (1) cooperation in functions and meetings to promote common goals and (2) giving funds through the channels of mission support which include the Cooperative Program, associational mission gifts, and special offerings. How does one identify with Southern Baptists?

An individual may identify with Southern Baptists by becoming a member of a cooperating church. The church identifies by being in fellowship (see How Local Churches Relate to Other SBC Organizations in this manual.). These tend to identify people and churches called Southern Baptists: 1. Accept Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the only Savior and Lord. 2. Believe in the Bible as the Word of God. 3. Have a genuine concern to bring all people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 4. Have an attitude of cooperation that enables the collective larger group to do more than several individual efforts. 5. Subscribe to the body of beliefs commonly associated with Baptists: the authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures; responsibility and competency of the individual to come to God through Jesus Christ; salvation as Gods gift of divine grace received through repentance and faith; regenerated church membership; each church as an autonomous body of immersed believers redeemed by Jesus; the ordinances of baptism and the Lords Supper as symbols and reminders; and religious liberty for all.5 6. Participate in Southern Baptist sponsored activities. 7. Contribute financially through the financial plans. 8. Identify with the local association according to its bylaws. 9. Cooperate with state and national conventions.

Notes __________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Sullivan, James L., Polity As I See It (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1982), p. 15. 2. Bradley, J. C., Associational Base Design (Atlanta: Home Mission Board), p. III: 3 3. See How Local Churches Relate to Other Southern Baptist Organizations in this manual. 4 1983 Southern Baptist Convention Annual (Nashville: Executive Committee, 1983), p.4. 5 A more comprehensive study may include The Baptist Faith and Message and Baptist Ideals available at LifeWay Christian Stores.

How Southern Baptists Function in Organizational Relationships

THE CHURCH
Established by Jesus Christ composed of believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Savior and Lord, who are baptized, who are committed, and who are congregated.

The Local Church

Relationships in the denomination begin with the primacy of the local church. The local church is the center of Southern Baptist life. Into the church, believers are baptized, members are brought and nourished, and tithes are given. From the church, witnesses go to the local community and to the world; the called out (ministers, missionaries, teachers, and leaders) come; and financial and personnel resources to do Gods work are made available. The local church is primary in Southern Baptist structure because (1) it is the entity that our Lord established to continue His kingdoms ministry on the earth, and (2) it is the place where people confess their faith, train, serve, find strength, and share their resources with the needs of the world. Local churches are composed of those who believe in Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord and who, upon their profession (commitment) of faith in Jesus Christ, are baptized by immersion under the auspices of the church, who request to become members of that church and who are accepted by vote of the members. Membership entitles one to participate in church decisions, hold office in the church, and represent the church when duly elected. A person becomes a member of a Baptist church in one of three ways: 1. Profession of faith in Christ followed by baptism (immersion) under the auspices of the church. 2. Transfer of letter from another church of like faith and order, which is one that holds the body of beliefs commonly associated with Southern Baptists. 3. Statement, which is the declaration that the person previously has been a member of a Baptist church of like faith and order and cannot secure a letter of transfer, e.g., the church disbanded; records were lost or destroyed. Requests for membership are presented to the local church. The response of the members present and voting expresses acceptance of the person into the corporate membership of that local church. Local churches determine their membership and how tithes and offerings are allocated. They own their own properties, call their pastors and other staff, ordain deacons, ordain pastors, elect their organizational leaders, and determine their annual calendar of activities.

THE CHURCH
Receives believers into the fellowship Has elected leaders: Pastors Deacons Other Worships and evangelizes Receives tithes and offerings Performs Christian missions and benevolences Does Discipleship Training Does leader training 42,775 Churches in SBC

The Church Functioning

A church has leaders and officers that enable it to function. Larger churches demand more structure than smaller ones. The local church determines what officers are needed and elects them. A church receives tithes and offerings. The church, in business session, determines how these funds are distributed. Most churches have these items in the budget (guidelines for distributing funds): missions, salaries, operation expenses, building provisions. The missions distribution in a Southern Baptist church normally includes these items: Cooperative Program associational missions, local missions, and other benevolences. Southern Baptist churches are located in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and adjacent islands, American Samoa, and Guam. Churches organize into associations, state conventions, and a national convention. Associations and conventions often form boards, committees, agencies, and commissions to help churches establish new local churches and to aid in the ministry of cooperating churches.

THE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

Messengers from churches form an ASSOCIATION

FUNCTIONS Fellowship/Reports Evangelism/Missions Doctrinal Integrity Leader Training Other Activities

LEADERS are: Director of Missions Moderator Treasurer Clerk Others as needed Committees, e.g. Credential Committee Evangelism Council Missions Development Council

Over 1,200 Associations

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The Association
Churches cluster into units called associations (note illustration). The 1,230 associations1 normally are formed along county or city lines. In newer Southern Baptist regions, associations often cover several counties or a larger geographical area. The number of churches relating to an association varies from a few to more than 300. Associations are autonomous and have bylaws that govern policies, procedures and decisions of the organization and its leaders. The association seeks to accomplish its purpose through the pursuit of three functions: (1) to nurture fellowship, (2) to assist churches, (3) to act together in joint ventures.2 The annual meeting of an association is important because its leaders are elected, a budget is adopted, policies are determined and reports are received. The executive of the association is called a director of missions or associational missionary. The association elects a moderator to preside over the meetings and attend to related duties. Other needed officers are elected. The association aids local churches in these areas: 1. Fellowship/Reports. The association is developed to provide a way for churches to come together and share Gods blessings during the past year. The annual meeting is a highlight for churches. A letter of report is read during the annual meeting, enabling churches to rejoice in Gods blessings. Today, the annual meeting is a time of reports, business, fellowship and celebration. The official report, which is the Annual Church Profile, is completed and sent to the associational clerk, who forwards a copy to the state convention and the national office. The national office compiles annual data reports from all the church reporting. Most associations publish Annual Minutes that contain the reports from the churches. 2. Missions/Evangelism. The association aids the churches in missions/evangelism endeavors. Missions and evangelism are the basis of cooperation. 3. Doctrinal Integrity. The association normally is the organization3 in the Southern Baptist denomination that examines the theological statement of the local church in regard to cooperation. A local church submits its statement of belief and practice to the association for examination and acceptance prior to becoming a part of the associations fellowship. 4. Leader Training. Training conferences are conducted in the association for church leaders. Denominational agencies train leaders who conduct training conferences in associations for church leaders in Sunday School, Discipleship Training, evangelism, Vacation Bible School, music, mens and womens ministries, and Womans Missionary Union. 5. Other Activities. The association may engage in other functions to strengthen the ministry of churches, such as benevolent institutions or ministry institutions. Some associations have institutions, such as camps, shelters for the needy or elderly housing, which are considered to be extensions of local churches to help believers accomplish their ministry.

Notes 1. Associational Strategy Team, North American Mission Board, SBC. 2. Bradley, Associational Base Design, p.II:3. 3. Some newer state conventions have placed doctrinal qualifications in the bylaws.

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STATE CONVENTIONS
Messengers from churches form a STATE CONVENTION

FUNCTIONS Evangelism/Missions Benevolences Education Leader Training Denominational Information Annuities Other BUDGET OFFICERS AND STAFF 42 State Conventions

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The State Convention

Churches cooperate in organizations called state conventions, now numbering 42. Most state conventions are formed in individual states. Some newer state conventions include two or more political states, e.g., Northwest (Washington and Oregon) and Kansas-Nebraska. Churches within a state may form a state convention at will; however, the SBC and its entities, also being autonomous, determine their conditions for recognizing a state convention. A state, or group of states, forming a state convention, in order to be eligible as a Baptist state convention to receive funding by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) must have: 1. A record of five years of cooperative relations with Southern Baptist work 2. A minimum number of churches and church membership, one year before organizational meeting of the convention of : (1) 80 constituted churches and 12,000 members, or (2) 70 constituted churches and 13,500 members, or (3) 60 constituted churches and 15,000 members. 3. Practice of the churches making up the Convention of giving an average of at least 10 percent of their undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program. 4. No more than 60 percent of the churches receiving assistance from NAMB. 5. The ability to assume a minimum percentage (10%) of the missions and evangelism cooperative budget expenditures within the territory of the state convention. 6. A five-year continuous relationship of the churches in a regional fellowship organization sponsored by the conventions with which they are affiliated. 7. A fund established by the churches with which to begin convention operations equal to at least two months cost of operation. Other Southern Baptist agencies normally follow these guidelines also. A state convention is eligible to have representatives on SBC boards and agencies when there is a minimum of 25,000 members in cooperating churches. Functions of the state convention are: 1. Evangelism/Missions. Sate conventions are major leaders in evangelism/mission strategy. A major expenditure of funds is for evangelism and missions. 2. Benevolences. The state convention assumes the task for benevolences whose costs are more than local feasibility, e.g., childrens homes, hospitals, homes for the aged, and pastors annuities. 3. Education. The state convention is the primary leader in Baptist college education. Most Baptist colleges are related to state conventions. A large expenditure in some state budgets is for colleges. 4. Leader Training. In recent years, the state convention has assumed a large role in training leaders for Sunday School, Discipleship Training, Student and Collegiate Ministries, Mens Ministries, and Womans Missionary Union. LifeWay Christian Resources, Womans Missionary Union, the North American Mission Board, and other SBC entities work with state leaders to do continuing training for church and associational leaders. 5. Denominational Information. The state Baptist newspaper is the accepted medium to inform church members about happenings and issues of particular interest. 6. Annuity and Insurance for Church Leaders. Each state convention develops a contract with the SBC Annuity Board to provide an annuity and insurance plan for church leaders. Moneys from state Cooperative Program receipts help fund the annuity plan. 7. Other. The state convention may engage in other activities that will enhance its ministry, such as church building, pastoral counseling, and conference centers. State conventions have bylaws that govern policies, procedures, decisions by leaders, and conditions for churches to cooperate. The annual meeting of a state convention is a very important meeting because budgets are adopted, leaders are elected, policies are determined, and reports are received. The president, in most state conventions is an elected, non-salaried officer for the purpose of moderating the annual session and attending to related duties. Other officers and leaders are elected as needed. 13

THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

Messengers from churches form the SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

FUNCTIONS Missions/Evangelism Christian Education Christian Literature Benevolences Social Services Ministerial Commissions Standing Committees BUDGET OFFICERS AND STAFF

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The Southern Baptist Convention

Churches through the messenger system formed a national convention called the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845. The first Baptist organization to support missions was formed in 1707, the Philadelphia Baptist Association. The second was formed in Charleston, S.C., in 1751. The SBC is a national organization composed of messengers from cooperative autonomous Baptist churches that support its missionary, benevolent, and education causes. The purpose of the SBC is to provide a general organization for Baptists in the United States, its territories, and Canada for the promotion of Christian missions at home and abroad and any other objects such as Christian education, benevolent enterprises, and social services which it may deem proper and advisable for the furtherance of the kingdom of God.1 Immediately after organizing, the SBC decided to have a Foreign Mission Board and a Home (Domestic) Mission Board. A publishing house, the Sunday School Board, was established in 1891 in Nashville, Tenn. Theological education was established through the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1859, first located in Greenville S.C., now located in Louisville, Ky. The SBC selected boards to implement missions, evangelism, education, and benevolences. The board procedure provided for the annual Convention meeting to elect individuals to form a board of directors, which was charged to act in behalf of the SBC and to carry out its wishes. The board of directors was responsible to the messengers in the annual session of the Convention for its actions. Persons composing the board were elected for specific terms. The board was responsible for managing the agency or institution according to the charter, Articles of Incorporation or stated guidelines. A commission was similar to a board except it had a more narrow assignment for service ministry to churches and agencies. A committee was a task force that performed a specific assignment of the Convention. Another procedure to implement an extension of a convention was called a society. A society was composed of persons interested in an activity. The group was self-determining and self-perpetuating. A convention could not control and could not elect persons to a society. The society approach was rejected by Southern Baptists.2 Southern Baptists want control over their entities, thus they elect boards to direct activities, which are extensions of church ministries. The SBC boards, institutions, commissions, committees, and associated organizations are: Boards Annuity Board International Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board Institutions Seminaries Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Southern Baptist Foundation The Christian Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Committees Annual Convention Committees Executive Committee Standing Committees of the Convention Order of Business Denominational Calendar Auxiliary Organizations Baptist World Alliance Womans Missionary Union

15

Womans Missionary Union (WMU does not receive funds from the Cooperative Program), organized in 1888, is an auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention. It provides programs, publications, and promotion for mission education, mission action, and mission support. The WMU is an integral part of the organization in most local churches, associations, and state conventions. The SBC has offices for its Executive Committee in Nashville, Tenn. The Executive Committee assists the SBC in carrying out its purpose, acts as the SBC ad interim in matters not already assigned, is the fiscal agent of SBC funds, and promotes the SBC as a whole. The chief officer for the Executive Committee is called the President and Chief Executive Officer.

The SBC has bylaws that govern the policies, procedures, decisions by leaders and conditions for churches to cooperate. The annual meeting of the SBC is most important because the budget, which includes the allocation of received Cooperative Program funds, is adopted; officers, members of committees, commissions, and boards are elected; policies are determined; and reports are received from the agencies. The president is an elected, non-salaried officer. Other officers and leaders are elected as needed.

Notes __________________________________________________________________________________ 1. 1983 Southern Baptist Convention Annual (Nashville: Executive Committee 1983), p.4 2. The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1845 partly because churches did not agree with the society approach.

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How Local Churches Relate to Other Southern Baptist Organizations

Association, State Convention, and National Convention
Cooperation: Churches Relate through a Spirit of Cooperation Local churches choose to cooperate with Southern Baptist denominational organizations; they do not belong to the Southern Baptist Convention. Churches belong to Jesus Christ. Churches relate to one another in organizations because they choose to cooperate in missions and benevolences to expand their ministries and to have resources available to help develop their members. Churches relate to one another through a spirit of cooperation and a commitment to common causes. The commitment to evangelism, church planting, short-term missions, and basic biblical Christianity binds Southern Baptists together. The spirit of cooperation is the first relationship that leads to formal participation. Without the spirit of oneness and purpose, formal participation becomes empty. Southern Baptists receive their structural strength from a spirit of cooperation to do the tasks of evangelism, missions, and benevolences commissioned by our Lord. Messengers and Annual Meetings: Churches Participate Through Messengers and Annual Meetings Churches relate to the association, state convention, and Southern Baptist Convention through messengers elected by the churches. The church elects messengers1 to the association in accordance with the associational bylaws, to the state convention in accordance with the state conventions bylaws, and to the Southern Baptist Convention in accordance with SBC bylaws. A messenger is a member of a local church, elected by that church to attend the annual meeting and to vote on issues presented. The messenger is autonomous and votes a personal decision, based on the presented facts and not the predetermined decision of the sending body. Decisions made by messengers are binding on that group (association or convention) but are not binding on the local church. The messenger is not a delegate. (A delegate is one who is sent from an organization to a larger body, who votes on issues presented, and the decisions are binding, both on the larger body and the sending organization. A delegate may be instructed how to vote on issues.) Annual meetings of the association, state and national conventions are the decision-making events for the organizations. The church participates in the decision by sending messengers to annual meetings. Most state conventions and associations have executive boards that make decisions ad interim. Finances: Churches Participate through Finances The local church cooperates with other churches in forming organizations (associations and conventions) through which the local church is aided to expand its ministries. The local church is represented in annual meetings of the association and conventions through messengers. The church participates in Southern Baptist life by helping finance its ministries and activities. Tithes and offerings from believers are received by the church. Each church determines how this money is used to do the work of the kingdom of God. The church relates to other churches by helping to finance common causes. Financial systems, which relate the local church to denominational causes, are the associational missions gifts, Cooperative Program, and special offerings. Thus, most churches have these budget items: Missions Cooperative Program Associational missions gifts Local missions Other Personnel Ministries Operations Buildings

Note __________________________________________________________________________________ 1. A study of messengers can be found in The Association in Baptist History, ed. Lynn E. May Jr. (Nashville, Tenn.: Historical Commission, SBC), April 1982, pp. 3-10.

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HOW CHURCHES RELATE TO THE DENOMINATION

Through a spirit of cooperation Through messengers and annual meetings Through mission gifts Through participating in mutual events

ASSOCIATION Functions Fellowship/Reports Missions/Evangelism Doctrinal Integrity Leader Training Other Activities Leaders Director of Missions Moderator Treasurer Clerk Others as needed Committees, e.g. Credentials Missions Development Council Over 1,200 associations

STATE CONVENTION Functions Evangelism/Missions Benevolences Education Leader Training Denominational Information Annuities Other Budget Officers and Staff 42 State Conventions

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION Functions Missions/Evangelism Christian Literature Christian Education Benevolences Social Services Ministerial Annuity Commissions Standing Committees Budget Officers and Staff 18

Local Churches

How Tithes and Offerings Support Churches and All Denominational Causes
The Southern Baptist financial plan enables ministries to be conducted. The plan includes associational gifts, Cooperative Program, and special offerings. Gifts: Associational Missions Gifts The financial plan between the church and the association is called associational mission gifts. Each local church normally includes support for the association in its budget, averaging from 2 percent to 5 percent of undesignated tithes and offerings. The association plans expenditures each year at the annual meeting by adopting a budget. The annual association is composed of messengers from cooperating churches. These messengers determine how the money is allocated. Cooperative Program The Cooperative Program (CP), formulated in 1925, is the financial plan that enables cooperating churches to make a single contribution which is disbursed to missions, evangelism, institutions and benevolent causes in the budgets of the state convention and Southern Baptist Convention. A definition: The Cooperative Program is a financial channel of cooperation between the state conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention, which makes it possible for all persons making undesignated gifts through their church to support the missionary, education, and benevolent work in their own state convention and also the work of the Southern Baptist Convention.1 Most local Southern Baptist churches have in their budgets a mission contribution called the Cooperative Program. These gifts are usually sent to state convention offices. Most churches send these designated gifts each month. State conventions depend mainly upon the CP for money to support missions, evangelism, benevolences, and all of its work. State conventions determine during their annual meetings the percentage of CP receipts to be sent for national mission causes and the percentage that will stay in the state. Those funds designated for national mission causes are sent to the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, Tenn., for distribution to SBC boards, institutions, commissions, and committees. Each state convention adopts a program of work and a budget during its annual meeting, composed of messengers elected by the churches. Budgets vary according to state needs and resources. Older state conventions tend to contribute a larger percentage of their budgets for institutions like colleges, childrens homes, home for the aged, and hospitals. Younger conventions will have a major expenditure in missions, evangelism, and development. The SBC depends on the Cooperative Program for most of its fund to do missionary and benevolent work.

Notes 1. 1979 Southern Baptist Convention Annual (Nashville: Executive Committee, SBC), p. 30.

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Mission Finance from Church to Denomination

ASSOCIATION BudgetDetermined in annual meeting includes: Missions Evangelism Leader Training Benevolences Other CHURCH BUDGET Missions Cooperative Program Associational Missions Local Missions Other Missions Personnel Ministries Operations Buildings

STATE CONVENTION BudgetDetermined in annual meeting and includes: Missions Evangelism Colleges Benevolences Pastors Annuities Leader Training Denominational Information Other

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION BudgetDetermined at annual meeting and includes: Annuities for Pastors International Missions North American Missions Seminaries Commissions Committee Operations Convention Operations

Note: Some local churches send their CP offerings directly to the SBC, rather than through their state convention.

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How Cooperative Program and Associational Gifts Flow

ASSOCIATION Expenditures are determined by the association in annual meeting

STATE CONVENTION A percentage of CP receipts is retained by the state convention for its mission in the state conventions annual meeting.

LOCAL CHURCH Gifts through the CP are a portion of undesignated tithes and offerings given through the local church and then distributed to the local association, the state convention, and/or the SBC as it determines.

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION CP funds are received from state conventions and/or local churches. Funds are then budgeted among various SBC agencies, seminaries, and commissions as determined by the SBC Executive Committee and approved at the annual SBC meeting. 21

The annual meeting of the SBC is composed of messengers elected by cooperating churches. The annual convention adopts a budget for the following year. Cooperative Program money from the churches, in most instances, is sent to the state convention. A percentage, as determined by the state convention, is then sent to the SBC Executive Committee. The Convention in session determines how the mission gifts (Cooperative Program) will be disbursed. The SBC disburses money only for items listed in the budget The SBC Executive Committee sends the money received through the Cooperative Program to the boards and agencies according to the adopted budget. Please note that LifeWay Christian Resources does not receive any Cooperative Program funds. LifeWays revenues are used to cover costs of production; to provide for working capital, capital needs, and required reserves; to fund the education and service programs; to support state conventions in their work related to LifeWay programs; and to provide a portion of SBC Executive Committee operating expenses. Thus, purchasing literature, books, and supplies provides some funds to help train believers and develop new churches.4 While one of the WMU objectives is to promote the Cooperative Program, as an SBC auxiliary, it does not receive CP funds for its operational expenses. Special Offerings Most churches participate in the regular special offerings promoted by the conventions and associations. Normal offerings are: 1. The state missions offering is received for special missions, evangelism, and benevolent needs in the state. The state convention adopts the offering budget for income and expenditure during its annual meeting. A study of the state convention

budget reveals the income and how the moneys are used. 2. The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions is an annual offering promoted by the SBC. Most churches receive the offering during the Easter season. The WMU sets an offering goal, in cooperation with NAMB. The total offering (100%) goes directly to NAMB missions, and none is used for administrative costs. 3. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is an annual offering promoted by the SBC. Most churches receive the offering during the Christmas season. The goal for this offering is set by the WMU, in cooperation with the International Mission Board (IMB). The total offering (100%) goes directly to IMB missions; none is used for administrative costs. 4. Some associations receive a special offering for needs in the association. Information can be obtained from local association offices. The financial plans to support mission causes are initiated and resourced in local churches. All mission gifts (association gifts, Cooperative Program, and special offerings) are given from the grace and generosity of believers in local congregations. In turn, these mission gifts perform Christian activities which extend the ministry of local churches.

Notes ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. 1983 Southern Baptist Convention Annual (Nashville, Tenn.: Executive Committee, SBC), pp. 41-42. 2. 1979 Southern Baptist Convention Annual (Nashville, Tenn.: Executive Committee, SBC), pp. 30. 3. Each state convention annual carries the budget for the fiscal year. A copy of the annual is available from the state Baptist office. 4. A study of a state conventions receipts reveals the amount received from LifeWay Christian Resources during the fiscal year.

22

HOW THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION DELEGATES ITS WORK

Purpose and Definition of Ministries The Southern Baptist Convention acts in annual session to delegate the tasks to entities called boards, institutions, committees, and commissions or associated organizations. Specific tasks or activities that are funded are called ministries. A written guideline for a ministry is called a ministry statement. Therefore, to understand SBC activities, one must have knowledge of the ministries, ministry statements, and the entity to which each ministry is assigned. The SBC adopts a budget to fund the entities that are responsible for the assigned ministries. The SBC Executive Committee, which is the trustee of Convention funds, distributes moneys according to the budget. The section on How Tithes and Offerings Support Churches and All Denominational Causes, presents the procedures for funds to flow from individual believers through churches and state conventions to the Executive Committee to fund the agencies responsible for the adopted ministries.

23

SBC Ministries and Services

SBC Programs and Services African-American Church Multiplication Anglo Church Multiplication Annie Armstrong Easter Offerings for North American Mission Appointing/Supporting Missions Personnel Asian Church Multiplication Associational Administration Service Audience Building for Radio & TV Baptist World Alliance Support Bible Publishing Bookstore Operations Broadcast Communications Broadman/Holman Publishing Chaplaincy Evangelism Christian Leadership Development in Foreign Countries Christian Schools Christian Ethics Church & Community Ministries Church Administration Development Church Architecture Service Church Media Resources Church Finance Ministry Church Music Development Church Planting Church Recreation Development Church Services & Materials Development Church-State Public Relations Collegiate Ministries Conference Center Operations Convention Administration, General (Service) Convention Operations (Service) Consultative Service in the General Field of Estate Planning Cooperative Education & Promotion Work with State Conventions Direct Evangelism Disaster Relief Discipleship Training Entity Assigned North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board & Woman's Missionary Union International Mission Board & North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board Executive Committee LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board International Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay Christian Resources Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission North American Mission Board & LifeWay Christian Resources LifeWay Christian Resources Executive Committee Executive Committee Southern Baptist Foundation LifeWay Christian Resources & Executive Committee North American Mission Board North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources 24

Endowment & Capital Giving Ethnic Church Evangelism & Church Development in Foreign Countries Evangelism Response Center (ERC) Event Evangelism Family Evangelism Family Ministry Development Hispanic Church Multiplication Human Needs Ministries in Other Countries Interfaith Evangelism Investment Management Leadership Training in Church Music Leadership Training in Religious Education Leadership Training in Theology Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions

Executive Committee North American Mission Board International Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board International Mission Board North American Mission Board Executive Committee Seminaries Seminaries Seminaries International Mission Board & Woman's Missionary Union Annuity Board International Mission Board North American Mission Board & LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board Annuity Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission North American Mission Board North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board & International Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board Executive Committee International Mission Board Executive Committee North American Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board North American Mission Board 25

Management of Retirement Annuities Media Ministries in Other Countries Mens Ministries Missions Service Corps Ministers Relief Administration Ministry Evangelism Missionary Mobilization Mission Education Moral Issues Multicultural Evangelism Multiethnic Church Multiplication National Collegiate Ministries On Mission Celebrations

Personal Evangelism Prayer Evangelism Preaching on Radio & TV Public Relations, General (Services) Sojourners Southern Baptist Convention Support Special Ministries (Resort) Evangelism Stewardship Development Strategic Focus Cities Student Evangelism

Sunday School/Bible Study Development Supporting Services for the Program of WMU Promotion Technical Assistance Rendered to individuals, churches, and groups in need of radio and TV information & training Town and Country Missions US/C2 Missions Volunteer Mobilization

LifeWay Christian Resources Woman's Missionary Union

North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board North American Mission Board & International Mission Board Woman's Missionary Union LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board

Woman's Missionary Union Promotion Womens Ministries World Changers

26

Ministries/Assignments
(Entities to Which the Ministries and Services Are Assigned and the Purpose or Objective of Each) SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee, organized in 1927, is composed of members from state conventions and functions as an enabling body to assist the churches and the agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention in carrying out the Great Commission of Christ. Mission: The Executive Committee exists to minister to the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention by acting for the Convention ad interim in all matters not otherwise provided for in a manner that encourages the cooperation and confidence of the churches, associations, and state conventions and facilitates maximum support for worldwide missions and ministries. Vision Statement The Executive Committee exists to empower kingdom growth. Our vision is to seek first the King and His kingdom. Ministries: 1. The Executive Committee assists churches through conducting and administering the work of the Convention not otherwise assigned. 2. The Executive Committee assists churches by providing a Convention news service. 3. The Executive Committee assists churches by providing a Convention public relations service. 4. The Executive Committee assists churches, denominational entities, and state conventions through estate planning consultation and investment management for funds designated for support of Southern Baptist causes. 5. The Executive Committee assists churches through cooperative giving advancement. Relationships: The Executive Committee works within the Southern Baptist Convention entity relationship guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Council and the Executive Committee and printed in the Organization Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention. It also has the following specific assignments: 1. It acts for the Convention ad interim in those matters not otherwise provided for. 2. It is the fiscal agent for the Convention. It represents the Convention in any legal matter having to do with the Convention as a whole. 3. It carries on the general work of promotion and publicity in cooperation with agencies. This includes Baptist Press, the denominational news service, and SBC Life magazine. 4. It presents to the Convention each year a comprehensive budget for the Convention and for all its entities. It recommends the amount of Convention funds which may be allocated to each cause. 5. The Executive Committee has no control over any entity, but it is instructed to study the work of the entities and to make recommendations to them or to the Convention regarding their work. 6. The Executive Committee acts in an advisory capacity on all questions of cooperation between entities and between the Southern Baptist Convention and state conventions. 7. The Executive Committee maintains an official organization manual that defines the responsibilities of each entity. It also develops a report format that enables the entities to present information to the Convention of a ministry basis. 8. The Executive Committee examines the audits of the entities and is authorized to employ an auditor to study the audits with the individual entity auditors in the light of Convention instructions. 9. The Executive Committee has the responsibility of distributing to the entities the Cooperative Program and designated funds, which are received from the state conventions.

27

ETHICS AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION Mission: The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission stands ready to assist Southern Baptists in applying biblical principles in every relationship and area of their lives. To this end, Commission staff takes every opportunity to preach, teach, speak, educate, and write on critical moral and ethical issues facing our culture. The Commission works to coordinate and to focus Southern Baptists interest and impact in matters relating to both private and public moral concerns in the public policy arena. The Commission seeks to equip and to energize Southern Baptists so they can engage the culture with the truths of Scripture as informed and committed citizens. Ministries: 1. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission assists churches in applying the oral and ethical teachings of the Bible to the Christian life. 2. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission assists churches through the communication and advocacy of moral and ethical concerns in the public arena. 3. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission assists churches in their moral witness in local communities. 4. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission assists churches and other Southern Baptist entities by promoting religious liberty Relationships: The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission works within the Southern Baptist Convention agency relationship guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Council and the Executive Committee and printed in the Organization Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention.

BOARDS ANNUITY BOARD Mission: The Annuity Board exists to assist the churches and other denominational entities by managing retirement annuity services and providing programs of insurance for ministers and other full-time employees. Vision Statement: The Annuity Board exists to honor the Lord by being a Life Partner with our participants in enhancing their financial security. Ministries: 1. The Annuity Board assists churches and denominational entities by managing retirement annuities for Southern Baptist ministers and denominational employees. 2. The Annuity Board assists churches and denominational entities by managing insurance services. 3. The Annuity Board assists churches through relief to ministers. Relationships: The Annuity Board will work within the Southern Baptist Convention agency relationship guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Council and the Executive Committee and printed in the Organization Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention. INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD Mission: The International Mission Board exists to assist the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to be on mission with God in penetrating the unevangelized world outside the United States and Canada with the gospel and making Christ known among all people. Vision Statement: The International Mission Boards exists to lead Southern Baptists to be on mission with God to bring all peoples of the world to saving faith in Jesus Christ. 28

Ministries: 1. The International Mission Board assists churches by appointing and supporting international missions personnel. 2. The International Mission Board assists churches by evangelizing persons and planting churches in other nations, except Canada. 3. The International Mission Board assists churches by meeting human needs and establishing needbased ministries in other nations, except Canada. 4. The International Mission Board assists churches by enlisting missions volunteers and coordinating the work of missions volunteers in other nations, except Canada. Relationships: The International Mission Board will work within the Southern Baptist Convention agency relationship guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Council and the Executive Committee and printed in the Organizational Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention. NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD Mission: The North American Mission Board exists to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, start New Testament congregations, and minister to persons in the name of Christ and to assist churches in the United States and Canada in effectively performing these functions. Ministries: 1. The North American Mission Board assists churches by the appointment and support of missionaries in the United States and Canada. 2. The North American Mission Board assists churches in the ministry of evangelism. 3. The North American Mission Board assists churches in the establishment of new congregations 4. The North American Mission Board assists churches through Christian social ministries. 5. The North American Mission Board assists churches through the involvement and coordination of their members in volunteer missions throughout the United States and Canada.

6. The North American Mission Board assists churches by involving their members in missions and mission education. 7. The North American Mission Board assists churches by communicating the gospel throughout the United States and Canada through communication technologies. 8. The North American Mission Board assists churches by strengthening associations and providing services to associations. 9. The North American Mission Board assists churches in relief ministries to victims of disaster. Relationships: The North American Mission Board works within the Southern Baptist Convention agency relationship guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Council and the Executive Committee and printed in the Organizational Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention. LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES Mission Statement: LifeWay Christian Resources exists to assist churches and believers to evangelize the world to Christ, develop believers, and grow churches by being the best provider relevant, high quality, high value Christian products and services. Vision Statement: As God works through us, we will help people and churches know Jesus Christ and seek His kingdom by providing biblical solutions that spiritually transform individuals and cultures. Ministries: 1. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches in the development of church ministries. 2. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches in ministries to college and university students. 3. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches with Christian schools and home school ministries. 4. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches in ministries to men and women. 5. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches through the operation of conference centers and camps. 29

6. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches through the publication of books and Bibles. 7. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches through the operation of LifeWay Christian Stores. 8. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches in stewardship education. 9. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches through church architecture consultation and services. 10. LifeWay Christian Resources assists churches in capital fund raising Relationships: LifeWay Christian Resources works within the Southern Baptist Convention agency relationship guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Council and the Executive Committee and printed in the Organizational Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention. THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES Mission Statements of SBC Seminaries: Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (GGBTS): Under the Lordship of Christ, GGBTS provides educational and ministry experiences to shape Christian leaders through programs which emphasize spiritual growth, biblically based scholarship, and ministry skills developmentall within a multicultural setting. Dedicated to missions, GGBTS commits itself to the lives of its students and to the churches it services. Our dream is to become the primary provider of effective Christian leaders for the churches of tomorrow. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS): The mission of MBTS is to educate God-called men and women to be and to make disciples of Jesus Christ throughout the world. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS): The mission of NOBTS is to equip leaders to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandments through the local church and its ministries.

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBETS): The mission of SEBTS is to equip, train, and mobilize God-called men and women to impact the world for Christ. SEBTS encourages the formation of Christian thought and character in the pursuit of Gods calling, which requires a close, personal walk with Jesus Christ. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS): Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the mission of SBTS is to be totally committed to the Bible as the Word of God and to be a servant of the churches of the SBC by training, educating, and preparing ministers of the gospel for more faithful service. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS): SWBTS exists to prepare God-called men and women for vocational service in Baptist churches and in other Christian ministries throughout the world through programs of spiritual development, theological studies, and practical preparation in ministry. Ministries: 1. Southern Baptist theological seminaries assist churches by programs of pre-baccalaureate and baccalaureate theological education for ministers. 2. Southern Baptist theological seminaries assist churches by programs of masters level theological education for ministers 3. Southern Baptist theological seminaries assist churches by programs of professional doctoral education for ministers. 4. Southern Baptist theological seminaries assist churches by programs of research doctoral education for ministers and theological educators. 5. Southern Baptist theological seminaries assist churches through the administration of the Southern Baptist historical library and archives. Relationships: Southern Baptist theological seminaries will work within the Southern Baptist Convention agency relationship guidelines approved by the Inter-Agency Council and the Executive Committee and printed in the Organizational Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention.

30

AUXILIARY ORGANIZATION WOMANS MISSIONARY UNION (WMU) Mission: National WMU promotes Christian missions through the organization of Womans Missionary Union and the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. Vision Statement: National WMU provides mission resources that rekindle a passion for Gods mission among Gods people. Ministries: 1. The Womans Missionary Union offers supporting services for the program of Womans Missionary Union promotion. 2. WMU is an auxiliary to the SBC, which means that it acts as a helper to the SBC. The auxiliary status also means that WMU is self-governing and self-supporting. Since its beginning in 1888, WMU has become the largest Protestant missions organization of women in the world, with a membership of approximately 1 million. Its main purpose is to educate and involve women, girls, and preschoolers in the cause of Christian missions.

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE Mission: To empower and enable national Baptist leaders to effectively witness and minister in the name of Jesus Christ and to represent and support Baptists throughout the world in defense of human rights and religious freedom. Vision Statement: The Baptist World Alliance unites Baptists worldwide for global impact for Christ in fellowship, evangelism, justice, and aid. Ministries: The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of 210 Baptist Unions and conventions comprising in membership of more than 47 million baptized believers. This represents a community of approximately 110 million Baptists ministering in more than 200 countries. The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) unites Baptists worldwide, leads in world evangelism, responds to people in need and defends human rights.

31

How Missionaries Relate to Boards and Ministries

A Simple View A simple view of missionaries is that one feels Gods call to missions; preparation is made spiritually, physically, educationally, and experientially; then one is appointed by one of the mission boards. A missionary must demonstrate his or her call and be adequately prepared. The mission boards are responsible for appointing qualified missionaries.1 Restrictions are placed on mission boards by available moneys and field opportunities. The greater restriction is available money. When resources are limited, the boards strive to address priorities. The North American Mission Board has agreements with all state conventions regarding missionary personnel. Personnel is provided to aid the development and expansion of missions, evangelism, and ministries in cooperation with state leaders in order to have a unified mission strategy and direction in a state. North American Mission Board leaders aid state leaders in developing strategies and activities to implement the mission, evangelism and ministry outreach. Thus, the appointment of a missionary or the assignment of a missions volunteer by the North American Mission Board is in response to a request by a missionary, church leader, associational leader, or state leader. The sending of North American missionaries is a vital part of the North American Mission Board. The called of God come from churches and are sent into missions endeavors as resources, in keeping with a state-by-state strategy to evangelize and minister. The International Mission Board is responsible to send missionaries outside North America. The appointment of missionaries and the assignment of volunteers are made as funds are available and opportunities are open. New fields are staffed by missionaries. When local churches are established and leaders are developed the International Mission Board seeks to develop an indigenous organization, which develops a strategy to evangelize and establish churches. Missionaries are sent in response to requests from the field. The International Mission Board continues to send missionaries to new countries and also provides assistance of personnel, equipment, and money to indigenous Baptist organizations in countries where the ministry is established. The boards respond to the called and qualified person who desires to serve in missions. However, because of qualifications and restrictions, the boards are not able to appoint or assign all who come to them. North American Missionaries How North American Missionaries Relate to the Denomination The strategic plan for selection, approval/appointment, placement, supervision, and support of jointly funded missionary personnel shall confirm to procedures and requirements as set forth in the Cooperative Agreement between the state convention and NAMB and adopted by the boards of the two entities. International Missionaries The appointed missionary and the assigned volunteer are sent to a ministry in response to a request from a foreign field. The career missionary is assigned to a ministry in a local setting. The missionary relates to one of eight area directors (e.g., Southeast Asia area director) and to the overseas office of the International Mission Board. These relationships are for reporting, planning, resources, and supervision. When missions personnel are appointed and assigned, it is the result of an overseas request for personnel made by a mission and approved by an area director.

Notes__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. For more information about appointment procedures and qualifications of missionaries contact the personnel units of the Boards.

32

How North American Missionaries Are Appointed

How do North American missionaries go to the field? Most North American missionaries follow this process.

Local Church: A member is called to be a missionary. The associational leader may have input. The church/person makes a request for appointment with the North American Mission Board.

Missionary prepares.

North American Mission Board reviews and processes the applicants file.

A church, mission, institution, state, association, or ministry calls the person as a missionary, pending appointment.

Recommendation is made to the ministry leader involved in the missions project.

Information may go to the association.

Appointment and assignment are completed and missionary goes to the field.

State missions leaders are consulted for approval and involvement in funding.

There are some exceptions to the normal procedure. One variance is that the church planter apprentices are selected by North American Mission Board leaders through a process. Potential missionaries are then interviewed by state, associational, or local leaders and accepted by them before the North American Mission Boards Personnel Deployment Team becomes involved. Apprentices, once appointed, are placed by the Church Planting Group, in cooperation with local, associational, and state leaders. 33

How North American Missionaries Relate to the Denomination

Association: Director of Associational Missions

State Convention Missions Leaders

Churches Missionary comes from a local church.

Missionary serves in mission church or ministry

Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board ministry leaders and offices

Local church, sponsoring church, pastor, or missions committee

The missionary has a definite relationship with leaders in many areas of the denomination. In this example, the missionary has a direct relationship with the sponsoring church, the associational leader, the state missions leader, and the North American Mission Boards ministry leader. All relationships should be understood as support and resource systems to give guidance in the mission/evangelism activities and aid in personal growth of the missionary. 34

How International Missionaries Are Appointed and Relate to the Denomination

LOCAL CHURCH Missionary Candidate

Human resources come from the local churches. The missionary candidate presents himself/herself to the IMB and is screened by the Personnel Selection Department in reference to field requests that come from the 103 missionaries and are approved by the area director.

Personnel Selection Department, International Mission Board

Area Office, IMB

Overseas Missions

Once on the field, the missionary relates to the local mission and to the national Baptist constituency for work and fellowship. Supervision comes form the area director in the office of Overseas Operations. 35

Conclusion
The conclusion to this writing is a hopea hope that you understand with greater clarity the way Southern Baptist local churches relate to one another in the entity we call a denomination. You will notice from the diagrams that the churches are foremost, and denominational structure and function are subservient to the churches. A pyramid or inverted pyramid to show church and denominational relationship is erroneous because each organizational entity is autonomous. The messenger system is peculiar to Southern Baptist life. Yet, it is the key to our interdependence and freedom. It enables us to function in a practical way without demanding uniformity and creedalism. Perhaps a discussion about how SBC committees, commissions, boards, institutions, and associated organizations relate to local churches would be beneficial. Also, organizational and personnel structures for agencies could be studied. The agency charts, which were included, are primarily for illustration. My focus is a primer about Southern Baptist denominational relationships. History reveals that Southern Baptists began with a highly cooperative spirit and with interdependence and autonomy helping form the structure. Developing Baptist polity has brought strugglethe struggle with extreme autonomy to a proposed semi-creed or statement of cardinal Baptist beliefs. Our structure has survived, providing a vehicle for local churches to cooperate in evangelism and missions, producing a global voice proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. The Baptist Faith and Message was developed early in SBC life and has continued to guide the SBC in its doctrinal and biblical stance in ministering to its people.

36

Resources for Further Study

1. Church Study Course Awards System, 127 Ninth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37234 2. Duncan, Pope A., Our Baptist History. Nashville: Convention Press, 1958. 3. Hobbs, Herschel H., The Baptist Faith and Message. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1978. 4. McClellan, Albert, Meet Southern Baptists. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1978. 5. Mullens, E.Y., Baptist Beliefs. Philadelphia: Judson Press, 1955. 6. Seminary External Education Division, 901 Commerce St., Suite 500, Nashville, TN 37203

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Appendix One ______________________________________

Southern Baptist Convention Flowchart of Elections and Appointments1
Annual Convention Elects (in June) President Appoints

Committee on Committees

Nominates

Annual Convention Elects (June one year later)

Committee on Nominations Nominates

Annual Convention Elects (June two years later)

Board of Trustees

Determines Policies and Elects Leaders

Annuity Board Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission International Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources North American Mission Board Six Seminaries, plus Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary

Note 1. Adapted from Jerry A. Johnson chart, 1998.

38

Appendix Two ______________________________________

International Mission Board Administrative Chart (2003)

International Prayer Strategy Office

Office of Missionary Personnel

Office of Finance

Overseas Services

Leadership Development

Human Needs

Volunteers in Missions

Missionary Orientation

Missionary Health & Family Ministries

Media Services

Furlough Training

Jenkins Libraries & Mission Information Analysis Center

ICEL Curriculum Development

39

President

Executive Vice President

Executive Assistant

Office of Overseas Operations

Office of Public Relations

Office of Global Information Systems

14 Regional Leaders

General Administration

Strategy Coordinator & Mobilization

World A Strategies

Administrative Associates

global Research

Strategy Associates

Evangelism & Church Growth

Richmond Associates

40

Appendix Three ____________________________________

LifeWay Christian Resources Administrative Chart 2003
President

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Corporate Affairs

Church Growth Group Vice President

International Department

Communications Department

Bible Teaching Reaching Division

Discipleship & Family Development. Division

Church Leadership Services Division

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Glorieta Conference Center

Administrative Management Leadership & Evangelism Dept. Biblical Studies Dept.

Associate Director

Associate Director

Marketing/Planning Department Business Support Services Dept. Sales & Customer Service Dept.

Ridgecrest Conference Center

Leadership Department

Multicultural Leadership Dept. Pastor-Staff Leadership Dept.

Adult Department

Magazine Department Youth-ChildrenPreschool Dept. National Student Ministry

Church Media Program

Church Rec. Program

Music Ministries Department Church Architecture Department Christian Schools & Homeschool Sec. Church Stewardship Services

41

Retail Group Vice President

Trade Publishing Division

Finance & Business Services Group Vice President

Store Operations

Associate to Vice President

Trade Books Department

Finance Dept.

East/Central Region

Marketing & Sales Department

Trade Sales & Marketing Dept.

Corporate Services Department

Business Operations Department Western Region Merchandising Department Southeastern Region

Bible & Reference Books

Logistics Department

Broadman & Holman Church Supplies & Gifts

Human Resources Department

Campus Region/ Special Operations

Information Systems Department

Growth

Legal Services Department

Investment Services

42

Appendix Four ______________________________________

Directory of State Conventions and Fellowships
Alabama Baptist State Convention P.O. Box 11870 (36111-0870) 2001 East South Blvd. Montgomery, AL 36116-2463 Phone: (334) 228-2460 Fax: (334) 228-2693 E-mail: rlance@alsbom.org Alaska Baptist Convention 1750 OMalley Road Anchorage, AK 99516-1303 Phone: (907) 344-9627 Fax: (907) 344-7044 E-mail: executivedirector@akbaptist.alaska.com Arizona Southern Baptist Convention 2240 N. Hayden Road, Ste. 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85257 Phone: (480) 945-0880 Fax: (480) 973-1164 ?? or (602?) E-mail: steveb@azsobaptist.org Arkansas Baptist Convention P.O. Box 552 (72203-0552) 525 W. Capitol (72203) Little Rock, AR Phone: (501) 376-4791 (Ext. 5102) Fax: (501) 374-2754 E-mail: eturner@absc.org California Southern Baptist Convention 678 East Shaw Avenue Fresno, CA 93710-7704 Phone: (559) 229-9533 (Ext. 230) Fax: (559) 229-2824 E-mail: fwittaker@csbc.com Colorado Baptist General Convention 7393 South Alton Way Centennial, CO 80112-2372 Phone: (303) 771-2480 (Ext. 222) Fax: (303) 771-6272 E-mail: medlund@cbgc.org Dakota Southern Baptist Fellowship P.O. Box 6028 (58504) 2020 Lovett Avenue Bismark, ND 58506 ??? Phone: (701) 255-3765 Fax: (701) 222-4069 E-mail: rfarley@sbf.org District of Columbia Baptist Convention 1628 16th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20009 Phone: (202) 265-1526 Fax: (202) 667-8258 E-mail: jeffrey.haggray@dcbaptist.org Florida Baptist Convention 1230 Hendricks Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32207 Phone: (904) 396-2351 (Ext. 8100) Fax: (904) 396-6470 E-mail: jsullivan@flbaptist.org Executive Committee of the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia 2930 Flowers Road, South Atlanta, GA 30341-5562 Phone: (770) 455-0404 Fax: (770) 452-6582 E-mail: jwhite@gabaptist.org Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention 2042 Vancouver Drive Honolulu, HI 96822-2491 Phone: (808) 946-9581 Fax: (808) 941-2309 Illinois Baptist State Association P.O. Box 19247 (62794-9247) 3085 Adlai Stevenson Drive (62703-4440) Springfield, IL 62703-4440 Phone: (217) 786-2600 (Ext. 131) Fax: (217) 585-0352 E-mail: wendalllang@ibsa.org 43

State Convention of Baptists in Indiana P.O. Box 24189 (46224-0189) 900 North High School Road Indianapolis, IN 46214-3759 Phone: (317) 241-9317 Fax: (317) 241-9875 E-mail: sdavis@scbi.org Baptist Convention of Iowa 2400 86th Street, Suite 27 Des Moines, IA 50322-0875 Phone: (515) 278-1566 Fax: (515) 278-0875 E-mail: jbarrentine@bcisbc.com Kansas-Nebraska Conv. of Southern Baptists 5410 SW Seventh Street Topeka, KS 66606-2398 Phone: (785) 228-6800 Fax: (785) 273-4992 E-mail: peck@kncsb.org Kentucky Baptist Convention P.O. Box 43433 (40253-0433) 10701 Shelbyville Road Louisville, KY 40243-1297 Phone: (502) 245-4101 Fax: (502) 244-6469 E-mail: Bill.Mackey@kybaptist.org Louisiana Baptist Convention P.O. Box 311 (71309-0311) 1250 MacArthur Drive Alexandria, LA 71303-3151 Phone: (318) 448-3402 Fax: (318) 445-0055 E-mail: dean.doster@lbc.org Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware 10255 Old Columbia Road Columbia, MD 21046-1716 Phone: (410) 290-5290 Fax: (410) 290-7040 E-mail: dlee@bcmd.org

Baptist State Convention of Michigan P.O. Box 431949 (48443-1949) 64 W. Columbia Avenue, Bldg 2 Pontiac, MI 48340 Phone: (248) 332-6426 Fax: (248) 332-0194 E-mail: m.collins@bscm.org Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention 519 16th Street Rochester, MN 55904-5234 Phone: (507) 282-3636 Fax: (507) 282-3922 E-mail: Leo@mwbc.org Mississippi Baptist Convention P.O. Box 530 (39205-0530) 515 Mississippi Street Jackson, MS 39201-1702 Phone: (601) 968-3800 Fax: (601) 968-3928 E-mail: jfutral@mbcb.org Missouri Baptist Convention 400 E. High Street Jefferson City, MO 65101-3215 Phone: (573) 635-7931 Fax: (573) 659-7436 E-mail: dclippard@mobaptist.org Montana Southern Baptist Fellowship P.O. Box 99 (59103-0099) 1130 Cerise Road Billings, MT 59101-7396 Phone: (406) 252-7537 Fax: (406) 252-0196 E-mail: jclark@mtsbc.org Nevada Baptist Convention 406 California Avenue Reno, NV 89509-1520 Phone: (775) 786-0406 Fax: (775) 786-0700 E-mail: tbarnes@nbcsbc.org

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Baptist Convention of New England 87 Lincoln Street Northborough, MA 01532 Phone: (508) 393-6013 Fax: (508) 393-6016 E-mail: jim.wideman@bcne.net Baptist Convention of New Mexico P.O. Box 94485 (87199-4485) 5325 Wyoming NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 Phone: (505) 924-2300 Fax: (505) 247-3279 E-mail: ccone@bcnm.com Baptist Convention of New York 6538 Baptist Way East Syracuse, NY 13057-1072 Phone: (315) 433-1001 Fax: (315) 433-1026 E-mail: jgraham@bcnysbc.org Baptist St. Convention of North Carolina P.O. Box 1107 (27512-1107) 205 Convention Drive Cary, NC 27511-1107 Phone: (919) 467-5100 (Ext. 102) Fax: (919) 469-1674 E-mail: jroyston@bscnc.org Northwest Baptist Convention 3200 NE 109th Avenue Vancouver, WA 98682-7749 Phone: (360) 882-2100 Fax: (360) 882-2295 E-mail: jeff@nwbaptist.org State Convention of Baptists in Ohio 1680 E. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43203-2095 Phone: (614) 258-8491 Fax: (614) 827-1860 E-mail: JackKwok@scbo.org Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma 3800 N. May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73112-6506 Phone: (405) 942-3800 Fax: (405) 942-5839 E-mail: ajordan@bgco.org

Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania-South Jersey 4620 Fritchey Street Harrisburg, PA 17109-2895 Phone: (717) 652-5856 Fax: (717) 652-0976 E-mail: ghege@juno.com South Carolina Baptist Convention 190 Stoneridge Drive Columbia, SC 29210-8239 Phone: (803) 765-0030 Fax: (803) 799-1044 E-mail: carlisledriggers@scbaptist.org Tennessee Baptist Convention P.O. Box 728 (37024-0728) 5001 Maryland Way Brentwood, TN 37027-7509 Phone: (615) 373-2255 Fax: (615) 371-2014 E-mail: jporch@tnbaptist.org Baptist General Convention of Texas 333 N. Washington Dallas, TX 75246-1798 Phone: (214) 828-5100 Fax: (214) 828-5376 E-mail: wade@bgct.org Southern Baptists of Texas Convention P.O. Box 168585 Irving, TX 75016-8585 Phone: (972) 953-0878 Fax: (972) 870-1986 E-mail: jimr@sbtexas.com Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention P.O. Box 1347 (84020) 12401 South 450 East, G1 Draper, UT 84020 Phone: (801) 572-5350 Fax: (801) 572-5347 E-mail: tclark@uisbc.org

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Virginia Baptist Mission Board P.O. Box 8568 (23226-0568) 2828 Emerywood Parkway Richmond, VA 23294-3718 Phone: (804) 915-5000 Fax: (804) 672-2051 E-mail: jupton@vbmb.org Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia 4101 Cox Road, Suite 100 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Phone: (804) 270-1848 Fax: (804) 270-1834 E-mail: dchauncey@sbcv.org West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists One Mission Way Scott Depot, WV 25560-9406 Phone: (304) 757-0944 (Ext. 104) Fax: (304) 757-7793 E-mail: terryharper@wvcsb.org Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention P.O. Box 4779 (82604-0779) 3925 Casper Mountain Road Casper, WY 82604-0779 Phone: (307) 472-4087 Fax: (307) 235-9945 E-mail: sprinkle@wyomingsbc.org

Others:
Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists 100 Convention Way Cochrane, Alberta T4C 2G2 Phone: (403) 932-5688 Fax: (403) 932-4937 E-mail: gtaillon@ccsb.ca Puerto Baptist Association MSC 404 W. Churchill Avenue 138 San Juan, PR 00926 Phone: (787) 283-2771

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Appendix Five ______________________________________

Directory of SBC Agencies
Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention 901 Commerce Street, Suite 750 Nashville, TN 37203-3699 Phone: (615) 244-2355 Southern Baptist Foundation (A subsidiary corporation of the SBC Executive Committee) 901 Commerce Street, Suite 600 Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: (615) 254-8826 Annuity Board P.O. Box 2190, Dallas, TX 75221-2190 Phone: (214) 720-0511 Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary 200 Seminary View Cochrane, Alberta T4C 2G1 Registrar: registrar@csbs.ca Enlistment: enlistment@csbs.ca Phone: (403) 932-6622/ Fax: (403) 932-7049 International Mission Board 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230 Phone: (804) 353-0151 LifeWay Christian Resources 127 Ninth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37234 Phone: (615) 251-2000 North American Mission Board 4200 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30022-4176 Phone: (770) 410-6000 Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary 201 Seminary Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941-3197 Phone: (415) 380-1300 Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 5001 North Oak Street Trafficway Kansas City, MO 64118 Phone: (816) 453-4600 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary 3939 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70126-4858 Phone: (504) 282-4455 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary P.O. Box 1889, Wake Forest, NC 27588-1889 Phone: (919) 556-3101 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 2825 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40280 Phone: (502) 897-4011 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 2001 W. Seminary Drive, Ft. Worth, TX 76115 P.O. Box 22000, Ft. Worth, TX 76122 Phone: (817) 923-1921 Seminary Extension 901 Commerce Street, Suite 500, Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: (615) 242-2453 The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission 901 Commerce Street, Suite 550, Nashville, TN 37203 Leland House, 505 Second Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (615) 244-2495 (Nashville) (202) 547-8105 (Washington) Womans Missionary Union Highway 280 East, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242-5235 Phone: (205) 991-8100 47

Appendix Six________________________________________
2003 Southern Baptist Convention Ethnic Fellowship Directory
FELLOWSHIP African ADDRESS PHONE/FAX/E-MAIL

3895 Church Street (404) 299-8277, Ch Clarkston, GA 30021 (404) 289-9636, W Jerusalem@aol.com .................................................................................................................................................................. AfricanGreenforest Community (404) 486-6737, Ch American Baptist Church (404) 486-6470, Fax 3250 Rainbow Drive george.mccalep@greenforest.org Decatur, GA 30334 .................................................................................................................................................................. Cambodian 2033 Big Tree Drive (614) 272-7430, Ch Columbus, OH 73223 (614) 226-9658, Cell .................................................................................................................................................................. Chinese San Bruno Baptist Church (650) 589-9776 250 Courtland (650) 589-9231,Fax San Bruno, CA 94066 LAU9742598@aol.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Deaf 150 Dean Street (502) 957-6820, Of Shepherdsville, KY 40165 (502) 957-1074, Fax TLLSBender@aol.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Filipino Post Office Box 5022 (626) 792-6365 Pine Mountain, CA 93222 (661) 242-2415 (661) 242-2415, Fax .................................................................................................................................................................. Greek 784 Greendale Avenue (781) 449-4000, ext. 204 Needham, MA 02192 (781) 449-7952, Fax GBBA@compuserve.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Haitian Florida Baptist Convention 1 800 226-8584 1230 Hendricks Avenue jgaston@flbaptist.org Jacksonville, FL 32207 .................................................................................................................................................................. Hispanic Iglesia Baustista Resurreccion (305) 443-6360, H 2323 SW 27th Avenue (305) 215-0377, Cell Miami, FL 33145 (305) 854-6190, Ch (305) 854-3636, Fax resurecc@aol.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Hmong First Hmong Baptist Church (303) 438-0109, Ch 90 Emerald Street (303) 438-0109, Fax Broomfield, CO 80020 wameng@juno.com 48

Hungarian

225 E 80th Street (212) 288-0258 New York, NY 10021 (212) 517-8348, Fax .................................................................................................................................................................. Italian 2105 Berwyn Street (215) 671-8754 Philadelphia, PA 19115 (215) 673-3557, Fax jfortunato3@juno.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Japanese Gardena-Torrance Southern (310) 325-7214 Baptist Church (310) 538-0336, Ch 1457 West 179th Street (310) 325-0928, Fax Gardena, CA 90248 uchino3@attglobal.net .................................................................................................................................................................. Korean Korean Baptist Church (334) 393-2888, Ch of Alabama (334) 393-2023, Fax Rt. 3, Box 301-B Enterprise, AL 36330 .................................................................................................................................................................. American Korean New Community Baptist (650) 428-0880, ext. 27 1250 W. Middlefield Road donkim@ncbc.org Mountain View, CA 94043 .................................................................................................................................................................. Laotian 7909 Eastwind Drive (817) 847-7273 Ft. Worth, TX 76137 (817) 847-7273, Fax (817) 237-4002, Ch Sidney@flash.net .................................................................................................................................................................. Messianic 7842 Springfield Lake Drive (561) 967-3436, H Lake Worth, FL 34467 (561) 967-3313, Fax 561.967.3313 Off koldodimin@yahoo.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Middle Eastern 4931 Flagstar Circle (949) 559-8755, H Irvine, CA 92714 khanna2989@aol.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Native American 403 N. Washington (405) 275-1918 Shawnee, OK 74801 (405) 275-1918, Fax hmbjimmy@juno.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Polish Polish Baptist Association (609) 747-8225 18 Ridgewood Way pastorjanusz@aol.com Burlington, NJ 08016 .................................................................................................................................................................. Portuguese-Speaking/ First Brazilian Baptist Church (954) 977-5821 Brazilian of South Florida (954) 783.0119 1101 NE 33rd Street (954) 781-1618, Fax Pompano Beach, FL 33064 silair@juno.com .................................................................................................................................................................. Romanian 14714 Midland Road (510) 511-1329 San Leandro, CA 94578 ieserac@cs.com

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Russian

Slavic Evangelical Baptist (213) 666-5674 545 North Commonwealth Ave (323) 666-5674 Los Angeles, CA 90004 .................................................................................................................................................................. Ukrainian 1808 Eastfield Road (717) 545-5325 Harrisburg, PA 17109 (717) 652-5856, W (717) 652-3902, Fax jkovalch@concentric.net .................................................................................................................................................................. Vietnamese 1624 Hutchinson Drive (972) 613-7210, H Mesquite, TX 75150 (972) 270-1557, Of huevan@juno.com

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Bibliography
Southern Baptist Convention Annual, 2002. Nashville: Executive Committee, 2002. Bradley, J.C. Associational Base Design. Atlanta, Ga.: Home Mission Board, 1983. Meet Southern Baptists. Nashville: Executive Committee, SBC, 1984. The Organizational Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. Nashville: Executive Committee, SBC, 1980. SBC Life. Nashville: March 1998. Southern Baptist Convention Annual, 1979, 1981, and 1986. Nashville: Executive Committee, 1979, 1981 and 1986. Sullivan, James L. Polity as I See It. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1983.

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The Author
David T. Bunch is retired and resides in Smyrna, Ga. Previously, he was executive director/treasurer of the Colorado Baptist General Convention, Denver, Colo. A third-generation Southern Baptist preacher, Bunch served on the Home Mission Board staff as assistant vice president-strategy (of the Missions Section), director of Church Extension Division, founding director of Mission Service Corps; as executive director, Iowa Southern Baptist Fellowship; pastoral missionary, HMB, Sioux Falls, S.D.; pastor of churches in Missouri; and professor of Greek, Hannibal-LaGrange College, St. Louis campus. His denominational experience included service on the steering committee that planned the organization/budget of Northern Plains Baptist Convention; board of trustees, HannibalLaGrange College, Hannibal, Mo.; SBC Bold Mission Thrust Steering Committee; and SBC Volunteers in Missions task force. He was moderator, East River Baptist Association, S.D.; and, executive board member, Missouri Baptist Convention, Jefferson City. He was educated at Southwest Baptist Junior College, Bolivar, Mo., A.A.; William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., A.B.; Central Baptist Seminary, Kansas City, Kan., B.D., Th.M.; and, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Mo., D.Min.

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