Back From the State Baptist Convention

Baptists of our dear state have proven once more that we know how to be nearly impossible to describe, amazing to watch for our inconsistencies, easily provoked to show our prejudices, clearly respectful of our unique relationships and at the same time often showing our lack of respect for the strengths that enable us to be a cooperative body. We are autonomous churches, missionally engaged as intentional partners in shared ministry endeavors. For us to get together in the first place is, as the song says, "a miracle of love and grace."

In that spirit, perhaps we should confess our sins. We can too easily stand to confess the sins of others or to imply our superior position and in turn to set others apart from us in ways that are less than honest about our own brokenness and failures before God. We are sinners all. As Jesus said, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." Jesus also said "go and sin no more." That is a word to every last one of us. Confession is in order, but likewise the opportunity to "forgive one another" is in my mind the best possible pursuit of Jesus' way for his people.

By design and necessity, the commuting of future educational institution trustee approvals through the state convention seems to be a wise step toward a respectful and friendly cooperation, coupled with an affirmation of Christian Higher Education via student scholarship provisions.

In the same way, though frought with questions, the actions of other institutional entities to protect and exercise their autonomous ties to the convention will in some ways reorder, but nonetheless strengthen the work that each is doing.

As a convention, Baptists in general could benefit from a good history lesson regarding polity. That is the basic and clear recognition that each congregation participates in voluntary cooperative endeavor with every other Baptist body with which it is engaged. We need to remember that none of our connections are heirarchical, but only in the sense of seeking divine leading as believers acting in shared community to discern God's will. Responses of faith, undertaken for the glory of God will reflect that spirit...before, during, and after all our vocalizing and voting. We pray God's hand to be upon us; to proclaim God's grace sufficient for us; and life in Christ to be our daily desire in every dimension of living.

We have shared in a great heritage of faith, but great work remains to be be done.
May God receive the glory as we pray for His help to do those things well.