Where Do We Belong?

A recent seminar at Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia offered resources that can be useful to a church trying to discern where they belong in the denomination.

The Center for Congregational Health offers resources to help churches start useful denominational discussions.

Perhaps the most comprehensive work regarding this question has been done by Second Baptist Church in Liberty. This church had its messenger credentials revoked by the 2001 MBC meeting in Cape Girardeau. Excellent documents are provided for consideration by other churches grappling with the question "Where Do We Belong?" Documents included are a motion to create a Missouri Baptist Convention Task Force; remarks from the Task Force to their quarterly church conference with an identity statement, a resolution, and a reallocation of MBC funds. Also included is an Open Letter to Missouri Baptists and a press release.

Here are a few churches that have or are working through "where do we belong?" within the Baptist denomination. Each is willing to help you and your church engage in effective and productive discussion and decision-making that leads your church to its own best answer.

Resources

Cornerstone Baptist Church - Columbia Les Cassil, pastor 20 East Green Meadows Columbia, MO 65203 573/443-8833	Partnering with Little Bonne Femme Association, uses the CBF Cooperative Plan to relate to CBF, CBF of Missouri and Missouri Baptist institutions. Here is a report from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Columbia.
FBC - Hamilton Kevin Ritter, pastor 301 W. Berry Hamilton, MO 64644 816/583-4435	Partnering with Heartland Baptist Association, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, IMB, NAMB, CBF of Missouri and Missouri Baptist institutions.
FBC - Lee's Summit Scott Harrison, pastor 2 NE Douglas Lee's Summit, MO 64063 816/525-0700	Partnering with Blue River-Kansas City Association, SBC, CBF, BGCM and options for partnering with MBC and/or CBFMO. The church prepared several documents to help in its process.
Susquehanna Baptist Church - Independence Barry Pennington, pastor 17800 Susquehanna Ridge Independence, MO 64056 816/257-2080	Partnering with Blue River-Kansas City Association, CBF of Missouri, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Missouri Baptist institutions via CBF of Missouri. Dr. Pennington's D.Min. project at Midwestern Seminary was helping a church work through denominational relations issues. The church has prepared several documents.
Salem Ave. Baptist Church - Rolla Kevin Payne, pastor 1501 E Highway Rolla, MO 65401 573/364-4442	Partnering with Phelps Association, and through the Missouri Baptist Foundation with IMB, NAMB and Missouri Baptist institutions.
FBC - Smithville Pete Hill, pastor 300 S. Bridge St. Smithville, MO 64089 816/532-0164	Partnering with Clay-Platte Association, CBF, SBC, MBC, and through CBF of Missouri the Missouri Baptist institutions.
University Heights Baptist Church - Springfield Michael Olmsted, pastor 1010 South National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65804 417/862-0789	Partnering with Greene Association, CBF, American Baptists, CBF of Missouri, Missouri Baptist institutions and options for giving to MBC/SBC.
Rock Falls Baptist Church - Excelsior Springs Doug Crabb, pastor 10858 Rock Falls Rd, Orrick, Missouri 64077 816/770-2510	Partnering with Heartland Association, Missouri Baptist institutions, CBF and CBF of Missouri. Rock Falls has used these study materials for Sunday evening studies about What Baptists Believe. Here are Part 1 (Confessions and Creeds), Part 2 (The Bible) and Part 3 (Those Problem Passages in the Bible)
Memorial Baptist Church - Columbia Bob Webb, pastor 1634 Paris Road Columbia, MO 65201-5612 573/443-1408	Partnering with Little Bonne Femme Association, members choose among SBC Cooperative Program, CBF Cooperative Plan, or other. Charles Knowles, a member of the church Denominational Study Committee is the contact person
Overland Baptist Church - St. Louis David Johnson, pastor 9303 Midland Blvd. Overland, MO 63114 314/429-1800	Partnering with St. Louis Association and Missouri Baptist Institutions. Members can designate gifts to MBC/SBC or CBFMO/CBF.
Second Baptist Church - Liberty Steve Graham, pastor 309 E. Franklin Liberty, MO 64068 816/781-2824	Partnering with Clay-Platte Association, CBF, CBFMO, and direct support of Missouri Baptist institutions. This church process determined not only what groups to partner with but the intensity of interest in partnering with various groups. David Fulk, a member of the Denominational Task Force, is the contact person.

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