Seminar Asks, “Where do I belong?”


“Where do I belong?” is a question asked when introduced into a new or clumsy situation.  Three churches are answering that question as it relates to the larger Baptist denomination these days.

A recent seminar posed the question.  It was hosted by Columbia’s Memorial Church and sponsored by St. Louis’ Overland Church and Lee’s Summit First Church.

Pastor Scott Harrison told the more than 100 attendees how First Baptist Church, Lee’s Summit has answered the question.  The first rule in conversations among church members was “if you don’t know that it’s the truth, don’t say it” followed by “if you want to know the truth, ask someone who knows.”

“We try to pitch a tent big enough that all Baptists can fit in” is the way Dr. Harrison described First Baptist.  Harrison added they exalt a Christ-like spirit and integrity in all that is said and done.

Their strategy was to start with leadership in the church, and for Lee’s Summit that is the deacon body.  Last fall deacons and spouses shared a meal with David Tolliver, an officer with the Missouri Baptist Convention; George Noble, area representative with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri;
and Dick Lionberger, president of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri.  The three offered brief presentations of what each group does. This was followed by time for questions.

The deacons were committed to spreading the gospel throughout Missouri. They wanted to support the Baptist Home, Children’s Home and colleges.  They realized the focus of the MBC changed when it decided to not care for senior adults.  “Our folks never lost sight of why conventions exist,” Harrison
reported.

After the autumn meeting the deacon chair appointed a smaller group reflective of the church and its passions.  When Harrison gave the group orientation, he told them “you have your opinions and that is fine.  Now do what will work for this church.”  He smiled when noting that in a good Baptist fashion they met over a shared meal.  The group started at noon and finished at 3:00.  The report to the deacons was accepted unanimously.  The same happed with the church.

The group recommended to the deacons and the church that their “Missouri money” be channeled through the BGCM.  And that half of the “national/global” missions gifts go to the SBC and half to CBF.

In addition, for those with strongly held convictions about current Baptist life, individuals can give to three options for state and national missions.

Harrison noted he does not know what the MBC will do about the church not being singly aligned.  “That will be an MBC issue to deal with,” Harrison said.  “But if someone won’t let us play on their playground, that’s up to them,” he added.

Dr. Bob Webb noted that Memorial had a longer process and the church “is beautifully diverse with a lot of leaders.”  He noted the church “knows who I am and I try to be fair and objective in my leadership.”

The eight month process was helpful to Memorial because the “Where do I belong?” question is about more than money, “it’s about who we are.”  Webb noted the study did not make the church more diverse, but it did help reveal the diversity within the church.

As an illustration of the church diversity Webb observed, “no one can say we all believe the same way on all things.  That’s why we put Word & Way and Pathway in our foyer.”

At Memorial members can opt to support Missouri institutions and missions through the CBF of Missouri Cooperative Plan or the MBC/SBC.  Those who indicate no preference of missions giving have their gifts allocated in a percentage comparable to that chosen by members who do have preferences. Webb said if 20 members opt for the CBF plan and 20 opt for the SBC plan, other gifts are split 50/50 to the missions work of each group.

The seminar ended with a time of questions from attendees.

When is the time to deal with this topic of denomination relations?  David Johnson, pastor of St. Louis’ Overland Church, encouraged those present to not “ignore the elephant in the room.”  He added the best time to deal with this topic is when there is a spirit of peace within the church.

Webb responded to one questioner by inquiring, “other than emotional/traditional ties with the SBC are there ministry opportunities not available if you are not in the SBC?”  To illustrate he mentioned that CBF
of Missouri has worked to bring Passport Camps to Windermere for two weeks this summer.  Also, their church is connecting with the CBF Rural Poverty Initiative in Alabama called Sowing Seeds of Hope.

Harrison listed questions that can help a church dealing with the question of where they belong:
· Do we want to support all Baptist institutions in Missouri?
· Do we want to pull people in or push people out?
· Should our church restrict its giving to just one state organization?
· Is the role of a convention to serve the church or for the church to serve the convention?
· Is our purpose to tell people about Jesus or to have power struggles? Harrison spoke of  “power grabs by middle-aged white men”.  His pastoral heart was revealed when he said, “God will condemn our pride one day.”

All three pastors are willing to talk with other churches and provide specific information about how they have and continue to deal with the question of belonging within the Baptist denomination these days.

For more information contact:

Bob Webb, pastor
Memorial Baptist Church
1634 Paris Rd
Columbia, MO 65201
bwebb@memorialbaptist.org