Spiritless Baptist Associations and What the Church Should Know
A perspective for local denominational organizations/judicatories on how they best empower their churches to serve from the base of their local context.
Synopsis: The is the sixth in a series of at least eight columns about various types of Baptist associations (with implications for local denominational organizations or judicatories in many denominations). A series of FREE video conferences are offered to support and dialogue about this typology.
To sign up, send a message to George Bullard sharing your desire to participate and provide your email.
Read the overview column on this associational typology HERE.
Read the columns on Soaring Associations, Strong Associations, Stumbling Associations, and Struggling Associations by clicking on the titles/links.
Rundown: Articles on Baptist associations are often applicable to the local denominational organizations/judicatories of various denominations. They may be called associations, districts, classis, synods, and by other names. They are typically organisms more than organizations. Relational more than functional. Regional and national expressions of denominations are more organizational and functional.
(This column appears this week in the digital and print edition of The Baptist Paper. Access the column in the digital edition HERE. The Baptist Paper is a publication of TAB Media. Request a free trial HERE. See all TAB Media columns written by George Bullard HERE.) (Subscribe to this Substack Blog using the “Subscribe now” button below.)
Spiritless Baptist Associations and What the Church Should Know
A Spiritless Baptist association is possible. In my opinion, a spiritless association emerges when an assortment of primarily uninspired congregations make up the majority of its membership.
These congregations are so culturally bound that they cannot see the new thing God is doing in their midst. More than 80% of these congregations are plateaued or declining.
Many are simply holding their own. Each year they do the same things they did the previous year, and a spiritually passionate movement for Church and Kingdom growth is missing.
The idea of the association as a family of congregations is an unknown concept. Many congregations do not see why they need an association. They like their associational missionary and are glad he can fill the pulpit from time to time. They enjoy a periodic inspirational gathering or joint project.
In a Spiritless association, the number of financially contributing churches is decreasing. Only a few still seek out the association for ministry services. The rest are members in name only or out of tradition.
The resources are limited in a Spiritless association. Therefore, congregations often choose to bypass the association and connect with their state convention or regional denominational office — or maybe even a field representative from the national level.
Like Struggling associations, Spiritless associations represent up to 25% of all associations.
(Continue reading HERE.)
Reflections from George:
I apologize—sort of—it is necessary to have a type of Baptist association (and other local denominational organizations or judicatories) called Spiritless. No association wants to be called spiritless.
When I conducted preliminary research with the staff leaders of Baptist associations in one state, they did not like the title.
I decided to keep it because it is essential for any organization or organism to know exactly where it is so it understands the opportunities and challenges ahead of them.
I predict that many Spiritless Baptist associations will not exist within another generation. They have an insufficient—unique and empowering—mission, purpose, and vision. They are not making measurable contributions to their member congregations.
Also, congregations are not going to continue to fund a three dimensional denominational structure unless they realize added value from each one of them. Spiritless associations are least able to add value to congregations.
For some it is not their fault. It is that they context and/or their denomination is declining. The devaluing of denominations has impacted them quicker than it has the regional and national expressions of their denomination.
Before discounting this type in the typology, take time to pray about and ponder what these associations will be like in another generation—if they still exist.