Strong Baptist Associations Are Clear About Their Mission and Vision, But . . .
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 third in a series of seven 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.
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.)
Strong Baptist Associations Are Clear About Their Mission and Vision, But . . .
Strong Baptist associations exhibit praiseworthy clarity about their mission and vision. They strive for congregations to see the association as a family of congregations. Their robust programs, ministries and activities focus on adding value to congregations.
They pursue increased church growth among their congregations as they engage missionally from the base of their ever-changing context, yet it is clear that greater intensity and effectiveness are possible. Unrealized potential exists regarding their gospel impact.
Associational leadership is competent and committed to the association’s mission and vision. They seek new ideas, methods and innovative approaches to help congregations grow.
How Many Associations are Strong?
Strong associations are between 10 and 15% of all associations in the U.S. These 110–150 associations join with soaring associations to represent at least 20% of all associations, or 175–225 of the more than 1100 in the U.S.
This number is fluid since associations are organisms that may move regularly from one type to another. They may lose their strong nature and become stumbling associations. Or they may increase their vitality and vibrancy and become soaring associations.
Strong associations are successful statistically, programmatically and missionally. They do things that are significant in a praiseworthy manner. However, they focus more on church growth than Kingdom growth, which shows they have not yet fully surrendered to God’s leadership. They may still value organizational goals more than spiritual goals.
(Continue reading HERE.)
Reflections from George:
Strong associations focus on church growth . They express a praiseworthy understanding of their spiritual and strategic journey. Yet the full commitment to collaboration that characterizes soaring associations eludes them.
Too many member congregations are more concerned about their growth than the Kingdom potential and vitality of every member congregation. A greater amount of competition among churches exists than in soaring associations.
These seven columns and the FREE video conference talking about them will cover associations which are Soaring, Strong, Stumbling, Struggling, and Spiritless. This parallels a typology for congregations that includes the same five types. I have been working on this typology periodically over the past four decades
I invite you to learn alongside me. I am still learning! I look forward to learning from you.
Sign up for the video conferences that began August 7th and will run about every other week for a while.