Alabama Baptist leaders are questioning the need for the recently unveiled declaration on a Great Commission Resurgence (see story, page 1), because the Great Commission is already front and center in Alabama Baptist life.
The document “Toward a Great Commission Resurgence” (GCR) on www.greatcommissionresurgence.com being touted by Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Johnny Hunt is slowly gaining support. At press time, 2,295 people had signed the document, 58 of which are from Alabama.
“I have not signed the document, because I feel we, as Alabama Baptists, have already been at work in Great Commission Ministries in very effective ways,” Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions Executive Director Rick Lance wrote on his blog www.ricklance.com. “The original document also contained some language with which I could not agree. I do not see our state convention as a bloated bureaucracy but rather as a fellowship of Great Commission Christians on mission with the Great Commission.
“For more than a decade now we have affirmed the more-than-a-motto affirmation: ‘We Have One Mission, The Great Commission; We Have One Program, The Cooperative Program; We Have Many Ministries, Great Commission Ministries,’” he wrote.
The first point of that motto “is all about partnership,” Lance explained. “We partner as a Great Commission people to reach people for Christ in Alabama, North America and internationally.”
The second point is proven when one realizes “Alabama Baptists currently lead all other state conventions in Cooperative Program giving to SBC causes,” he wrote. “From October through March, Alabama Baptists have given more funds to support missions causes in the Southern Baptist Convention than any of the other 41 conventions. This is not a matter of pride for us but praise. We are blessed to be at this point, when the state and national/global economies are in decline. This is good stewardship on the part of Alabama Baptists.”
Lance also pointed out that Alabama is the only “Deep South” state convention that does not have a state missions offering.
“In Alabama Baptist life, we have the purest form of Cooperative Program giving. An undesignated gift from churches is given through the Cooperative Program and, therefore, supports ministries in Alabama and around the world,” he said. “A designated gift can be made, but it must represent a ministry included in either the SBC or State Convention budgets. That is the same principle of unified giving practiced in almost all of our churches in their own budgeting process.”
The third point in the motto showcases three priorities followed by the SBOM, Lance noted. These are evangelism and discipleship, leadership development and mobilizing missions volunteers.
“Yes, Alabama Baptists are a Great Commission people, whether they have signed an online document or not,” he wrote.
“For more than a decade, we have sought to unapologetically devote ourselves to the clear priorities growing out of the Great Commission.”
Alabama Baptist State Convention President Jimmy Jackson agreed.
“Personally I am not going to sign the [document], and I will not sign it as president of the state convention,” he said. “As president, I am not going to create friction. Many of my friends are supporting GCR, but I am not with them in this.
“I saw the first draft and I have seen the current form. The current form is much more palatable,” Jackson noted.
“I have pause about No. 9 (A Commitment to a More Effective Convention Structure). It was questionable when the first wording was released. It used terms like ‘bloated’ and ‘bureaucracies,’ and that is not true of Alabama.”
He added that as long as No. 9 is in the document without additional clarification, he would not be “free to support it.”
“I will not condone anyone trying to dismantle the convention,” he said. “This is like describing a problem without offering a solution. I want to know who is going to do it? If someone wants to streamline the convention, then get everybody together and work on it. It does not need to be done in that document.
“I believe people should pray and take a deep breath and work through this carefully. It seems that every time we get settled down, someone brings up something to stir us up again. We do not need that now.” (TAB)
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