International Mission Board (IMB) trustees meeting in Huntsville Nov. 14–15 addressed “private prayer language,” specified policy for baptism and approved a $282.5 million basic budget for 2006.
Issues of the policy opposing a missionary candidate’s practice of using a “private prayer language” involve missionary candidate qualifications known as “Southern Baptist Identity.”
Those qualifications state that candidates must: (1) be committed to and identified with Southern Baptists; (2) hold a conviction of truth as expressed in the Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC); (3) possess a minimum of three years’ tenure as a Southern Baptist and (4) have current membership in a Southern Baptist church.
“In terms of worship practices, the majority of Southern Baptist churches do not practice glossolalia (speaking in tongues),” the policy approved by trustees states in providing a framework for the IMB’s office of mission personnel staff to use with new candidates regarding a “private prayer language.”
The policy also says the New Testament speaks of glossolalia as a gift that “generally is considered to be a legitimate language of some people group” and adds that “prayer language as commonly expressed by those practitioners is not the same as the biblical use of glossolalia.” Also the policy says the apostle “Paul’s clear teaching is that prayer should be made with understanding.”
“In terms of general practice, the majority of Southern Baptists do not accept what is referred to as ‘private prayer language,’” the policy further states. “Therefore, if ‘private prayer language’ is an ongoing part of his or her conviction and practice, the candidate has eliminated himself or herself from being a representative of the IMB of the SBC.”
The policy is not retroactive and is designed to be followed beginning Nov. 15, the day of its adoption.
Regarding a candidate’s baptism, trustees voted by a 2–1 margin to establish a guideline that specifies (1) believer’s baptism by immersion; (2) baptism follows salvation; (3) baptism is symbolic, picturing the experience of the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ; (4) baptism does not regenerate and (5) baptism is a church ordinance.
The guideline establishes that candidates must have been baptized in a Southern Baptist church or a church of another denomination that practices believer’s baptism by immersion alone. Also the baptism must not be viewed as sacramental or regenerative, and the church must embrace the doctrine of the security of the believer.
Trustees voted that any exception to the “private prayer language” policy or the baptism guideline must be reviewed by IMB staff and the board’s process review committee.
The $282.5 million budget approved by the trustees is $600,000 less than the previous year’s spending plan. Finance committee Chairman Ken Whitten pointed out the operating portion of the budget is up about $9 million over 2005, while the capital portion decreased about $10 million. He said the capital budget, however, has some flexibility, particularly in capital funding related to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO).
Trustees anticipate receiving $100.2 million through the Cooperative Program and $150 million through the 2005 LMCO; $137 million is included in the operating budget with $13 million reserved for capital expenditures. Reaching the $150 million goal will require a 12 percent increase over the 2004 offering of $133.9 million. Reaching the operating budget will require a 2 percent increase.
A.C. Halsell, finance committee vice chairman, told trustees there is a possible impact to IMB funding — particularly Lottie Moon receipts — related to hurricane relief. In addition, he noted all Cooperative Program receipts above the budget for fiscal year 2004–2005 and the first three months of the 2005–2006 year — October through December — have been diverted to Gulf Coast relief efforts.
The IMB has given almost $9 million to hurricane relief in 2005. The IMB in September contributed $2.5 million in relief funds from contingency reserves, and the Southern Baptist Convention has redirected an estimated $6.5 million in Cooperative Program funds from the IMB to Hurricane Katrina relief.
The 2006 budget projects $17.3 million from investment income, which will provide 6.12 percent of total board income in 2006, which is the equivalent of supporting more than 10 percent of the board’s 5,000-plus missionaries or 43 percent of the IMB’s stateside administrative and promotional costs in 2006.
Hunger and relief funds are projected to remain at $8 million in 2006. Noting that the IMB received almost $17 million in tsunami relief this year, Halsell said hunger and relief receipts are “event-driven,” and the board is committed to spend all relief funds it receives. If contributions exceed the budgeted amount, then the IMB will adjust spending to keep pace with receipts.
Salary budget for field personnel has been increased more than $2.5 million in the 2006 budget in anticipation of an increased number of missionaries to be appointed.
(BP)
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