More than 400 people responded to the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force’s invitation to participate in the first of several listening sessions held Aug. 26 at the Church at Pinnacle Hills, Rogers, Ark.
During a two-hour luncheon meeting, participants heard brief addresses by four task force members: chairman and host pastor Ronnie Floyd; Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Johnny Hunt; Al Gilbert, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.; and Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Sixteen additional members of the 23-member task force attended the luncheon.
Participants expressed strong opinions and asked tough questions, ranging from the role smaller churches and associations will play in the GCR and the need to develop young leaders to concerns about task force members and their church’s commitment to the Cooperative Program (CP) and rumors of the task force’s role in the call for denominational reorganization.
During the “open mike” time, which at one point drew contentious debate, the panel welcomed and responded to each concern and question.
Following several questions about the role of churches and associations and rumors of reorganization of national entities, Floyd reminded the group of the autonomy of each level of Southern Baptist life.
“While all of us practice our autonomy, we are supposed to cooperate together,” he said. “Therein lies the complexity.”
In response to a question by Jeff Thompson, director of missions for Concord Baptist Association in Fort Smith, Ark., about how denominational reorganization fits into the task force goal, Floyd responded, “Our goal is to present to the SBC in Orlando a plan that we believe that God has led us to formulate after we have done due diligence in needed areas of our understanding and assignment. Our ultimate goal … is to figure out how we can more effectively together through the Great Commission reach the lost around the world,” he said, adding, “We are only making a recommendation, but we cannot mandate actions to state, association or local churches. We can perhaps ask them to consider a few things.”
In response to a question about rumors or news articles regarding doing away with or combining SBC mission boards, Hunt called such reports “poor journalism.”
“This issue has never been addressed with this task force,” he said. “That issue came up at the SBC and is totally unrelated to this task force. An even greater question is who is addressing the poor journalism that would allow reporting that we may be attempting to disassemble the North American Mission Board. When there is absolutely no quote whatsoever to go with that. It’s ludicrous.”
At least two participants questioned some task force members whose churches give small percentages to the CP.
Citing mixed messages from the task force, Scott Gordon, pastor of Claycomo Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo., said he was concerned that some regarded the CP as “passé and on the way out.”
Responding, Hunt said he was most concerned with getting the most “dollars to pockets of darkness” instead of the majority staying in the United States.
“I ask everyone in this room, if I lead my church from $30,000 to $525,000, is that not growth in the Cooperative Program, or must it be 10 percent to meet a standard? And if it is, is it a biblical standard or have we like the Pharisees come up with laws outside the book that I preach?
“I lead a church that increased CP giving 11 percent last year,” Hunt added. “When we judge a person’s commitment to the Great Commission on the CP, if we are not careful, it has the potential to elevate the CP above the Great Commission.”
He challenged all churches to increase giving, but asked if “a church is continuing to give more and more, can that be celebrated or can it only be celebrated if they give 10 percent but is also declining or plateaued.”
Hunt said such debate on CP giving “really speaks of deep issues” facing Southern Baptists. He said there are problems, “When we are judged on our commitment based on a percentage, instead of on dollars and based on where we are going and where we are leading our people and based on the fact we are really penetrating the darkness.”
Gilbert said those who judge churches by their CP giving are involved in a “game” that the next generation wants no part of. “They have no desire to be a part of that kind of loyalty,” said Gilbert to applause and hallelujahs. “We better wake up and listen to that.”
Jim Wilson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Seneca, Mo., who agreed that change is needed in the “sick” denomination, said he was getting “mixed signals” from some on the panel who claim to be passionate to increase CP giving but only after the task force was formed.
“I hear you saying today not to worry about percentages, but God’s Word says … that on first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,” he said, and then asked Hunt what percentage his church gave. “If you go up, I’ll ask my church to go up.”
Clearly rattled by Wilson’s comments, Hunt responded that his church had demonstrated passion to Baptist missions causes and again emphasized his church’s 11 percent increase last year. When pressed, Hunt said his church gives “about three and a half percent” to the CP. In August, however, Baptist Press reported Hunt’s church gives 2.5 percent.
Coming to Hunt’s defense, Floyd thanked Wilson for his concern, adding that his own church’s increased giving took place months before the task force was formed. “Your accusations are … totally erroneous and totally uncalled for in this situation,” Floyd said.
Wilson pressed the panel on reports of “combining” the two mission boards.
“We have not discussed the combining or doing away,” said Hunt, adding that such reports were printed in different newspapers and were “speculation.”
“Even Baptist Press?” Wilson asked.
“Even Baptist Press,” Hunt said.
Noting that if one day the SBC votes that leaders must give 10 percent to the Cooperative Program, Hunt said, “One day you won’t have to deal with my type, because … I am a biblicist. The Bible doesn’t teach that we are to tithe to the CP. … I think we need to take a look at where we are going and ask ourselves, are we satisfied in leading our churches to embrace greater dollars to the Cooperative Program.”
Mohler told Wilson he was glad his seminary students were not present. “Overhearing that kind of thing and making CP giving the issue when what they are desperately listening to hear is the concern for the nation would distance them beyond what you could imagine.”
Steve Moore, connections pastor at Grand Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Smith, Ark., asked the group what they were going to do in reaching the next generation for Christ.
“If we don’t capture this generation and involve them in development of young leaders, we will have made a mistake and there will not be a Great Commission Resurgence in our churches,” Moore said.
Responding, Mohler said the SBC “credibility is on the line” with the next generation, many whom have been appointed by the IMB but funding has kept them home.
“If all we talk about is going back to an old form of denominational loyalty while a lost world is waiting and while those wanting to go are waiting, then shame on us.”
Sam Moore, staff evangelist with Eagle Heights Baptist Church, Bentonville, Ark., questioned the task force’s makeup, noting the lack of small church representation.
Hunt reminded the group that the task force included a pastor of an 85-member church, 300-member church as well as two women and a director of missions. “I was looking for best leadership, not who can I get from a certain-size church,” he said, adding, “Does it matter what size church we are from, or where we have come from? I have served those kinds of churches.”
The next meeting of the task force is Oct. 27 in Dallas. In the meantime, Floyd said he is encouraging task force members to hold their own listening sessions like the one in Rogers. “The whole deal is, we’re going to listen more than we talk,” he said.
Audio from the GCR luncheon can be found at pray4gcr.com.
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