SBOM suggests compliance requirements for cooperation bylaw

LAKE YALE (FBC) -The State Board of Missions strengthened the enforcement of Bylaw 2 that defines Baptist cooperation during its May 21 meeting at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.

In other business, the board also received an 18-page report on the third year of implementation of the Convention’s strategic plan, elected two new employees and reassigned three current employees.

Bylaw 2 of the Bylaws, Florida Baptist State Convention, defines a cooperating Florida Baptist church by setting forth four criteria: theological, declaration, financial and statistical. The bylaw was originally created and approved by messengers to the State Convention in 1996, but did not include an enforcement provision for churches failing to fulfill these areas of cooperation.

In action taken at this meeting, the Board approved provisions that set forth a penalty for churches failing to cooperate or maintain their commitment to theological integrity.

The first “compliance requirement” will penalize a church that does not cooperate financially by giving $250 through the Cooperative Program or statistically by providing an annual church profile. In the action approved, a church that fails to fulfill its commitment to either requirement for three consecutive years will be subject to having fellowship withdrawn by the State Convention.

The Board took these steps after learning that 591 Florida Baptist churches initially did not provide an ACP to the Florida Baptist Convention, a number that was reduced to 89 after intensive personal follow-up by the Convention staff. The lack of ACP response was coupled with an on-going struggle of the Board on how to respond to churches that fail to give through the Cooperative Program.

Also approved was a revision to the bylaw that gives the Board authorization to conduct inquiries of churches or associations whose theology is not consistent with the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message or any other declaration of faith which parallels the tenets of the historic Baptist faith. The revision gives the Board authority to withdraw fellowship from churches not in compliance with these tenets of faith.

In related action, the Board approved changes in its policies to clarify existing guidelines and procedures in conducting polity inquiries in churches that fail to comply with Bylaw 2.

During the discussion, Charles Sexton of Big Pine Key said, “We are dangerously close to requiring signing of a creed or document in order to be classified as a Southern Baptist church. Are we going to clarify that we are not heading that way? This action, I understand, needs to be taken because of what is going on in some churches. But at the same time, part of our background as Southern Baptists is autonomy of the local church. And we’re in no way, shape or form seeking to invade that autonomy, but we are moving dangerously close.”

John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, responded, “We probably have the most generous policy at the point of signing of covenants,” noting that churches can endorse the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message, 1925 Baptist Faith and Message or the New Hampshire Confession of Faith. Bylaw 2 permits affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message “or any other declaration of faith which parallels the tenets of our historic Baptist faith….”

Sullivan added that while some conventions accept only the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, “We do not believe that is appropriate because we want to safeguard the autonomy of the local church.”

Sullivan continued, “The association in Baptist life has always been looked at as the theological watchdog for Baptist churches and we will honor that.”

The bylaw revisions must be approved by messengers to the Florida Baptist State Convention when it meets in Jacksonville Nov. 8-9.

The annual report of the Convention’s strategic plan for the year 2003, was evidenced in the “changed lives represented in the 34,885 men, women, boys and girls who were baptized into new life through Jesus Christ,” said Glen Owens, assistant executive director, Florida Baptist Convention. He noted that another 170,000 Florida Baptists were trained in 120,000 conferences to be more effective in serving Florida Baptist churches; and 52,619 Florida Baptists participated in hands-on mission activities coordinated through the Convention.

The report outlined that over a three-year period, between 2001and 2003, over 500 goals were identified for implementation, 97 percent were actually attempted; and of the goals addressed through action plans, 79 percent were met or exceeded as determined by numerical or quantitative assessment.

“The administration is pleased with the high level of competency as evidenced by the annual report to the Board and the response by the field service of our staff,” Owens added.

In personnel action, the Board employed Sue Johns of Panama City as associate director of the Women’s Missions and Ministries Department and David Lema of Miami as associate director of Theological Education and Distance Learning. Both employees will assume their new positions, effective May 24.

Johns, 54, will assume the position left vacant when Cindy Goodwin was named as department director. Since 2000, Johns served as program coordinator for instructional services, Panhandle Area Education Consortium in Chipley. A former school teacher, Johns has been a leader in state, associational and local conferences for G.A.’s. Since 1998, Johns has written the children’s mission study materials for the Maguire State Mission Offering.

Lema, 42, is a native of Cuba and has served as director of Hispanic and International Ministries, Miami Baptist Association, since 1998. Background on Lema noted his qualifications for the post—an accredited doctor of ministry degree, fluency in both English and Spanish, public speaking skills and extensive experience in relating to the South Florida community.

Bob Bumgarner was named as director of the newly created Office of Leadership Development, which is expected to develop strategies and programming resources to provide a comprehensive and intentional approach to biblical servant leadership development. Bumgarner, 41, has served as director of the convention’s Pastor/Staff Leadership Department since 2000; and associate director, Pastoral Ministries Department, 1997-2000.

The Board also re-established the Pastor/Church Staff Relations Department and named Bob Mounts as director. Mounts, a 10-year employee, has served in a similar position since 2002. From 1994-2000, the 66-year-old Mounts served as director of the Family Life Department.

Roy Lee Saint, who formerly served as associate director of the Pastor/Staff Leadership Department was reassigned to a newly created position as associate, Discipleship Training Department.

Saint, 52, has served the convention since 2000.

In other action, the Board:

—will recommend to the 2004 Florida Baptist State Convention that the 2005 Florida Baptist State Convention be held at First Baptist Church, Ocala;
—terminated the 17-year state-to-state partnership with the Montana Southern Baptist Convention, at the request of the Montana executive director.
—authorized the exploration of a partnership between Florida Baptists and the Nevada Baptist Convention;
—authorized the exploration of a mission partnership to reach people living in the Amazon River Basin of Brazil;
—received as information a report that the Convention received a “qualified” audit for the second year due to a protected liability on post-retirement benefits, but noted that the business services division had corrected 17 procedural problems identified in the 2002 audit report;
—received as information an “unqualified” opinion of audits for the State Convention’s agencies, representing the highest level opinion offered.