SBC celebrates 300 years of Baptist associations

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SAN ANTONIO (FBW)—Spanning three centuries, the role of local Baptist associations in the life and the development of the Southern Baptist Convention, a denomination of 16.3 million members in over 46,000 autonomous churches, was recognized on the first of the two-day SBC annual meeting June 12 in San Antonio, Texas.

Tom Biles, president of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions, recognized the 300th anniversary of Baptist associations, reminding messengers that local associations link churches, nurturing a spirit of cooperation that extends to state conventions and national organizations in fulfilling the Great Commission.

"The association is there to assist the churches," Biles said. "We're there to glorify God by assisting churches, pastors, church leaders, and communities in the ministry and carrying on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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"Missions is our heartbeat," said Biles, director of missions for the Tampa Bay Baptist Association in Florida.

Associations are the closest denominational units to the local church, Biles said, encouraging pastors to view associations as an "extension" of their ministry by being able to serve other pastors.

"Cooperation between churches must be emphasized," Biles said. "Strong churches must be ready to help our weaker churches. Accomplishment of the Great Commission must increasingly be the great passion for Baptists."

While they originally formed for fellowship and doctrinal unity, today's associations vary in ministries from providing training opportunities and historical documents to helping in starting a new church, Biles said. Associations now are also very diverse in size, ethnicity, and number of churches, he added.

Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., agreed. He said he personally attends associational meetings and his church supports the local association.

"You don't just go to things to get," Page said. "You go to things to give."

Biles said in the 14 years he has been in his association, he has seen "churches ministering to churches and I've seen pastors ministering to pastors."

"We are blessed with some wonderful pastors in our area and these relationships have grown and built and have bonded us together in the local association. These are the kind of relationships that are found in your association," Biles said.

"With such a significant past, the Baptist association must not be overlooked in the present nor discounted as a force for God in the future," he concluded.