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WHY
BAPTIST HERITAGE? Editor's Note: Baptist Heritage Council is a mainstream/Baptist Committed type organization in Georgia.
As I have taken on this new responsibility, many people have asked, "why do we need another Baptist organization in Georgia?" I have three responses: The Giant is Sleeping Since 1996, the lay leadership of this state has steadily diminished, to be replaced by ministers. The Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC) consists of 110 people. Today, only four of those are lay people. The heritage of our denomination rests soundly on a belief and dedication of the priesthood of the believer. As a believer and a Baptist, lay persons are called to serve in the leadership of our denomination. As it stands, we have abandoned this responsibility and handed the leadership to our ordained pastors. The Baptist Heritage Council (BHC) is committed to reconnecting the laity to boards, agencies, committees, and churches that deal with the Baptist issues of our state. We want to awake the sleeping giant that is the laity of this state to the responsibility and the gift of serving God in this way. Lay people need the confidence and the support to struggle with issues and discuss them with one another without looking for someone who "has all the answers." We have seen a systematic removal of the laity off most of our decision-making committees, and especially off anything that allows them to interpret "under God." This slaps the face of our Baptist Heritage. Education is Essential Many issues that determine the path of the denomination are decided in committee. The local church is caught unaware at too many turns. The BHC strives to change that. We need to be informed. To have a voice, we need to know what the issues are before they are adopted. To the end, the BHC will publish newsletters that target the issues, and detail the concerns. We will establish a speakers bureau of trained individuals around the state who will interpret to churches the issues crucial to Georgia Baptists. We need a balanced voice with an ear to basic Baptist beliefs. The BHC will be that voice. Most of our churches are giving thousands of dollars to the GBC and the SBC, but they know not where the money is spent. The laity must have a voice! Through education, we will help you discover where your money is going and how it is being used. Where have all the Baptists gone? In recent years, we have watched the SBC whittle away at cherished Baptist principles and doctrines to make way for a fundamentalist agenda. As Southern Baptists, we no longer affirm valued doctrines like priesthood of every believer, autonomy and Bible freedom. These have been removed to make way for the more non-Baptist doctrines of control, pastoral authority and a church polity that resembles Catholicism. The Baptist Faith and Message statement that was changed in June now dictates that we are accountable to the church and others for our interpretation of the scriptures. Christ is no longer our criteria for interpreting scripture. The autonomy of the local church has been removed in favor of a more "top-down" polity. The article on the church states that the church is autonomous, but in the same paragraph, it qualifies what the church can and cannot do with regard to calling a pastor. ("While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men.") Webster's Dictionary gives the definition of autonomy as "self-governed," or "without outside control." Does that sound like autonomy? The church cannot be autonomous and at the same time be told how to function. The recent changes are clothed in the phrase autonomy, but bear the wolf of control underneath. Soul competency, or priesthood of the believer, has been removed from our statement of faith. Historically, Baptists have put emphasis on this doctrine. It has been based on the biblical affirmation that every human being is created in the image of God. Therefore, each individual is competent, under God to make spiritual and moral decisions. It is on the strongest tenants of our faith and denomination. However, Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary and member of the 2000 BF&M committee said, "soul competency had a negative impact. The result was an autonomous individualism that has infected the SBC and now widespread has infected evangelism." These are our roots-the very heart of who we are as Baptists. We must stand to preserve our heritage in Georgia, even when leaders tell us a different story. Why Baptist Heritage? Because I believe in the laity of this state. I believe they want these same things, and I believe they care enough about this state to make a difference for our children and grandchildren. After the SBC in Orlando, my sixteen year-old came in after hearing the reports and said, "Mom, I don't think I want to be Baptist anymore. They are not like us." Baptist Heritage wants to change that for our children. We should not have to be ashamed of who we are as Baptists. We are Baptists. Let's stand up and let that be known. September 2000 |
