In “With graying of Southern Baptist Convention leadership, what comes next?” (April 30), the Courier’s Butch Blume addresses the staunch reality of the void of pastors under the age of 40 in the SBC’s current leadership.
I think Blume’s rhetorical question amplifies the SBC’s current debacle of the absence of young leaders. The key catchphrase is “Southern Baptist Convention leadership.” In other words, the catchphrase really implies, “How is the SBC’s current bureaucratic institutionalism going to survive?”
H. Rondel Rumburg, in “Some Southern Documents of the People Called Baptists” (1995), unveiled the historical fact that the SBC’s early days were (gasp!) void of bureaucratic institutionalism:
“[The SBC’s founding fathers] were not interested in promoting a denominational hierarchy. Their interest was in confessing biblical convictions and living for Christ. Present institutionally oriented Baptists seem more concerned to perpetuate an organization than to build up the Body of Christ –
“(Our Southern) Baptist forefathers’ purpose was to strengthen the saints rather than be an agency for public relations to promote an institutional hierarchy or to perpetuate an ecclesiastical machine –
“Findley B. Edge, in ‘A Quest for Vitality in Religion’ (1963) expressed some of the pitfalls which arise in institutionalism. To paraphrase him on this theme: Institutionalism is evident in the church when members are related to the body as an organization, rather than to the living and true God. If a person’s faith is confined to his support of an organization, it is then that a problem exists. This is also observable when a church has a greater concern for its earthly enhancement, rather than exhibiting concern over the reasons for which God called her.
“Institutionalism then enters a realm which no longer asks, ‘Is it biblical?’ but adopts the mode of ‘Does it work?’! ‘What will glorify God?’ is changed to ‘What will improve the institution?’! Church history becomes a series of denominational social studies and organizational promotions. At this point the confession of one’s faith has been long forgotten or rejected. It is conceived to be a great hindrance, rather than a help.”
I long for the day when the SBC will no longer market the philosophy, “Does this work?” but will ask the question, “Is this biblical?” I long for the day when, “What will improve the institution?” will be changed to, “What will glorify God?” Lord, haste the day!
?The question of how the SBC’s current bureaucratic institutionalism is going to survive is really the wrong question to ask. The real question at hand is: “Can the SBC exist without bureaucratic institutionalism?” A historically proven answer is: “Yes we can!”
– Chadwick Ivester, Sand Hill Baptist, Kershaw
As a young pastor (29), I love both our state and national conventions (“With graying of SBC leadership, what next?” April 30). Turn my name in as one who will help lead South Carolina and the Southern Baptist Convention to reach the nations.
– Chris Autry, Flint Hill Baptist, Fort Mill
What do you think? Click here to send a letter to the editor addressing this or another subject.