I have been involved in the local Baptist association for more than 10 years – in participation and leadership – and I have seen some good things and some bad things. The local association is facing challenges today. I want to see the association succeed. At the same time, I believe in being honest. Introspection can be positive and helpful. Three major challenges are facing the Baptist association today.
Challenge 1: The training and support offered to the church at the associational level is readily available at the state level.
RuffFor the most part, the association has ministry areas that closely mirror those of the church. The association may have departments such as Sunday school, discipleship training, music, youth, men’s ministry, women’s ministry, WMU, and others. From time to time, the association may offer training and resources to help the local church be better equipped in these areas. This same type of training and resourcing is also available to every church at the state convention level. Often these resources are available more quickly, in greater volume, and from staff with years of specific experience. As a pastor, I have to answer a question: “If it becomes necessary to receive some of my training and resourcing from the state convention, why would I not receive all of it from the state convention?” This is the challenge of assistance.
Challenge 2: The association may not be able to adequately resource and support the local church with ministries that are specific to the church’s community.
As churches explore their communities and identify new ways to communicate the gospel, there will be increased need for specific support. Churches are discovering emerging fields of ministry that reflect pockets of the population. These may include multi-housing, skateboarders, the military, or migrant ministry. Each field requires unique support and training. The association cannot be all things to all people. As a pastor, I have to answer a question: “Once I have identified ministries specific to my community, where is the best place to go for training and support?” This is the challenge of relevance.
Challenge 3: The association may be taking on ministries that are the responsibility of the local church.
I was once part of an association in Florida that felt if the churches were not doing ministry at a level considered acceptable, the association should sponsor it. Instead of encouraging churches to develop, for example, a comprehensive men’s ministry or training their people to develop their own, the association stepped in and sponsored the event. That may work for a time, but it is not profitable for future ministry. In the event the association is no longer able to sponsor the ministry, the local church has not been equipped, and the ministry will cease. As a pastor, I have to answer a question: “Is the association responsible for carrying out ministry for the church instead of equipping them for the work?” This is the challenge of priority.
Does the local association have a future? I believe it does. I don’t believe it is automatic, however. The association of the future will look much different. It seems a majority of associations still operate the way they did 50 or 60 years ago. In the 1950s, the association served as a conduit for denominational programs from the Southern Baptist Convention to the local church. For the most part, associations still have the same programs. Strain occurs when local churches no longer utilize established programs or when they develop new ministries, while the association continues with a traditional ministry structure.
Relevancy is the Achilles heel of the local association. The future of the association is going to be shaped in part by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force recommendations. For the association to have a viable and fruitful future, the local church will have to be the focal point. The church does not exist for the benefit of the association. If there were no association, the church would still exist. The association exists for the benefit of the local church. If there were no church, there would be no association.
– Ruff is pastor of Port Royal Baptist Church.