I have had the privilege to serve on the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. To those in opposition of the GCR recommendations, allow me to help dispel fears and doubts.
First, all SCBC institutional leaders were voting members of this task force. Their input was valuable, and the report is a statement to their support of this proposed recommendations. Although this proposal recommended cuts to Cooperative Program funding awarded to their respected institutions, they saw the need of placing more resources into the hands of missionaries to help diminish spiritual darkness in the world. Winning the lost for Christ is the number one priority of executive institution heads.
Second, the GCR task force was composed of past convention presidents; pastors of large, medium, and small churches; and laity, clergy and denominational executives from across the state who met throughout 2011. This proposal was developed over a nine-month period and was permeated by a concern to see a lost world come to know Christ.
Third, GCR task force members are actively seeking to increase their churches’ Cooperative Program giving by at least 1 percent for the upcoming year. Along with this action, committee members have been actively seeking out other churches to follow the same procedure.
Fourth, a great sense of fear has resulted from the task force’s recommendation to allow out-of-state trustees to serve SCBC institutions. This fear is fueled by the dark chapter in SCBC history when Furman University severed ties with the convention. Legal measures have been put into place to prevent another disassociation incident. This fear can be quickly dismissed. Competent Christian men and women with many gifts and talents are automatically eliminated from consideration due to their residence. Recently, a well-known Southern Baptist leader had to resign his trustee position from one SCBC institution due to moving out of state. His continued membership would have greatly assisted the institution and SCBC, yet his required resignation resulted in a great loss.
Finally, I must speak from a personal viewpoint. Within my congregation, parents of a full-time International Mission Board missionary, as well as the grandparent of a short-term missionary appointee, worship each Sunday. These young ladies serve in areas the IMB designates as the Last Frontier. They place their lives in harm’s way each day to advance the gospel. The father of one spoke to me about the recession. Although he was concerned, he stated that he would always make sure his daughter had what she needed on the mission field. While this is extremely noble, the conversation reflects the tragic truth concerning priorities within the Christian community.
As Southern Baptists, our signature has been a strong biblical belief and a relentless commitment to missions. The GCR task force embraces these tenets of Baptist belief and charts a course for the future. As a pastor and Southern Baptist, I urge all my Christian brothers and sisters to support the GCR task force’s recommendations.
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