If you were to draw a diagram of ABC structure you would find an upside down pyramid in which the churches are at the top, the regions are beneath them, and the ABC is at the bottom.
The ABC is a congregational denomination in which each local church runs its own affairs, elects its own officers, chooses its own pastors, and decides how its mission dollars will be spent. The ABC/USA is actually not a denomination in the same sense that the United Methodists or the Roman Catholics are. We are really a federation of Baptist bodies who come together for missions.
The upside of the system is that each church can follow God as we are led. The downside for some is that it does not create a cohesive system where we all agree on doctrinal issues. American Baptists accept the Bible as our sole authority but, no other document, body, organization, or entity has final authority over a Baptist church.
This mean we are in a body of believers where we have to respect differences and cannot tell another American Baptists church or how to do its ministry.
Local church autonomy allows for exciting ministry as long as you don't have feel like we have to walk in lock step to walk side by side.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I Had Hoped We Were Past This
I guess I should have known better. The ABC of the Pacific Southwest split off from the ABC as "Transformation Ministries." The word I heard from persons in that region was that it was their intention to go do their own thing. They disagreed with the direction of the ABC and wanted to move in a different direction.
Before the split and during the split Dennis McFadden spent a lot of time on his blog "His Barking Dog" blasting the ABC, our direction, our views of local church autonomy and freedom, and our refusal to disfellowship churches and individuals with dissenting views from the majority.
At one point Mr. McFadden seemed to express a desire to tone down the rhetoric and promised to quit talking about the ABC. And, given that he an his colleagues are no longer American Baptists (even though Mr. McFadden still receives salary as an employee of an ABC affiliated institution) you would think that he could move on, and let Transformation Ministries do its own thing and the ABC continue to move in the direction of openness to dissent that has characterized our denomination. But, so much for staying out of it.
Just this week McFadden decided to post another slam article aimed at the ABC and our dedicated General Secretary Dr. A. Roy Medley (with a photo of Roy that he might as well have drawn a bulls eye on). He gleefully posted information about Dr. Medley's visit to one of Welcoming and Affirming congregations. This congregation is a church in good standing in the ABC. And, while many disagree with its views, this church gives to the ABC, participates in the ABC, and certainly has as much right to host the ABC General Secretary as any other ABC church who is in good standing with the denomination. But facts like that don't matter to Mr. McFadden. Dr. Medley, I am sure, also visits many more congregations with views in opposite directions from this church, but McFadden didn't post any articles about those visits.
McFadden uses this smear piece for a self congratulatory pat on the back in the continued hope of justifying the split of PSW (TM) from the ABC. Sad indeed. But, why now? Are some TM related churches realizing that leaving behind their family wasn't all it was cracked up to be? Is McFadden hoping to bolster his cause and does that mean it isn't going that well? Or, does Mr. McFadden just get his kicks attacking his former family?
He asked if it was necessary for PSW to leave the ABC and struggles to prove that it was. The truth is that further dividing the Christian and the American Baptist family was neither necessary nor desirable. McFadden fantasizes that the ABC leadership wanted to get rid of them even though the ABC President, the General Secretary, and others did all they could to try to hold the family together.
No Dennis, no one tried to get rid of PSW; the ABC didn't want the split; many of us bent over backwards to try to keep PSW in the fold. The division was never really about the Welcoming and Affirming Churches or homosexuality. Most American Baptists hold the same majority view that PSW does on the issue of W&A. No, the division was over a non-Baptistic polity which PSW wanted us to adopt which would require us to push out dissenting churches of one kind now, and open a can of worms for disfellowshipping any other dissenters later, anytime that group wasn't in the majority, until no ABC church would be safe from the long arm of a denomination which can kick you out for being Baptists.
That's right, a denomination founded by dissenters from the Church of England whose first church in America was founded by a dissenter who was kicked out of Massachusetts to found the Rhode Island Colony, and whose pastors were even often imprisoned for their dissent, was being asked to kick out churches who were dissenting from the majority view.
The ABC refused to veer off its historic course to become a narrow sectarian denomination and preserved its historic polity of local church autonomy, priesthood of believers, and soul competency.
Someday I hope Mr. McFadden can find a better reason for blogging than being anti-ABC.
Before the split and during the split Dennis McFadden spent a lot of time on his blog "His Barking Dog" blasting the ABC, our direction, our views of local church autonomy and freedom, and our refusal to disfellowship churches and individuals with dissenting views from the majority.
At one point Mr. McFadden seemed to express a desire to tone down the rhetoric and promised to quit talking about the ABC. And, given that he an his colleagues are no longer American Baptists (even though Mr. McFadden still receives salary as an employee of an ABC affiliated institution) you would think that he could move on, and let Transformation Ministries do its own thing and the ABC continue to move in the direction of openness to dissent that has characterized our denomination. But, so much for staying out of it.
Just this week McFadden decided to post another slam article aimed at the ABC and our dedicated General Secretary Dr. A. Roy Medley (with a photo of Roy that he might as well have drawn a bulls eye on). He gleefully posted information about Dr. Medley's visit to one of Welcoming and Affirming congregations. This congregation is a church in good standing in the ABC. And, while many disagree with its views, this church gives to the ABC, participates in the ABC, and certainly has as much right to host the ABC General Secretary as any other ABC church who is in good standing with the denomination. But facts like that don't matter to Mr. McFadden. Dr. Medley, I am sure, also visits many more congregations with views in opposite directions from this church, but McFadden didn't post any articles about those visits.
McFadden uses this smear piece for a self congratulatory pat on the back in the continued hope of justifying the split of PSW (TM) from the ABC. Sad indeed. But, why now? Are some TM related churches realizing that leaving behind their family wasn't all it was cracked up to be? Is McFadden hoping to bolster his cause and does that mean it isn't going that well? Or, does Mr. McFadden just get his kicks attacking his former family?
He asked if it was necessary for PSW to leave the ABC and struggles to prove that it was. The truth is that further dividing the Christian and the American Baptist family was neither necessary nor desirable. McFadden fantasizes that the ABC leadership wanted to get rid of them even though the ABC President, the General Secretary, and others did all they could to try to hold the family together.
No Dennis, no one tried to get rid of PSW; the ABC didn't want the split; many of us bent over backwards to try to keep PSW in the fold. The division was never really about the Welcoming and Affirming Churches or homosexuality. Most American Baptists hold the same majority view that PSW does on the issue of W&A. No, the division was over a non-Baptistic polity which PSW wanted us to adopt which would require us to push out dissenting churches of one kind now, and open a can of worms for disfellowshipping any other dissenters later, anytime that group wasn't in the majority, until no ABC church would be safe from the long arm of a denomination which can kick you out for being Baptists.
That's right, a denomination founded by dissenters from the Church of England whose first church in America was founded by a dissenter who was kicked out of Massachusetts to found the Rhode Island Colony, and whose pastors were even often imprisoned for their dissent, was being asked to kick out churches who were dissenting from the majority view.
The ABC refused to veer off its historic course to become a narrow sectarian denomination and preserved its historic polity of local church autonomy, priesthood of believers, and soul competency.
Someday I hope Mr. McFadden can find a better reason for blogging than being anti-ABC.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Freedom makes a difference!
I'm one of those few Americans that still loves to watch the political conventions.
American Baptists, as a racially diverse, ethnically inclusive denomination that affirms men and women in ministry has been a part of the civil rights movement, both through Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and many other American Baptist leaders.
Whomever you are voting for in this election, it should be recognized that it is significant that we have finally reached a place where an African-American has an opportunity possibly be the next President of the United States. For the first time a woman candidate for President came very close to receiving the nomination for President.
As a nation we have come a long way in civil rights for all Americans. We have a long way to go but, we have made progress. And, I believe that American Baptists are one of the groups that has made a contribution to that freedom!
How were we able to be a part of that? Because of our belief that the Bible teaches us to be a free people serving God and that God loves all people equally no matter who they are.
At times Baptist freedom is very frustrating as we see people abuse their freedom, use their freedom to preach hate or intolerance, or use their freedom to try to take away the God given freedom of others.
We have a long way to go but, we have come a long way!
American Baptists, as a racially diverse, ethnically inclusive denomination that affirms men and women in ministry has been a part of the civil rights movement, both through Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and many other American Baptist leaders.
Whomever you are voting for in this election, it should be recognized that it is significant that we have finally reached a place where an African-American has an opportunity possibly be the next President of the United States. For the first time a woman candidate for President came very close to receiving the nomination for President.
As a nation we have come a long way in civil rights for all Americans. We have a long way to go but, we have made progress. And, I believe that American Baptists are one of the groups that has made a contribution to that freedom!
How were we able to be a part of that? Because of our belief that the Bible teaches us to be a free people serving God and that God loves all people equally no matter who they are.
At times Baptist freedom is very frustrating as we see people abuse their freedom, use their freedom to preach hate or intolerance, or use their freedom to try to take away the God given freedom of others.
We have a long way to go but, we have come a long way!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
FreeBaptist.org now redirected here!
I have now redirected FreeBaptist.org to point to this blog so, either update your bookmark to freebaptist.org or freebaptist.blogspot.com!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sub Jacobi Conditione
From the FBC Des Moines/Johnston August Newsletter.
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13 Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.' 14 Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.' 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16
James reminds us that as much as we make plans, as much as we work to get ready for the future, and as much as we think we are in control we have no real control over the future!
You are receiving this newsletter very late this month because a lightening storm decided to play a trick on us a couple of weeks ago. In a flash we lost our phones, Barb's computer, and our internet. You do not realize how dependent a modern office is until you can't answer the phone, can't type a letter, and can't send or receive email! For more than a week this reminded all of us in the FBC office that while we think we know what is going to happen tomorrow everything is a "mist" and can just as easily vanish.
James reminded his readers in James 4 that to think that we are control of the future is a form of arrogance. Only God truly knows what will happen tomorrow. So, this calls us to be humble in all of our planning for the future. We should always seek to take account of God's will. We should always declare "If the Lord wishes" rather than "I will do..." How easy it is for us human beings who think we are so powerful to be humbled by a simple lightening storm, a tornado, or a flood. Some Christian writers have been known to end their manuscripts with the Latin phrase "Sub Jacobi Conditione" which means "under the condition of James" referring to James 4 as a reminder never to take for granted that it is God calling the shots!
These little (and large) mishaps of life remind us that we need to trust even more in God through Jesus Christ who holds the future in His hands!
In Christ's Service,
Timothy Bonney
Sub Jacobi Conditione
--------------------
13 Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.' 14 Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.' 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16
James reminds us that as much as we make plans, as much as we work to get ready for the future, and as much as we think we are in control we have no real control over the future!
You are receiving this newsletter very late this month because a lightening storm decided to play a trick on us a couple of weeks ago. In a flash we lost our phones, Barb's computer, and our internet. You do not realize how dependent a modern office is until you can't answer the phone, can't type a letter, and can't send or receive email! For more than a week this reminded all of us in the FBC office that while we think we know what is going to happen tomorrow everything is a "mist" and can just as easily vanish.
James reminded his readers in James 4 that to think that we are control of the future is a form of arrogance. Only God truly knows what will happen tomorrow. So, this calls us to be humble in all of our planning for the future. We should always seek to take account of God's will. We should always declare "If the Lord wishes" rather than "I will do..." How easy it is for us human beings who think we are so powerful to be humbled by a simple lightening storm, a tornado, or a flood. Some Christian writers have been known to end their manuscripts with the Latin phrase "Sub Jacobi Conditione" which means "under the condition of James" referring to James 4 as a reminder never to take for granted that it is God calling the shots!
These little (and large) mishaps of life remind us that we need to trust even more in God through Jesus Christ who holds the future in His hands!
In Christ's Service,
Timothy Bonney
Sub Jacobi Conditione
FreeBaptist Blog New Location!
I'm moving my FreeBaptist.org blog to blogger.
iWeb is a great place for generating some fine looking websites but, it just isn't as easy to use for blogging as blogger.
I will set up a forwarding link at freebaptist.org until I get the domain transfered to this address. Until then, use the address http://freebaptist.blogspot.com to get to this blog. Sorry for any confusion this change will cause. In the long run I think it will make for more frequent blog updates.
Tim Bonney
iWeb is a great place for generating some fine looking websites but, it just isn't as easy to use for blogging as blogger.
I will set up a forwarding link at freebaptist.org until I get the domain transfered to this address. Until then, use the address http://freebaptist.blogspot.com to get to this blog. Sorry for any confusion this change will cause. In the long run I think it will make for more frequent blog updates.
Tim Bonney
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