Posted on 06/25/2011 11:16:05 PM PDT by Cronos
The number of baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention in 2010 fell by nearly 5 percent, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions.
Southern Baptist churches reported 332,321 baptisms in 2010, down from 349,737 in 2009, which represents a 4.98 percent decline. Total membership in 2010, reported at 16,136,044, represents a 0.15 percent decline from 2009 and is the fourth straight year of decline.
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“As we look upon fields white unto harvest, we should be ever aware that it is critical that we proclaim Christ to our neighbors and those we come in contact with on a daily basis,” he added. “It is critical for our churches to not just get people in the door, but to also train them and disciple them in how to share their faith.”
(Excerpt) Read more at gofbw.com ...
homeschooling is difficult unless one parent stays at home. You mean why aren’t there Baptist schools?
We were run out of Switzerland in 1749 for being Lutheran and while I don’t exactly hold a grudge I would have a lot of ancestors spinning in the grave, LOL.
Funny, so did I!
My SBC church baptized 129 people last Sunday.
.015% decline in these times is not a cause for alarm.
And I came back to the Catholic Church after hanging with the Baptists for a while.
By the way, the Kansas City Catholic Church diocese manages to offer tuition-free K-12 schooling to **all** of its children. They can't be all that rich or special. What are they doing that other Christians can't do?
Obviously, a Christian's **most** important and urgent mission field is that of his own children. The next most important mission is the children of his congregation. Honestly...I find it discouraging to read posts about declining Christian membership ( regardless of the denomination) and then drive by empty and unused church buildings during the week.
Hm?....I wonder how many ministers have spouses that are government teachers? How many government teachers and school employees and their families are sitting in the pews. Gee! Could it be that ministers are afraid to bite the hand that puts money in the collection plate?
OK, there are several things which really have to be cleared up regarding the SBC. As a life-long Southern Baptist and the daughter of a state convention employee until retirement, I probably know a little more than the average lay person in the local Baptist church about the relationship between the SBC and the local church.
Firstly, unlike any other denomination, the SBC does not have authority over the local church. In fact, a Southern Baptist church can be just that and NOT participate in the SBC — not give money, not send stats about their membership, etc... This is because the local church is autonomous. That’s why it’s so laughable when political pundits go to this “SBC leader” or that one and try to get some type of official statement on where the churches stand. There is no such thing. The SBC can make all the resolutions it wants to on the direction it thinks churches should go. Doesn’t mean anything because authority rests with the local body - the local church. In like fashion, the SBC does not, of itself “baptize” anyone - so the wording on that is laughable. Baptisms occur in the local church.
If you read the article closely it admits that more churches have decided of late to join the SBC, and also admits that state conventions have not always asked these questions in a way which would allow comparisons to be made. In my city there are ample Southern Baptist churches and they are not hurting for “membership” - though I would hope that the emphasis for them all would be where it matters: membership in the body of Christ.
As for Rick Warren, he can call himself a prune pie for all it matters, and yes, his church can “officially” join the SBC. Means nothing in relationship to the other churches and does not reflect in any way on their conservative nature - or lack of it. There is no “one voice” of the SBC except on what Southern Baptists traditionally believe. The SBC has no power to enforce anything upon the local bodies.
Good point
Thank you for that explanation
Maybe the difference is that the priests who run the Catholic Church in Kansas City are not married. Unlike Protestant ministers they are definitely not going to have a spouse who is collecting a paycheck from the GODLESS government schools.
By the way....I am not Catholic. My husband and I are members of a Protestant denomination. I admire what the Catholics are doing for their kids in Kansas City.
it doesn’t matter what denomination we are on this matter. Schooling children in the Christian way is the common matter we all face. We learn from each other.
No, only those who have gone through Believers Baptism are considered members of the church. That is not limited to adults.
So how does it work in a SBC church if non-baptized members want to attend? Are they considered “guests”, including the children of parish members? Can they fully participate in the services? Does the SBC accept baptisms from other Christian denominations are valid? How about other baptists? Do they have to re-baptize someone who’s already been baptized in another denomiantion to make them an SBC member?
Selling lattes? in an SBC church?
They have had the opportunity for more than a decade to affirm the Exodus Mandate — and have instead tried to ignore the elephant in the living room. If the gospel isn’t good enough, or sufficient, for our own kids, no wonder we have trouble exporting it!
You’re welcome. I sensed that you knew more about the SBC than many here but rather than address the comments to everyone I just decided to address you as the original poster. Hope it’s useful info. and helps clarify the situation. I know that the relationship between the SBC and the local church is one that most non-Baptists do not understand (nor do all Baptists, for that matter, lol!)
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