The Importance of Associations in SBC Life
At the Southern Baptist Conference for Associational Leaders (SBCAL) Dr. Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, led a breakout session outlining six reasons the association matters in SBC life.
The association coordinates churches in a local context to do missions together. It can be the catalyst for networking churches to make an impact in the community for the gospel. Smaller churches can partner to plant churches, create a counseling center, and help one another in mission projects. Nobody else can unite local churches like the association.
A local association can network small churches for international missions. The association can partner with a country, mobilize international mission efforts like disaster relief, and plan international mission trips together.
Associational leaders can speak the truth in love, with objectivity, and challenge people to change. They can visit a church and provide an objective view of its facility and atmosphere. Leaders must build a relationship of trust to help people see the need for change. An associational leader's investment in the church builds that trust so he can confront the needs.
The association can advocate for and interpret the larger convention for the churches. Who can they call at the SCBO, SBC, LifeWay, etc.? How does the local church get connected on the state and national levels? Bi-vocational pastors focus on working their jobs, caring for people, and preparing Sunday sermons. They don't have time to research and find the truth about what's happening in the state convention and national convention. Associational leaders can confront misinformation. The point is not to unthinkingly follow, but to know the truth and make it known.
Association leaders and fellow pastors can provide care for pastors. The primary role of the associational leader is not to be a pastor to the pastors, but it is essential. No one can know the pastors and provide care for them and their families like the association can. They can be first responders in family and church crises.
The local association can provide crisis intervention. When a pastor is fired, a church splits, or a leader is unfaithful to his call, associations must move toward the need, not run from it; they are the front lines in the battle.
"Before there were state conventions, there were associations in SBC history,” said Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, SCBO executive director. “As a former AMS leader myself, I believe a healthy and missional local association is critical to the health of the SCBO. That is why we have dedicated Cooperative Program dollars within our budget and staff to ensure a strong partnership with our local associations here in the Buckeye State."
What would you add to the list? How have you seen the association make a difference as we invite churches to rediscover gospel multiplication? Please send your thoughts and comments to SteveHopkins@scbo.org.
Click here to find your association
The association coordinates churches in a local context to do missions together. It can be the catalyst for networking churches to make an impact in the community for the gospel. Smaller churches can partner to plant churches, create a counseling center, and help one another in mission projects. Nobody else can unite local churches like the association.
A local association can network small churches for international missions. The association can partner with a country, mobilize international mission efforts like disaster relief, and plan international mission trips together.
Associational leaders can speak the truth in love, with objectivity, and challenge people to change. They can visit a church and provide an objective view of its facility and atmosphere. Leaders must build a relationship of trust to help people see the need for change. An associational leader's investment in the church builds that trust so he can confront the needs.
The association can advocate for and interpret the larger convention for the churches. Who can they call at the SCBO, SBC, LifeWay, etc.? How does the local church get connected on the state and national levels? Bi-vocational pastors focus on working their jobs, caring for people, and preparing Sunday sermons. They don't have time to research and find the truth about what's happening in the state convention and national convention. Associational leaders can confront misinformation. The point is not to unthinkingly follow, but to know the truth and make it known.
Association leaders and fellow pastors can provide care for pastors. The primary role of the associational leader is not to be a pastor to the pastors, but it is essential. No one can know the pastors and provide care for them and their families like the association can. They can be first responders in family and church crises.
The local association can provide crisis intervention. When a pastor is fired, a church splits, or a leader is unfaithful to his call, associations must move toward the need, not run from it; they are the front lines in the battle.
"Before there were state conventions, there were associations in SBC history,” said Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, SCBO executive director. “As a former AMS leader myself, I believe a healthy and missional local association is critical to the health of the SCBO. That is why we have dedicated Cooperative Program dollars within our budget and staff to ensure a strong partnership with our local associations here in the Buckeye State."
What would you add to the list? How have you seen the association make a difference as we invite churches to rediscover gospel multiplication? Please send your thoughts and comments to SteveHopkins@scbo.org.
Click here to find your association
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