In my ministry as an Associational Missionary I
frequently have the opportunity to train and assist pastor search teams. In
Southern Baptist Churches every entity is autonomous, or self-ruled. That means
that local churches, associations and state mission boards and conventions are
all in “friendly, willing, voluntary cooperation.” A denominational servant (in
Baptist life termed missionary), can influence a church through his
relationship to them, but their decisions about staffing, policy-making and
matters of congregational leadership are ultimately made at the local church
level. In other words, when I train a pastor search committee they are free to
follow the advice I give or choose another approach.
Red flags. One aspect of the training I give
churches discusses “seven red flags” to avoid in choosing a pastor candidate.
One of the red flags I mention is avoiding a candidate with “charismatic or
independent leanings.” By charismatic, I mean with respect to our understanding
of the Spiritual gifts and their use in congregational life. Historically the
practice of unknown tongues and interpretation of tongues, the teaching of a
“second blessing” as an understanding of the meaning of the baptism of the Holy
Spirit, and the doctrine of the security of the believer (perseverance of the
saints), are often understood differently in charismatic denominations than
among Southern Baptists. There is a high probability that these differences
will invariably predict conflict between the pastor and the congregation.
By “Independent” I mean churches that historically have
had mistrust for the cooperative organizational model followed by Southern
Baptist Convention churches. I am convictionally Southern Baptist. It doesn’t
mean I think everyone else is wrong (I don’t), but it means I am deeply
committed to the historic principles that have evolved among Southern Baptists.
At the heart of our missionary identity is the belief that we can do more
cooperatively than we can do standing alone. In the old societal* pattern of
giving to missions and extra-church ministries, there was a nearly endless
stream of missionaries making appeals at the local church level. Southern
Baptists decided to pool resources to increase effectiveness and this has
proven to be a potent way of funding missions, training, pastors and
influencing society as salt and light.
In the past “Independent” usually indicated mistrust for
the doctrinal purity of the SBC as well. Because of the liberalism that
infected SBC seminaries in the past, many Independent Baptists developed the
view that Southern Baptists everywhere were liberal. In reality, SBC seminaries
experienced a miraculous turn around following the “conservative resurgence,”
and the pastors who graduate from our seminaries are typically under the
influence of godly, Bible-believing professors.** I know that there are many
fine Christian leaders who have grown up in Independent Baptist churches and in
other denominations. I am by no means questioning their commitment to Christ or
their fitness for pastoral leadership. That would be absurd.
Here’s what I am
saying. When someone has been
trained to practice polity and missions support in a local church a particular
way (societally), or to understand doctrinal issues from a theological
perspective that is charismatic, they will eventually (perhaps even
inadvertently) introduce conflict through their leadership. It is therefore vital to the effectiveness of
local churches that they call pastors who, by conviction, agree with their
doctrinal and missionary identity. I am by no means touting the models used by
the SBC as perfect, nor am I saying that our system never needs evaluation or
adjustment. It certainly isn’t, and it certainly does.
What I am saying in a nutshell is this: if your church
calls a pastor who is not from your “tribe” you will invariably trade away
something valuable. You will trade away (even if only partially or
progressively) a historical perspective that others have given their lives and
livelihood to maintain. You will invite the probability of unnecessary
conflict. You will weaken your local association of churches, your state
mission board, and your national denomination. And if this sounds as if I’m
towing the company line, no, far from it; I am as aware of the weakness of our
churches and entities as anyone. But I have given my life to the work of
helping local Baptist Churches share Christ and experience spiritual health. And this is
a common, recurring problem that qualifies as a serious red flag!
*So-called because of the abundance of independent
missionary societies.
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