2011 Executive Director's Report to the San Felipe Bapt Assn

When the Southern Baptist Convention formed in 1845, it divided Great Commission efforts into two priorities: at home and abroad. The Home Mission Board and the Foreign Mission Board were formed to address those needs. 166 years later Southern Baptists today are re-evaluating how best to work together to fulfill the Great Commission. SBC life and work is in a time of transition here in the US and around the world. Re-alignment of relationships and refining of vision are taking place on a national level. There has been a movement among Southern Baptists for the last several years, which is identified by two characteristics. Churches and leaders are re-evaluating their relationships and are clustering around common doctrine and common vision. Those two items, common doctrine and common vision, are reshaping the outward expression of Christianity in the United States.

On a local level, it is an exciting time to be a part of SFBA. We see God’s hand at work and we are a part of that change. Locally and nationally, SFBA is continually changing and adjusting to be an active part of what God is doing in His world today. The transitions that have taken place, since our last annual meeting, have been a tremendous leap forward. The updated constitution embodies the essence of where God is leading us. SFBA is keeping pace with the realignment of relationships and refining of vision that is moving through Christianity in general and Southern Baptists in particular. In our recently expanded structure, as presented in our updated constitution, we purposely do two things. We set forth a balance of maintaining our theological and historical heritage as Southern Baptists while setting the stage to connect with other Great Commission Christians for Kingdom work. Our updated constitution is based on the following.

• 1) We reaffirm our theological and historical heritage as Southern Baptists. We have a rich history of theology and Great Commission efforts, which we do not want to forget. We are an Association of Southern Baptist churches. In our revised constitution, we reaffirm our common statement of faith. One author reminds us that in the 21st century, “denominations that thrive will remain connected by conviction to Scripture, the gospel, and their tradition . . .” “So do denominations still matter? Yes! . . . they do matter and they will continue to matter, but only if they remain connected to Scripture and orthodox tradition.”2
• 2) We recognize that God is at work among other Great Commission groups with whom we can join efforts to extend God’s Kingdom. “Perhaps more important for the twenty-first century than the denominational future will be the importance of networks. . . . while working and exploring ways to partner with affinity groups and networks moving out of their insularity and seeking to understand better the changing global context around us.”3 Christ’s commission to make disciples of all the nations compels us to go beyond our denominational relationships and partner with others with common doctrine and common vision.

In conclusion, this balance of theological and historical heritage plus an openness to other believers is important and transformative. One Southern Baptist leader acknowledges this balance, “the future of Southern Baptists can be very bright with such convictional grounding in Scripture and the gospel and with such a cooperative spirit and mind-set.”4 He goes on to say, “We need conviction and boundaries, but we also need a spirit of cooperation to build bridges. We need to understand that denominational heritages and distinctives do matter, but more importantly what is needed
today is a fresh kind of transgenerational and transcontinental approach to the Christian faith. We need a spirit of mutual respect and humility to serve together with those with whom we might have difference of conviction on less important matters.”5

Darrell Horn – Executive Director of Missions

1. Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4336-7120-3. Chapter 1, “So Many Denominations: The Rise, Decline, and Future of Denominationalism,” David Dockery. Pg. 25
2. Ibid. pg. 25
3. Ibid. pgs. 29-30
4. Ibid. pg. 25
5. Ibid. pg 30

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