On May 5, pastor Mandy England Cole of Ginter Park Baptist Church sent the following open letter to the “staff, executive council and churches of the Richmond Baptist Association.”
This week staff and leaders of the Richmond Baptist Association paid a visit to the leaders of Ginter Park Baptist Church. During that conversation we were told that several churches have severed their ties with the RBA. They have done so in reaction to the vote, held in March, on the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee advocating continued relationship between the RBA and GPBC. We were told that in all, over a dozen churches are reconsidering their relationship with the RBA. (Which would leave 54 churches affiliated with the association.) Worst case scenario, those churches choose to leave and take with them a quarter of a million dollars. The impact would be devastating to the mission and ministry of the RBA.
Some have articulated that the responsibility for this current situation rests squarely upon the shoulders of GPBC. They would argue that if we simply left the association we could save it. For some, the numbers have clear meaning regarding our value to the RBA. Only, the responsibility for this situation does not rest solely upon the shoulder of GPBC. And the value of the mission and ministry or the RBA is not defined solely by our budget.
When the churches of the RBA came together March 19 and cast their votes regarding the recommendation to allow GPBC continued participation in the RBA, the close margin indicated that there is work to do within our association. The vote was not an authoritative mandate on the theological position of the RBA. The vote was not an affirmative statement on the inclusivity of the RBA. The 176 votes cast in favor of the recommendation allow GPBC to be part of that ongoing work.
GPBC has been doing the kind of work facing the association for over a year. Both as part of the ordination process and in the months following, GPBC has been committed to congregational discernment. We do not all agree. The church did not wait for unanimity but did commit to unity. This process has been full of meaningful conversation, study of scriptural interpretations, and dialogue about the tension between congregational autonomy and denominational affiliations. As a church, we have been tending to this conversation all the while keeping our eyes focused on the unifying mission and ministry we share. The mission and ministry God has, and is, calling us to is the tie that binds us.
In these weeks following the March vote, I have been hoping to see the RBA leadership begin to address the work that is before us. I had hoped to see RBA churches invited into meaningful conversation. I had hoped to hear the mission and ministry of the RBA set before us as our unifying vision and calling. But these are anxiety laden days for many of our leaders. They need our support and prayer.
The responsibility to address the challenges before us do not rest solely upon the shoulders of the RBA staff and leadership either. It is the responsibility of each of us who are committed to the mission and ministry of the RBA.
Is it possible for us to come together? Might we commit ourselves to the work? Might we commit to continued fellowship and dialogue in hopes of discerning together what the future of the RBA holds? Might we commit to tempering our reflex reactions so that Camp Alkulana and the centers are not held ransom while we argue? What if instead of talking about one another, we sat down and talked with one another? What if we all committed ourselves to refrain from changing the level of our connection and support of the RBA for one year while we focused on collectively addressing the challenges and discord between us?
It is difficult work to be unified in mission and ministry when there are differences in scriptural interpretation. However, it is not impossible work. Not when there is commitment and dependence upon the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Ginter Park Baptist Church was honored by the messengers that cast their ballots for us to continue to be part of the life and work of the RBA. It is a gift that we continue to be partnered in her mission and ministry. We know this is difficult work to be unified when our differences are magnified. We don’t ask for unity of belief. We do ask that you join us in discerning together the future of the RBA. We can only do that together. Will you join with us?