TYLER, Texas (ABP) — All groups working with missionaries of the International Mission Board must work within the parameters of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, IMB trustees decided, and only members of Southern Baptist churches can lead overseas mission trips.
The decisions were part of a clarification of volunteer guidelines approved by trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention agency during their July 12-14 meeting in Tyler, Texas.
The Baptist Faith and Message, the SBC's doctrinal statement first adopted in 1925, was revised by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 to include more conservative positions on biblical inspiration, the family, the role of women and other issues.
Trustees clarified their volunteer policy after trustees in May raised concerns about an increase in the number of non-Southern Baptists serving in volunteer projects.
The policy now states that only members of Southern Baptist Convention churches can fill positions on projects that involve church planting, preaching, teaching and similar functions, according to Baptist Press. Exceptions may be made for members of other evangelical churches if the projects involve human-needs ministry, prayer and Scripture distribution.
The leader of one Baptist state convention heavily involved in volunteer missions objected to the new policy, saying churches should not be asked to endorse a doctrinal statement in order to serve. “They are capable of assessing the faith of their members far better than any agency or convention,” said Jim Royston, executive director of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, which is involved in mission projects in nine countries, both with and without the IMB.
Royston noted some “missions-hearted churches” in North Carolina that do not contribute to Southern Baptist causes “send dozens of volunteers overseas each year.” He said the North Carolina convention will continue to offer volunteer opportunities to those churches.
In other action, IMB trustees approved a plan to expand the agency's budget for specific overseas needs. The expansion was possible because of an 18.4 percent increase in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which funds international missions. The increase came after trustees cut $10 million from the $269 million budget in 2003.
The IMB appointed 58 new missionaries during the July meeting.
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