Regarding your column of June 28 concerning the SBC annual meeting, I agree with what you said about “diminished attendance,” “reaping what we sow” and “despite its flaws . . . the SBC is doing Christ's work.”
For over 78 years I have been a member of either an SBC or ABC church and have been excluded from participating in the denominational decision making. I am far from being alone in my frustration!
In theory, Baptists are supposed to practice democratic principles, but in actuality they are governed more like an oligarchy. This is a problem even in the local church. The larger the church becomes, the less an individual can be heard. Pastors, committee chairmen and other leaders make the decisions and then bring their determinations to the church body to be rubber-stamped. You become discouraged when you can't be a part of the process.
For about 60 years I have tried to get influential people to agree to open up the governing process, both in the local congregation and in the denomination—with no success. A year ago I wrote to the SBC president, Frank Page, trying to get him to open up the SBC decision-making to all SBC churches and individuals. I made suggestions as to how and why it should be done. He said “it is possible,” but after a year, I can see absolutely no change!
Those in power like it that way and they will never change, even if the denomination falls apart like the ABC has done!
David Coburn, Ashland