This is the entire text of the resolution of the Consolation Baptist Association in Georgia as sent to me on May 25, 2012 by Joe McGee, Associational Missionary. The final paragraph on the SBC name change looks out of place but I copied the document here verbatim.
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Resolution to Encourage Support
of State Baptist Conventions
Whereas,
there is a growing dissatisfaction among many small town and rural Baptist
churches with the course of direction being charted by some of the leaders of
our national convention; and
Whereas,
there is a growing perception that the Southern Baptist Convention is being
inordinately influenced by certain mega-church pastors and certain SBC leaders;
and many small town and rural Baptist churches feel disenfranchised and that they
no longer have a voice; and
Whereas, there is a perception that the search committees and
entity leaders appear to often select those who are a part of their network,
irrespective of their Church’s Cooperative Program giving record; and many of those
individuals who have been appointed to special committees (such as the Great
Commission Task Force and the Committee to Study the Changing of the
Convention’s Name) are presidents of our agencies and institutions and have
been placed in a position where there is a conflict of interest; and *
Whereas,
many small town and rural churches do not have the financial strength and staff
like the larger churches and often need assistance from the local associations
and state conventions; and
Whereas,
Great Commission Giving allows churches to give to their preferred SBC mission
project or institution which in some cases has had a negative affect upon state
conventions resulting in those state conventions being limited in the
assistance they can give to their member churches in terms of ministry
training, pastoral assistance, leadership development, etc. and thus negatively
impacting many small town and rural churches; and
Whereas, small town and rural Baptist associations have often
worked in partnership with their state conventions to provide resources
(educational, evangelistic, missions, leadership training, etc.) on the local
level; and
Whereas, there is no such partnership that links the local
church or association to the Southern Baptist Convention; and
Whereas,
some churches have already reduced their contributions to the Cooperative
Program due to their displeasure with the national convention; and
Whereas
this has negatively impacted certain state conventions;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Administration Committee of
the Consolation Baptist Association encourages each church to “consider”
designating (25-35%) of their Cooperative Program allocations to state missions
and direct the balance to the Cooperative Program.
The intent of this resolution is not to denigrate the
Cooperative Program, but provide adequate support for the state convention so
that it will have the funds necessary to fulfill its mission in providing
assistance to those churches that need the support, training, and encouragement
that only a state convention can provide.
Be it finally
resolved that the Consolation Baptist Association encourages all of our
Southern Baptist churches and associations to give prayerful consideration to
this resolution.
*Over the years there have been multiple attempts to
change the name of the Southern Baptist Convention and each attempt to do so
was soundly rejected. The current committee appointed by the Convention
President was never voted on and has no more of an official status than a
committee appointed by any other Convention messenger. Though the
recommendation suggests that the name is only a descriptor title, there is no
assurance that the descriptor will not replace the name “Southern Baptist” in the future after people become accustomed to it).
Approved April 23, 2012.
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