Acts 29 is Kicked out of Missouri - Show Me the Love!
6 Comments
By Pastor Scott Thomas, Acts 29 Director
Acts 29 is a trans-denominational network of church planting churches. We have affiliations with multiple denominations, including many in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Our position is that each individual church affiliated with Acts 29 Network determines their polity, mission works, vision, and ministries. We encourage absolute local autonomy. This is why many Baptists, SBC and others, find an affiliation with us as beneficial. Furthermore, Acts 29 encourages every affiliate church to actively give 10 percent of their general funds toward church planting. But, every local church determines to whom those funds are directed and they send their funds directly to the church planter or to those who monitor their missions’ funds. Acts 29 Network does not act as a funding agency for church planting. Additionally, Acts 29 Network expects those with affiliations and denominations to honor their financial commitments with the denomination first. For instance, an SBC church that is affiliated with Acts 29 will give 10% toward the SBC program and no other financial commitment is expected as a member of Acts 29. They do not have to give 20%.
The Missouri SBC met Monday during an ice storm and made the following decisions:
MOTION: Effective Jan 1, The Acts 29 Network is an organization with which the MBC Exec Bd. Staff will not be working, supporting, or endorsing in any manner at anytime.
Amendment: While recognizing the autonomous nature of all areas of MBC life beyond that of the Executive Board Staff, the MBC Executive Board directs the Church Planting Department and other ministry departments to NOT provide CP dollars toward those affiliated with the Acts 29 Network.
Motion as amended passed by a vote of 28-10
The reasons were not stated in the motion, but the MSBC became disenfranchised with Acts 29 after The Journey in St. Louis hosted a monthly theological discussion in a bar where some of the participants were imbibing. This particular church also received funding from the MSBC for a building purchase. This was the real offense: one church perceived to having violated a financial agreement.
Unfortunately, the Missouri SBC viewed this autonomous church affiliated with Acts 29 as a good reason to dis-fellowship (dismember?) with EVERY Acts 29 church and to cut off support from those who have honored the abstinence agreement, of which Acts 29 fully respects. These are the real victims of the recent decision by the MSBC.
Many would have supported a decision to admonish the church that had violated the abstinence covenant, if that was found to be the offense with the MSBC. What I cannot support is cutting off every faithful MSBC church that is affiliated with Acts 29—guilt by association. As pastors, we teach our members to follow the steps of Matthew 18 and we don’t dis-fellowship an entire family for one family member’s sin: i.e., “Everyone with the last name of Patrick is kicked out of this church.” This is what I perceive happened in Missouri. Every SBC church with the last name of Acts 29 was kicked out (no more funding, collaboration, fellowship, or fun) regardless of guilt or not.
Acts 29 believes (and practices) church autonomy. We choose not to exercise authority over any church except the one where we serve as pastor. As a network, we encourage the Acts 29 affiliates to be a network of networks with multiple styles, polities, core values, and denominational ties. We do not mandate either a no-alcohol policy nor do we mandate a pro-alcohol stance. This decision is made by each local church how they wish to teach and practice the delicate alcohol issue. Acts 29 does not promote alcohol, nor do we decry the personal decision of each church planter to decide what the Scriptures teach about alcohol. We strongly believe drunkenness and/or being controlled by or addicted by alcohol is a sin. By the way we don’t have premarital sex because we believe it leads to dancing. (grin).
Monday was a day when toddling church planters were left out in the icy cold. Justice was not served. On January 1, several church planters in Missouri will lose their promised funding, not because they were guilty of breaking a rule, but because they were associated with a small church planting network (only 9 churches in Missouri are affiliated with Acts 29 Network).
Acts 29 Network and the Southern Baptists share the same mission: to seek and to save the lost; to go into all of the world and share the gospel of Jesus and to baptize and teach the believers through the local church. For this reason, we love the SBC, have appreciated our partnerships throughout the country and are now mourning the loss of our fellowship with the MSBC. Since Acts 29 Network has never been contacted by the Missouri SBC to seek reconciliation, clarity and understanding, I am requesting justice and not retribution as an honorable response to an abstinence policy that we fully respect. I am asking you to consider reversing the vote to read, “We reaffirm the policy of the Missouri Southern Baptists to abstain from alcohol and will remove any funding from church planters who disavow this position. ”That way the baby church doesn’t get thrown out with the fermented bathwater.
Sources:
TB Part Two
6 Comments | Login to Post Comments
Steve Adams on Dec 14, 2007 10:25am
My church, Kaleo is is part of Acts 29 and supports it in anyway we can. The post I saw on the Acts 29 website this morning truly saddens me.
I was not raised in a Christian home and only came to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ about seven years ago. The actions displayed in the post by the the Missouri SBC is one of the things that kept me away for so many years. Not necessarily the drinking part, (because when I became a Christian I didn't drink anyways, but thats another story) but the decision they made to "dis-fellowship", "cut-off" any Acts 29 churches. John 13:35 "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
I'm sorry my MSBC brothers, but their is no love in your decision, it's all law! Again, this what the unbelieving world simple finds unbelievable and rejects.
When is the church going to stop focusing on "our witness" and go back to focus on Christ's witness and what he has already done for us. Thats the Gospel! Thats our mission! A heart (motivation) transformation, not moral reformation.
I agree with what Pastor Scott Thomas, says at the end of his post.
In fellowship of the gospel,
Steve
Dennis Reed on Dec 16, 2007 3:34am
Scott-
I actually was on the SBC website looking for seminaries in Mexico when I read this article...I am praying for the Church in Joplin- I hope they aren't loosing support because of this...and by the way this statement floored me.
MBC Chairman Gerald Davidson declared that he has never been soft on alcohol, saying "I've said time and time again alcohol is one of our greatest evils in our society." Tolliver said the convention will have no working relationship with churches "participating with alcohol,"
and
Cooperative Program funds will not be used for "sinful outreach ministries."
I don't get it...what did they think Jesus was doing for those 3 years? If you say your not going to drink- don't. But to be honest I believe its better not to take their money...God will provide and He will be Glorified!
Keep doing the incredible job you are doing...and thank you for dealing with difficult people and situations. May God bless you and your family.
peace to you
dennis
Dan Harder on Dec 16, 2007 7:10am
Sounds like they feel their authority is being threatened - and so they're forcing them to chose whom to assosciate with - SBC or Acts 29.
Chris Hall on Dec 20, 2007 9:38am
This is why young guys who are passionate for Jesus and not tradition and law are pulling out of the SBC! The entire scope of the SBC will be totally different in 10 years. People are sick of this crap.
Rick Gates on Dec 27, 2007 12:04pm
As a church planter who is not affiliated with any association or convention, this whole story just verifies that we made the right decision. Although I was raised and educated Southern Baptist, most of what the SBC shows publicly sickens me. We have become pharisees in EVERY sense of the word...with little or no hope in "cleaning the inside of the cup". I don't fully understand the events leading up to this decision by MBC, and I acknowledge that...but I have trouble understanding how they can SCRIPTURALLY justify the stance they have just taken against those whose heart and actions are to spread the gospel. We have lost sight of God's grace & unconditional love. There is a lost and dying world that dispises even the mention of the word "baptist or christian" and we focus on withdrawing moneys from those whose intentions are to bridge that gap. God forgive them for they know not what they do!!
Tim Clark on Jan 17, 2008 12:59am
I'm a student at Midwestern Baptist Seminary in KC and am highly disappointed with the decision of the MBC. Hopefully this won't effect the progress of First Calvary Baptist in Westport from it's plan to merge with The Journey. I saw Darrin speak there a couple times and was looking forward to an Acts29 presence in KC.