STATEMENT OF AFFILIATION
It is the intention of New Market Baptist Baptist Church to be a cooperating entity with the Jefferson County Baptist Association, Tennessee Baptist Convention, and Southern Baptist Convention. New Market Baptist will support missions through the channels provided by these entities.
1) Why We Affiliate With The Southern Baptist Convention
I want to explain why we affiliate with the SBC by explaining why I am a Southern Baptist. We have to decide which denomination or other type of church that we will affiliate with, and it is important that we have reasons and convictions for our decisions. However, it is also important to realize that the primary issue is whether or not we are genuinely born again. All true Christians are part of Gods' family and are brothers and sisters in Christ who have fellowship with one another in Christ (1 John 1:3) regardless of denominational identity.True believers of all denominations will agree on the fundamental doctrines of the faith (the inerrancy of the Scripture, the Trinity, the virgin birth of Christ, the full deity and full humanity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection, the literal return of Christ, salvation by grace through faith alone), the need to love one another, the call to holy living, and the commission of the church to spread the Gospel throughout the entire world.
Our denominational affiliation is a secondary but important issue. A common question is, "Why do we even have denominations?" Well, the basic reason is that there is disagreement among Christians when it comes to peripheral issues outside of those fundamental issues listed above, and it is necessary to have convictions in regard to these issues. Therefore, I am a Christian who is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church because:
1) I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God that is the authority for faith and practice, and this is the traditional position of Southern Baptists. Baptists have been known as "œa people of the Book."
2) I believe that the Baptist Faith and Message, which is our confession of faith, lines up with what I understand the Bible teaches more than the doctrinal statement of any other denomination.
3) I believe that believers baptism by immersion, which is the practice that gained Baptists their name, is the biblical mode of baptism
4) I believe that Baptists are correct in their understanding of the Lord's Supper as a symbolic act.
5) I believe the Co-Operative Program is the best methodology any denomination has ever used for supporting its missionary work.
2) The Structure of the Southern Baptist Convention
We believe that leadership roles in the church are a privilege that comes with accountability. In order for us to have the proper accountability, a person must be a member in order to serve in the ministries of the church. Also, it is important that someone be in agreement with the beliefs, vision, values, etc. of the church if they are going to serve and lead so membership is necessary for that reason.
How is the Southern Baptist Convention set up? The Southern Baptist Convention is the national organization of autonomous Southern Baptist churches who voluntarily co-operate together to do missions, ministry, and education. Southern Baptist is more of a historic than a geographically correct name at this point because there are Southern Baptist churches all over the country. The Southern Baptist Convention meets once a year to elect officers and appoint trustees who oversee the various agencies during the course of the year. There are four levels of organization that a Southern Baptist Church can be a part of.
1) Local church - Every Southern Baptist Church is first and foremost an autonomous, local church
2) Local Association "“ This is a group of local churches in the same geographical area who join together voluntarily to cooperate in ministry.
3) State Convention "“ These are made up of Southern Baptist churches in a particular state or states who voluntarily choose to work together.
4) Southern Baptist Convention "“ This is the national organization. It is important to realize that none of these organizations can force a local church to do anything (although they can do is dis-fellowship from them if they strongly disagree). The Southern Baptist Convention is supported financially by gifts to the Co-Operative Program from the supporting churches. The following page is a chart taken from "Missions Mosaic," which is the magazine of the Women's Missionary Union, that details the various organizations of the Southern Baptist Convention and how the convention is structured.
How Being A Part Of The SBC Affects New Market Baptist Church
On a practical level, what does this actually mean to New Market Baptist Church?
1) It does not mean anything in regard to our doctrine, decision-making, structure, goals, or plans because we are a local, autonomous New Testament Church. Local churches are to be led by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit instead of denominational leaders working through a hierarchical structure.
2) It does mean that we will support missions by giving to the Co-Operative Program through the budget and by giving to the special offerings for missions.
3) It does mean that we can avail ourselves of the resources that are available through the local association, the state convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.