Is There a Future for Denominationalism?

This past week I have been attending a conference here at Union: Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism. While I have not had the opportunity to attend every session (mostly due to class), I have attended several over the past few days. This post begins a series of posts where I will briefly share with you what I have learned. Please understand upfront that I am not able to capture all that was said in each session, and I do not do justice to what these great speakers have spoke on this week, but these posts will serve as a summary of some of the ideas brought up at the conference.

If you would like more information on the conference itself or would like to here the sessions that have been posted online, please go to: http://www.uu.edu/events/baptistfuture/.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - Dr. Ed Stetzer Session:

To begin with, Dr. Stetzer spoke really fast during his session and I fear that I did not catch everything that he mentioned in the session. The session itself was a response to the above question: is there a future for denominationalism? In recent years, commitment to denominations has been on the decline. In fact, 50 of the current top 100 largest and fastest growing churches are labeled as “non-denominational,” not connected with an organization such as the Southern Baptist Convention. Furthermore, leaders in these top denominations are admitting that there are current struggles in denominational life.

Dr. Stetzer agrees that there are struggles today, but he spent much of his time speaking on why denominations are important. But to preface his positive reasons for denominations, let me explain his view of denominationalism. We do not really need denominations today, they are not absolutely necessary (something I had not thought of in those terms before). They are not the key to the Gospel or the key to spreading the Gospel, for that ministry thrives through the ministries of the local church. But denominations can provide connection and guidance in the larger ministry to which we have been called. However, we must never focus so much on the machine (denominations) that we forget our purpose (to spread God’s word to the nations).

It was suggested that denominations are inevitable because as humans we tend to group ourselves with those of like-mind. So in matters of faith, we tend to group ourselves with those who believe along the same lines as we do. As a result, groups such as the Southern Baptist Convention are formed. These connections begin to extend beyond the local church and allow believers to connect with believers of like-mind across the country and entire world. These connections are particularly helpful when storms arise. We can lean on one another and whether life’s storms together.

Another positive side of denominations gives believers a sense of rootedness, knowing what we believe in and what we were founded on. So the question raised now is what were we founded on? As Baptists, we must know where we come from. Our leaders set certain parameters when they developed the Baptist Faith and Message, the most recent edition in 2000. With confessionals, boundaries are established, which develops a sense of exclusivity. Those who do not find themselves within the set boundaries cannot be included in the denomination. For instance, the Baptist Faith and Message, outlines the basic beliefs of Baptists, basic beliefs that all churches associated with the denomination must agree on (beliefs that I myself agree on). But beyond this confessional are other issues, such as worship styles, how to run certain ministries in the church, and even issues such as expository preaching (some of the examples Dr. Stetzer mentioned). Since the Baptist Faith and Message does not specifically deal with these issues, there is a certain freedom that each church has in dealing with these issues. And we cannot form divisions and factions based on these secondary issues, for that undermines the purpose of the denomination. I have seen something similar to this happen before, and it tore the church apart. Matters such as these should never split a church.

So what is the denomination’s purpose? Our purpose is to spread the Gospel to all who are willing to hear across the world, the Great Commission. But we must remember that the denomination should assist the local church, not vice versa. If we get this concept backwards, then we neglect to fulfill the Great Commission. The denomination was created to assist local churches in doing ministry. Yes, the local church should support the denomination they are a part of, but ultimately the denomination is developed to assist the local church. Ultimately, we cannot forget the command to preach God’s word. If we fail in this aspect, then being included in a denomination is pointless.

To answer the question of this session, Dr. Stetzer concluded with saying that there is a future for denominationalism, and I agree with that. This session was a challenge to look at the way we view the denomination and how the local church should be run as a result.

Matt