Tom's article last week made a salient point: Our move to SFCC is neutral. Yet, our decision and commitment are crucial for the growth and advancement of both our church and us. You might wonder why we still have to conduct 2 rounds of voting if our church has somehow decided to move elsewhere for growth and development. The simple answer is that we are not 100% sure if God wants us to move exactly to the SFCC. Thus, our leadership has resorted to a cautious approach by arranging a confirmation voting by all of our regular attendants plus possibly (if at least 80% support is obtained in the first voting) another registered members' voting to affirm our decision.
At this juncture, I wish to bring your attention to the Baptist belief of congregationalism. Baptists concluded from the Bible that authority for church governance should reside with the congregation. Also, Christ is the head of the church (see the Baptist History and Heritage Society). Related to the latter principle are two significant concepts: soul competency and the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6, 5:10). Soul competency is the idea that God has endowed individuals with the ability to decide matters of faith for themselves. Baptists also affirm that people have free access to God through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn (Mark 15:38). The symbol of the division between people and priest in the Old Testament was removed.
Through statements of faith, the Southern Baptists assert that the individual church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Members are equally responsible in such a congregation. This is the main reason why our CMC together decided to resort to the proposed 2 rounds of voting by our regular attendants and registered members respectively. By doing so, our church does live up to the Baptist faith and practice of making important decisions through such democratic process as voting. It is also an act of honesty and respect of our identity as a Baptist church and the priesthood of our believers. Beloved, please feel free to cast your sacred vote according to what the Spirit has led you. May God help us! Amen.
Howard, Oct. 22
At this juncture, I wish to bring your attention to the Baptist belief of congregationalism. Baptists concluded from the Bible that authority for church governance should reside with the congregation. Also, Christ is the head of the church (see the Baptist History and Heritage Society). Related to the latter principle are two significant concepts: soul competency and the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6, 5:10). Soul competency is the idea that God has endowed individuals with the ability to decide matters of faith for themselves. Baptists also affirm that people have free access to God through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn (Mark 15:38). The symbol of the division between people and priest in the Old Testament was removed.
Through statements of faith, the Southern Baptists assert that the individual church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Members are equally responsible in such a congregation. This is the main reason why our CMC together decided to resort to the proposed 2 rounds of voting by our regular attendants and registered members respectively. By doing so, our church does live up to the Baptist faith and practice of making important decisions through such democratic process as voting. It is also an act of honesty and respect of our identity as a Baptist church and the priesthood of our believers. Beloved, please feel free to cast your sacred vote according to what the Spirit has led you. May God help us! Amen.
Howard, Oct. 22
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