Benson Baptist Updates Our Baptist Affiliations Leaving the SBC, Among Others
In our April 2023 church conference Benson Baptist voted to cease ties with the Johnston Baptist Association, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and Southern Baptist Convention. It was recognized that these entities have moved in a direction that BBC does not support, particularly in relation to women being called to the Gospel ministry.
Since the 1980s, BBC has ordained women to our Diaconate. As of today, BBC has had the honor of ordaining both men and women to the Gospel for decades.
Beyond this, it was felt that the SBC's recent decisions to disaffiliate with congregations over their ordination of women to the Gospel ministry was an infringement on the historic Baptist freedom of autonomy of the local congregation. Unlike sister denominations, Baptist denominations are not a 'hierarchy' and thus exist to partner with and support local congregations, not dictate their polity.
These changes do not change BBC's commitment to partner with congregations and ecclesiastical bodies of all denominations. Differences in theological understandings do not mean that we are unable to work together to serve our neighbors.
Following this vote, BBC remains affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC), and the Benson Area Ministerial Association (BAMA).
At the conference, BBC also updated:
Since the 1980s, BBC has ordained women to our Diaconate. As of today, BBC has had the honor of ordaining both men and women to the Gospel for decades.
Beyond this, it was felt that the SBC's recent decisions to disaffiliate with congregations over their ordination of women to the Gospel ministry was an infringement on the historic Baptist freedom of autonomy of the local congregation. Unlike sister denominations, Baptist denominations are not a 'hierarchy' and thus exist to partner with and support local congregations, not dictate their polity.
These changes do not change BBC's commitment to partner with congregations and ecclesiastical bodies of all denominations. Differences in theological understandings do not mean that we are unable to work together to serve our neighbors.
Following this vote, BBC remains affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC), and the Benson Area Ministerial Association (BAMA).
At the conference, BBC also updated:
- Our by-laws in relation to masculine language in relation to people (EX:instead of 'he may serve as Deacon Chair,' it now reads 'they may serve.' This change reflects the realities of our current leadership).
- Our membership policy in relation to baptism by immersion. We now accept membership requests where the individual joins on statement of faith and has been baptized as an infant and claims that baptism as their baptism. Immersion is always offered, but not required by BBC for membership in such cases.
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