Quick note: Over the next few months, I will be explaining various parts of our new strategy in these Indiana Baptist articles. The first article in this series appeared last month. Additionally, we’ll make a concerted effort when it is fully developed to go around the state and explain it to our churches for clarity. Please be praying for our Denominee Future Team who is helping develop much of this strategy and for the SCBI staff as we learn and adjust to it.
Elitism.
Top-down.
Conventions exist for their churches, but over the years, some church leaders have concluded that the convention exhibits elitism and a top-down approach. This has to change.
I’ve heard these phrases in Indiana, which has further fueled the necessity to redesign a strategy to keep the priority on our churches. A major shift in convention life must be away from a programmatic approach that expects churches to go get what the convention offers. It positions a convention in a place of superiority, or “we know what is best for you.” Hence, elitism.
Our pastors are the champions in our state. The Holy Spirit leads them as they lead the churches that God has entrusted to them.
The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana will partner with churches to discover and fulfill their next steps.
Coming alongside churches, not over-top of them.
We’ll work hard to change any perceptions of elitism or a top-down relationship. Instead, I hope to keep hearing partners, supporters, and encouragers.
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:4-6, CSB)