JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Credentials Committee met March 27, their first since election last October.
During the meeting the members received the list of 55 churches that are longer members of the MBC. After 2011, the convention determined in annual session that churches belonging to the MBC must give something to the Cooperative Program. “Giving to the Cooperative Program” is defined as mission giving from churches through the Missouri Baptist Convention to the Southern Baptist Convention.
There were multiple methods used to contact the 55 churches and after the 2012 convention a certified letter was sent to 96 churches as a last appeal to them. In the end, 55 churches chose not to participate (see the list).
“The heart of our Credentials Committee is restoration,” said Doug Austin, Bethany Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau. “We would hope that as we work with the churches that are new and the churches that for some reason have lapsed with their Cooperative Program giving, people understand our willingness to help.”
In other action the Credentials Committee welcomed six new congregations that will be presented to the MBC at the Annual Meeting. The new churches are Freshwater Church, Jefferson City; Friendly Missionary Baptist Church, Inc., St. Louis; North Road Community Church, Moscow Mills; Redeemer Church, Springfield; Red Tree Church, Springfield; and Wellspring Church, Carterville.
The committee received a list of 106 churches that failed to give any amount to the Cooperative Program in the year 2012. The Committee set a strategy in place with letters and personal contacts from the committee members and directors of missions to restore the congregations to participation in the MBC.
One other item of business was to adopt a methodology for restoring a church that previously participated but had allowed its qualifications for membership to lapse.
The Credentials Committee plans to meet again in the summer.
Committee members include: Doug Austin, chairman, Charlie Dawson, Rodney Dorr, Sam
Owens, Chance Glenn and Jule Maskrod.
Here is the complete list of churches that no longer meet the criteria for maintaining their membership in the MBC:
Caruth, Kennett
Blue Ridge, Independence
Coleman, Peculiar
Crossroads Church KC, Kansas City
Greater Faith Missionary, Kansas City
New Life Cambodian, Kansas City
True Vine Missionary, Kansas City
Twin Oaks, Poplar Bluff
Linden, Kansas City
First, Stanton
Emmaus-Springfield, Springfield
Heartland, Cape Fair
Missouri City, Missouri City
Morningside, Fair Play
New Dover, Clever
First, Denver
Bell City Southern, Bell City
Berean Lighthouse Church, Hollister
Berean, Jackson
Cross Roads, Branson
Eagle Point, Imperial
Guthrie First, New Bloomfield
Heritage Lee’s Summit, Lone Jack
Hickory Grove Clubb, Greenville
Mt. Olive, St. Louis
Rockville, Rockville
Grace Fellowship Worland, Hume
Greensburg, Baring
New Woodville, Kahoka
Brush Arbor, Hannibal
Conran, Portageville
New Fairview, Sarcoxie
Millers Chapel, Glenallen
Eureka Valley, St. Joseph
All Saints, St. Louis
Bansuk, St. Louis
Bethany Deaf, St. Louis
Broadway, St. Louis
Calvary West Missionary, St. Louis
Emmaus-St. Louis, St. Louis
French Speaking, Ballwin
Greater Fellowship, St. Louis
Heavenly Bread Missionary Baptist, St. Louis
House To House, St. Louis
Lafayette Park, St. Louis
LaSalle, St. Louis
New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church, St. Louis
New Jerusalem, Ferguson
Solomon Temple, St. Louis
Southwest, St. Louis
The Worship Center Christian Church, St. Louis
Living Waters, Nixa
Union Hill, Oldfield
Quarles, Clinton
New Hope, Hartville.