JEFFERSON CITY \u2013 Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Board members unanimously approved a new, comprehensive church-planting strategy, designed to foster the multiplication of new churches that will reach the lost throughout Missouri.<\/p>\n
According to the Dec. 10 recommendation, the MBC will open statewide training centers \u201cin order to become more responsive to church planting opportunities.\u201d It states, \u201cWe are creating regional networks and simplifying the assessment and training processes to be more flexible and timely.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new strategy also allows individual church planters affiliated with church planting networks such as Acts 29 to receive MBC funds if they promote the Cooperative Program (CP) and affirm the convention\u2019s standards for doctrine and personal holiness.<\/p>\n
This action follows a 2007 decision of the executive board that de-funded Acts 29 church plants due especially to concerns about the use of alcohol by some individuals in Acts 29-affiliated churches within the state. While the new recommendation reaffirmed the principles behind this decision, it cited changes within the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and within Acts 29 that prompted a change of MBC policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cNAMB has broadened the scope of church planters with whom it affiliates, including some individuals who have been affiliated with Acts 29 and other networks,\u201d the recommendation states. Moreover, it suggests that Acts 29 has a new set of leaders who \u201cshare our passion for evangelism and our principles of personal conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition,\u201d it states, \u201cseveral church planters affiliated with Acts 29 in Missouri have Southern Baptist backgrounds, agree with the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, and would gladly lead their church plants to support the CP.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we have done is a change of process and policy, but it is not a change of precept or principle,\u201d Rick Biesiadecki, chairman of the church planting committee, said.<\/p>\n
MBC Executive Director John Yeats agreed with this sentiment, explaining that the new policy is not intended to give outright approval to any church planting network. Rather, the change allows the MBC to cooperate with individuals who affirm the convention\u2019s high standards of belief and conduct.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is about us working with individuals, no matter what affiliation they might possibly have with another church planting network,\u201d Yeats said. \u201cWe want to open the door for individuals, as they sense God\u2019s call to come along with us in this journey of being faithful men and women of God, planting churches and seeing the lost saved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a very significant move by our executive board,\u201d he added, \u201ctoward being more strategic partners with NAMB and with Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, with the new church-planting initiatives that they have.\u201d<\/p>\n