We are stronger together. That is what I took away from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s annual General Assembly meeting in Dallas, TX from June 13-15. I was grateful to be there with likeminded Baptists, including our own Bridget Kokolis and Kelli Kirksey. I am not always able to go to the annual CBF meeting, but each time I am I come back refreshed. The calling to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and the calling to be church together can feel quite daunting. It is simply too hard to go it alone. We need each other for support, for encouragement, for accountability, and to simply remember that there are other people on this journey with us. Frail and fallen as we are, guided by the Holy Spirit we are all simply doing the best that we can to be faithful to the God who created, redeemed, and sustains us.
This year my hope was renewed in CBF, and all those who were present. The Fellowship does not always get everything right (or at least they don’t always do things the way I think they should do them), but there is still no other network of churches that I would rather claim. Why? Because the leadership is willing to ask the tough questions, and engage in the uncomfortable conversations without seeking to infringe upon our rights as free conscious Baptists and autonomous Baptist churches.
In one meeting we heard presentations on racial reconciliation, human sexuality, and sexual misconduct and abuse in the church. And that was all before lunch. I was simultaneously shaken and uplifted. Shaken because some of these conversations naturally make us uncomfortable and call us to question our privileges. Uplifted because we are finally refusing to sweep things under the rug. It is a new day in need of a new church for a new generation. It was as if I was watching the continued redemption of the church we have. We aren’t there yet, but we are refusing to give up.
Most importantly, while other Baptist organizations denigrate segments of our society, become too comfortable with overtly taking political sides, and attempt to impose a strict theology upon everyone who associates with them, CBF has said there is a higher mission to which we are called in Jesus Christ that rises above our differences. As Dr. Jerusha Neal, professor of preaching at Duke Divinity School, pointed out in her keynote sermon on Friday night of the assembly, faith in Christ never meant sameness. It meant oneness. Oneness is harder, but it is more powerful. It is the kingdom of God.
As I talked to my colleagues from other churches around the country, it was clear that so many of us are facing similar challenges. The greatest challenge it seems is keeping our focus on the mission to which Christ has called us in the hope that it will keep us and our churches above the conflicts that threaten to divide us. I thank God that I serve a church that recognizes how
important that is. We recognize that when we say we are one in Christ that does not mean we all agree. It does not mean that we hold the same beliefs and opinions on theology, worship, or faithful engagement in our world. We do not all vote the same way. Goodness knows we do not all cheer for the same college teams. Yet we recognize that there is something more important that binds us together: our common faith and love.
Bearing witness to the transformative power of the love of Christ is what drives us. It is what keeps us focused on what is truly important. It is the framework by which we will make all decisions as we implement God’s vision for our future ministries together. It is what reminds us that we need each other, because we are stronger and can achieve more together.
At the conclusion of worship on Friday night we sang a hymn set to the tune Nettleton, which you would recognize as the tune to which the hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” is set. The lyrics to the chorus of the hymn are, “Let us bring the gifts that differ, and, in splendid, varied ways, sing a new Church into being, one in faith and love and praise.” With love as the melody we sing together, let us keep our focus on the mission at hand, bringing our unique gifts, that the heart of a new church might spring forth within ARBC, CBF, and all those who follow Christ, our Lord.
Peace,
Rev. W. Mattison King