Coordinating Council Shares Update from Midyear Meeting

      Under the leadership of the chairman, Dr. Clif Johnson, the Coordinating Council of the Baptist Missionary Association of America met on Monday, Sept. 9, in Hope at Garret Memorial Baptist Church to fulfill their responsibilities to the churches of the BMA. The purpose and duties of the Coordinating Council are outlined by the BMAA’s Principles of Cooperation in Article VIII. The council’s purpose is to “cast a unified vision and promote cooperation between the departments and/or agencies of the BMAA.” Leaders from each national department (except Moral Action) were present to contribute to the Council’s business.

      The BMAA exists “to provide cooperating departments and agencies that will inspire a mission vision and assist each local church in carrying out the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20.” Therefore, inspiring a mission vision and assisting local churches is the purpose of our association. The association accomplishes this by providing our churches with cooperating departments and agencies. The Coordinating Council and department leaders agreed that our purpose statement accurately represents the association. Nevertheless, the council and department leaders see the need to make that same purpose easily conveyable to the person asking, “What is the BMA?” “What does the BMA stand for?” “Where is the BMA going?” and “Why should my church be involved in the BMA?” The Coordinating Council’s aim to “cast a unified vision” and “promote cooperation” hinges on making our formal purpose statement portable for all the churches we belong to. The discussion around this topic was fruitful and helpful for all involved.

      Another item on the agenda concerned phone calls involving local church issues and pastoral recommendations. The group discussed a plan for the development of policies that provide direction to our department leaders in these situations in the future as they continue to field calls and requests.

      After the council’s group discussion with the department leaders, they met with the department representatives individually to plan around fundraising endeavors, hear about mission clarity and pray for each department. Each meeting affirmed that the Baptist Missionary Association is in the business of making disciples. Our seminary trains and equips disciple-makers. Our publishing house resources local churches with disciple-making material. Our camp facilitates disciple-making meetings. Our financial services department finances pastors for disciple-making. Our media department broadcasts the first steps of becoming a disciple. Our missions department sends disciple-makers all over the world.

      The BMA believes the Great Commission belongs to the local New Testament church. The Great Commission contains a single imperative — to make disciples in every tribe, tongue and nation. As an association of churches, we inspire and promote disciple-making in local churches and all over the world.

— Submitted by Derrick Bremer, Clerk