That is a good question.

First, because every Southern Baptist Church really is independant. Nobody gets to tell my church what to do. We have been accepted by our local and state organizations without any trouble despite our Calvinism, elders, deacons/deaconesses, theology pub etc.

Second, I believe that Jesus’ intention is for the church to be unified. While some see denominations as a splitting of the body of Christ, I tend to see them as a means of coming together – if in part. It is a way, not the way, of working as Jesus calls us to.

Third, I believe that this established unity allows us to work together to accomplish Christ’s mission. The SBC is one way to do that, and one that can do great work. They supported our church plant back in 2000 for three years. Paid by salary, insurance, and ministry start up, and lots of encouragement.

To be honest, it is possible that some day our church wil not be aligned with the SBC, but I hope that never happens. We give 10% of our general offerings to the SBC and have no plan of changing that (we also give beyond that to a missionary not in the SBC). But depending on where the Convention winds up going, we will either stick with them, or bail. If they begin hindering work like ours at the planting stage, I imagine our church will say – “enough!” But for now, we are prayerful and hopeful for great things in the future of our Covention.

Why don’t you just become an independent Baptist?