Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Your associational type makes a difference

  • May 22, 2023
  • George Bullard
  • Church Life, Featured, Latest News
man walking beside multicolored apartments
(Unsplash photo)

Your associational type makes a difference

Quick! Without thinking for more than three seconds, tell me the name of the Baptist associational handbook that tells how an association must function — the one right way.

There is not one.

Even if there were one, it would only be a suggestion. Each family of churches in association is autonomous and not restricted to one right way of functioning. Each association, as led by God, can organize however it chooses to serve as a local fellowship of churches on mission serving together.

While I advocate for a positive, proactive approach to associations in the Southern Baptist tradition, even this is a suggestion and open for dialogue.

There are so many types of Baptist associations that it would be difficult to declare which one is correct or best. 

I have my favorite. You may also. They may not be the same. That is fine. 

What are they?

Here is a sample of the types of associations I have observed over the past six decades:

Franchise Association: These associations see themselves as a channel for the promotion of the programs, emphases and strategies of the overall denomination. Their goal is to get every willing church to participate in the things offered by the state and the national convention. The focus of the associational leadership is to produce loyal participation in denominational efforts. This is an easy pathway that does not require in-depth contextual strategies or innovation by associational leadership. 

Pastor Support Association: Providing spiritual, emotional and family support for pastors is certainly an important role for every association. This type of association makes this its primary goal. The thought is that healthy pastors produce healthy churches. Whether that is the result of this focus is unclear. Observation of associations that make this a primary focus for a long period of time is that pastors are happy and their churches are mediocre. 

Collaborative Ministry Association: Ministering to social, emotional, physical and  spiritual needs of various target groups in the fellowship area of the churches within an association is another type. The focus is on various challenges faced by individuals and households. The most common is food, clothing and other urgent assistance, but the situations addressed can be many. Efforts involve multiple churches with coordination handled by the association.

Church Growth Association: Helping every willing church experience numerical growth is the goal of these associations. This often includes an emphasis on evangelism, church planting and replanting and church revitalization. In the typical association up to three-fourths of the churches have plateaued and are declining. This is an important focus of ministry for every association. Empowering these various areas of church growth is an ongoing, multiple-year journey that is never complete.

Church Empowerment Association: Each church in every association is unique. Each has a special call from God for its ministry. Few churches have clarity about their call from God. Fewer churches align everything they do to live into God’s empowering vision for them. Church empowerment associations make it their primary goal to help each church have an awakening as to how God’s overall mission applies to it. Part of this is churches helping churches soar in the direction of their full Kingdom potential.

Missional Engagement Association: These associations use a missiological approach. They assess the demographics, people groups, growth or decline projections and the churching pattern of their fellowship areas. They develop a multifaceted strategy that will help their families of churches apply the Great Commission in the spirit of the great commandment in their context and beyond. They seek to be part of God’s empowerment of every church to address the lost, unchurched, underchurched and de-churched people in their fellowship areas.

What is yours?

Which one of these is most like your association? Which one represents the call of God for your churches in association with one another? It could be that a hybrid of several of these describes your association.

The goal for your association is to have clarity about God’s mission and vision. Without clarity you may be wandering with spiritual and strategic emptiness. Ask God to clarify His purpose for your association.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • South Carolina youth pastor charged with voyeurism
    South Carolina youth pastor charged with voyeurism
    June 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Go Now’: 261 TX college students commissioned for summer missions opportunities
    ‘Go Now’: 261 TX college students commissioned for summer missions opportunities
    June 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • SBC Executive Committee search team elects officers
    SBC Executive Committee search team elects officers
    June 1, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

South Carolina youth pastor charged with voyeurism

A 35-year-old South Carolina youth pastor was arrested and charged with voyeurism May 27 after allegedly videotaping a woman while she showered, the South Carolina

‘Go Now’: 261 TX college students commissioned for summer missions opportunities

On May 21, college students gathered in Pilgrim Chapel at Dallas Baptist University to be commissioned for the missions they’ve been called to this summer.

SBC Executive Committee search team elects officers

The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee presidential search team met June 1 to elect officers and establish organizational plans for the group. Neal Hughes of

MedAdvance 2023: Registration open for those with passion for healthcare, missions

For those with a passion for healthcare and a calling to missions, the International Mission Board has avenues of service ready to fill. The IMB

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel