At the Pastor’s Conference tonight, James McDonald announced that his church is going to become part of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Wow!
It was only a few years ago that McDonald was describing congregational church government as a thing of Satanic origin. He recently repented of this and I would see no reason to interpret that repentance as anything but genuine and real. Many people were less than thrilled that when he was invited to speak at the Southern Baptist pastor’s conference.
“Why is he being invited to speak to the SBC Pastors’ Conference? Should the conference be reserved for those who are Southern Baptist?”
No one I know of imagined that this would be his announcement of his intent to join our ranks and become Southern Baptist.
Obviously, the questions do not end there. Is Harvest Church really a Southern Baptist church? What about polity? About congregationalism?
As I understand it, the church is not just elder led, but elder run. The congregationalism there is of the minutest amount. Is it enough?
I like the direction of that church. James McDonald seemed genuine in his recent comments and I am happy for what has happened there. But a church can be a good church and not be a Southern Baptist church. Are they Southern Baptist?
I guess that if they give to missions through the Cooperative Program, they are. Unless their structure and polity changes, they might well not be accepted in a state convention or a local association. But it’s pretty easy to affiliate with the national SBC. Give. Don’t ordain or bless homosexuals. Be in general cooperation with the SBC’s BF&M.
Does Harvest qualify?
At the blogger’s bluster, there was some definite consternation about that.
I guess we’ll see!