Question about moderate Baptist churches

[Xahm]

We have been looking for a church home for a while now, longer than we would really like for a variety of reasons. Our background is conservative Presbyterian, but the church of our denomination that is in our town  (which we are technically still members of) has a number of serious problems I won't detail here and which our being there won't improve. We've visited a variety of churches in our area but had skipped the baptist church because we aren't willing to be re-baptised. I'm not looking for debate, but we are already sure of our salvation and so wouldn't be willing to act like the baptism was part of some sort of conversion. Neither are we willing to just go through the motions of what is an important sacrament to check a box. Now, however, we have been visiting the local Baptist church and it seems to fit our desires for a church better than anywhere else we've visited. This church is a member of a convention that describes itself as moderate (not SBC, clearly). 

My primary question is: 1. Is there any chance this church would let us join without being re-baptised? (We were baptised as infants and made public professions of faith as teens). I've heard that some baptist churches will. In fact, a good friend of mine was upset a few years back when her church started to require adult Christians to be baptised before joining.

2. This church has an interim pastor right now. He's great and friendly, but should we save discussions about requirements for joining until they get a regular pastor? How much is a baptist church's policy affected by its pastor?

3. Is this church likely to be upset by Old Earth beliefs that God uses Evolution to do his work of creation? Not everyone has to agree with us, but I don't want our kids to have to go through lots of "evils of evolution" Sunday school lessons.

4. Any other words of wisdom or things to look out for? Is drinking in moderation taboo in all baptist circles, or just the more conservative?

 

In case it matters, our priorities in looking for a church are: 

1. We can consider their beliefs to be Christian in accordance with scripture and they will look at ours the same way.

2. Very close geographic distance so we can be involved in the life of the church. We live in a large metropolitan area, and traffic can be terrible. Driving an hour each way for Wednesday night activities (though it may be a 15 minute drive Sunday morning) won't work for us.

3. Involved in serving the local community and the world.

4. Sermons that are biblical and contain a call to action (encouragement to be better, do better, etc, not just "some sinners out there do terrible things. Aren't we glad we're not them.")

 

We were in France for 4 months and attended a fantastic church there. It was the only English-speaking church in the region and contained Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, etc. There were fantastic discussions, but everyone focused on what united us in Christ. We are absolutely fine with belonging to a church where we disagree on minor issues so long as those are not the focus. In fact, we'd hate to be in a church where minor differences of theology were the focus, even if we agreed perfectly with that church.

[Guest]

Baptism churches are extremely varied. When you say conservative Presbyterian, were you more reformed or arminian? Conservative in style of worship? Dress?

 

Rebaptism isn't usually required, though some feel compelled personally to do it.

 

Old earth creationism might be a problem, it might not. It depends heavily on the church and their overall doctrinal thrust and hermeneutic. It's a good question to ask the pastor when you visit and the main one we use to get a feel for the ministry. The hemming and hawwing answers are the most telling of all :D

 

We are blessed with a ton of churches in this country to be sure, but the attitude that made that French church work is one that is good to take anywhere. We may differ on the smaller and secondary issues, but the means of salvation, deity of Christ, and similar such keystone issues are ones on which you should agree with whatever body you choose or it could be problematic. Infant baptism or music styles? Meh!

 

I wish you the best in finding a local church you love. For what it's worth, we are reformed and have far more in common with s reformed Presbyterian or even Anabaptist than the more liberal churches under the same theological umbrella. Some minor differences here and there, but all the essentials are the same. You may find something similar in your area :)

[Farrar]

I grew up Baptist and was Baptized into a very liberal, social justice sort of church. My mother is an ordained Baptist minister.

 

Do you know the church's affiliation(s)? Assuming it has some, that will give you some clues.

 

However, in general, Baptist churches can be radically different from one another. You asked if the pastor determines the church's policies and attitude... coming from a Baptist perspective and you could say yes, but I would say that from a Baptist perspective, the congregation does. And, yes, the individual church decides exactly what stance to take on nearly everything. The pastor has a huge influence, but most Baptists are democratic at heart and the congregation is the ultimate authority.

 

Adults who had been previously baptized were not required to be re-baptized to join the church I grew up in but I know other churches have other policies. The church I grew up in was old earth. Drinking and dancing were both okay at that church (though drinking at church was not a thing, it wasn't frowned on socially outside church). So, basically, yes, it's totally possible that this church will be fine for you, but you need to ask.

[Caviar]

How important is church membership to you?  If it's very important, then start your discussions now with board members.  If church membership is not that important, then maybe it would be fine to just attend the church, but not become members, then there would be no issue with re-baptism.

[Xahm]

Baptism churches are extremely varied. When you say conservative Presbyterian, were you more reformed or arminian? Conservative in style of worship? Dress?

 

Rebaptism isn't usually required, though some feel compelled personally to do it.

 

Old earth creationism might be a problem, it might not. It depends heavily on the church and their overall doctrinal thrust and hermeneutic. It's a good question to ask the pastor when you visit and the main one we use to get a feel for the ministry. The hemming and hawwing answers are the most telling of all :D

 

We are blessed with a ton of churches in this country to be sure, but the attitude that made that French church work is one that is good to take anywhere. We may differ on the smaller and secondary issues, but the means of salvation, deity of Christ, and similar such keystone issues are ones on which you should agree with whatever body you choose or it could be problematic. Infant baptism or music styles? Meh!

 

I wish you the best in finding a local church you love. For what it's worth, we are reformed and have far more in common with s reformed Presbyterian or even Anabaptist than the more liberal churches under the same theological umbrella. Some minor differences here and there, but all the essentials are the same. You may find something similar in your area :)

 

Reformed, but not fully TULIP, if you know what I mean. We like a conservative worship style, which this church has. We're used to dressing up a bit for church, but that's not at all important to us. We'll dress in a way that doesn't draw attention to ourselves during worship, whatever that way needs to be.

[Xahm]

I grew up Baptist and was Baptized into a very liberal, social justice sort of church. My mother is an ordained Baptist minister.

 

Do you know the church's affiliation(s)? Assuming it has some, that will give you some clues.

 

However, in general, Baptist churches can be radically different from one another. You asked if the pastor determines the church's policies and attitude... coming from a Baptist perspective and you could say yes, but I would say that from a Baptist perspective, the congregation does. And, yes, the individual church decides exactly what stance to take on nearly everything. The pastor has a huge influence, but most Baptists are democratic at heart and the congregation is the ultimate authority.

 

Adults who had been previously baptized were not required to be re-baptized to join the church I grew up in but I know other churches have other policies. The church I grew up in was old earth. Drinking and dancing were both okay at that church (though drinking at church was not a thing, it wasn't frowned on socially outside church). So, basically, yes, it's totally possible that this church will be fine for you, but you need to ask.

They are part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which I haven't heard of before. I haven't really had reason to have heard of it, though. The website calls itself a moderate organization, and equality of women is one of their key issues listed.

 

How important is church membership to you?  If it's very important, then start your discussions now with board members.  If church membership is not that important, then maybe it would be fine to just attend the church, but not become members, then there would be no issue with re-baptism.

It's important to us because we want to be fully involved in service as well as worship, and we want to have our kids belong somewhere as well. So the board is who we would talk to?

[Farrar]

They are part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which I haven't heard of before. I haven't really had reason to have heard of it, though. The website calls itself a moderate organization, and equality of women is one of their key issues listed.

 

They are, indeed, one of the really moderate national organizations - the liberal leaning church that I grew up in as well as the one my mother now attends, both of which are LGBTQ friendly and social justice leaning type places, are members of that one now. My understanding is that it's pretty loose - it includes churches from liberal to moderately conservative - churches that don't feel at home in the Southern Baptist Convention for various reasons. It's much more mainline Protestant than anything else, which, honestly, sounds like what you want. So that's a good sign.

[Guest]

Reformed, but not fully TULIP, if you know what I mean. We like a conservative worship style, which this church has. We're used to dressing up a bit for church, but that's not at all important to us. We'll dress in a way that doesn't draw attention to ourselves during worship, whatever that way needs to be.

You'd probably fit in at any of the more conservative SBC churches, and definitely look at reformed baptist congregations as well.

 

Consider looking on the 9Mark list as a starting point too.

https://9marks.org

 

We are currently in a non denominational church that has southern baptist roots and the pastors are by and large Masters graduates. So John MacArthur-ish. In our case it is a casual church with an amazing pastor and ministry staff and the most loving people you could meet. Massively diverse in wealth, age, etc.

 

It wouldn't have been the first church we would have picked but our previous body struggled with legalism and that is not an issue here. Everything else is very similar, but the lack of oppressive attitudes is so nice and refreshing.

Edited June 21, 2016 by Arctic Mama

[MotherGoose]

I'm not Baptist, but having lived in the SBC area all my life and known a lot of people who are Baptist, I'd say it really depends on the individual church and pastor.

[Xahm]

They are, indeed, one of the really moderate national organizations - the liberal leaning church that I grew up in as well as the one my mother now attends, both of which are LGBTQ friendly and social justice leaning type places, are members of that one now. My understanding is that it's pretty loose - it includes churches from liberal to moderately conservative - churches that don't feel at home in the Southern Baptist Convention for various reasons. It's much more mainline Protestant than anything else, which, honestly, sounds like what you want. So that's a good sign.

That is so great to hear! I don't know for sure that we will pursue joining this church, but I really want a "home" right now or as soon as possible.

[vonfirmath]

We have been looking for a church home for a while now, longer than we would really like for a variety of reasons. Our background is conservative Presbyterian, but the church of our denomination that is in our town  (which we are technically still members of) has a number of serious problems I won't detail here and which our being there won't improve. We've visited a variety of churches in our area but had skipped the baptist church because we aren't willing to be re-baptised. I'm not looking for debate, but we are already sure of our salvation and so wouldn't be willing to act like the baptism was part of some sort of conversion. Neither are we willing to just go through the motions of what is an important sacrament to check a box. Now, however, we have been visiting the local Baptist church and it seems to fit our desires for a church better than anywhere else we've visited. This church is a member of a convention that describes itself as moderate (not SBC, clearly).

 

Ask the church in particular. My husband was baptized as a youth in a Methodist church. But our Southern Baptist Church did NOT require that he be rebaptized when we joined.  I was surprised by that.  (Drinking in moderation is not frowned upon either. Some people choose to drink. Some do not.)  The church tends to be a mixture of pastor and congregation.

 

I do know, growing up, we did not join a particular church because they had an interim pastor. My parents wanted to wait and see which pastor was chosen.  (We had left churches in the past due to changes once a new pastor was called). And we ended up moving on after that new pastor was chosen because it was not one my parents felt fit well.

 

 

 

Edited June 22, 2016 by vonfirmath

[J-rap]

We loved our little Baptist church!  I think it was quite conservative, but they really welcomed everyone.  They have on their site:

 

"We believe that every human being has direct relations with God and is responsible to God alone in matters of faith."

 

So, even though most of the congregation (and it's small) is made up of conservative Republicans who were born and raised and baptized in the Baptist Church, there were still several liberal Democrats who believed in the old Earth theory and global warming and were baptized as infants in another denomination, (that was us), and were welcomed very lovingly.  No, we were not members because we didn't feel we needed to be baptized again (although my dh was eventually, as an affirmation of his faith which had changed quite a bit over the years), so we couldn't vote, but that was about it.  

 

We also have had the experience of attending an English-speaking church in another country.  We have lived a portion of the year in another country for several years, and always attend the same (and only) English-speaking church in the capital city.  It is a Baptist church, but you wouldn't know it.  I think it had to really eliminate almost everything peripheral in the faith and just focus on the absolute core of Christianity, because it draws people from all denominations -- Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, and everything else.  I LOVED that church and how it brings everyone together and just focuses on the "bottom line." 

[Caviar]

They are part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which I haven't heard of before. I haven't really had reason to have heard of it, though. The website calls itself a moderate organization, and equality of women is one of their key issues listed.

 

It's important to us because we want to be fully involved in service as well as worship, and we want to have our kids belong somewhere as well. So the board is who we would talk to?

 

Yes, I would start conversations with the board (elders, deacons, trustees, or however they are structured).  I'd find out who the chairman or co-chairman of the board is.  Usually they will be the ones in charge of finding a new pastor and should be well versed in church membership, doctrine, legalities, etc.  While in many churches the pastor is also on the board, the pastor still answers to the board, and if you would have any future issues that would need to be discussed about the pastor, they would be who you would go to.  That's great that you want to be fully involved in service as well as worship!  You may want to ask if it's necessary for you to be members first before you can participate in the things that you're interested in.  Many churches nowadays do not require that you be a member.  I'd also be curious as to why the church has an interim pastor right now.

[JonesinIndiana]

My husband and I joke that we are a "mixed" family when it comes to baptism. I was baptized (fully immersed) after I received Christ as a young teenager, he was sprinkled as an adult after receiving Christ and both of our daughters have been sprinkled as young babies. We were married in a conservative Presbyterian church and that is where we chose to have the girls baptized. We attend a non denominational church now but we tend toward reformed theology. (We don't live in the same city or state we did when we got married.)

 

When DH was a youth pastor the board didn't have a problem with his mode of baptism because it came after he was saved so he didn't have to be immersed, which was their mode. They just asked he not speak on baptism. 😉

 

The baptist church I was baptized in would NOT accept my husband's baptism or my girls' baptisms. However the Presbyterian church accepted my immersion when I joined it.

 

I think you will find a wide variety of responses.

[DawnM]

 

My primary question is: 1. Is there any chance this church would let us join without being re-baptised? (We were baptised as infants and made public professions of faith as teens). I've heard that some baptist churches will. In fact, a good friend of mine was upset a few years back when her church started to require adult Christians to be baptised before joining.

2. This church has an interim pastor right now. He's great and friendly, but should we save discussions about requirements for joining until they get a regular pastor? How much is a baptist church's policy affected by its pastor?

3. Is this church likely to be upset by Old Earth beliefs that God uses Evolution to do his work of creation? Not everyone has to agree with us, but I don't want our kids to have to go through lots of "evils of evolution" Sunday school lessons.

4. Any other words of wisdom or things to look out for? Is drinking in moderation taboo in all baptist circles, or just the more conservative?

 

 

 

I haven't heard of the kind of Baptist you are talking about.  We go to a SBC right now.  I don't consider myself SB, even though we have joined this church.

 

1.  Unfortunately, my church WOULD ask you to be re-baptised.  They believe only in believers' baptism, so it doesn't count if you were an infant.  It does count if you were baptized (as I was) in a different denomination as a believer.

 

2.  Pastors in our denomination are bound mostly by the board at the actual church, so if there is an interim pastor, you could ask an assoc. pastor your questions and for the most part, will get the answers for "the church as a whole."

 

3.  I can't say that this has ever come up exactly as you are stating.  They talk about creation, and they use the term DAYS since that is what the Bible says, but I have heard people telling the kids that we don't know how long it actually was.  A literal 7 days is not required, although I am sure many do believe that.

 

4.  I know many who drink outside of church functions, but it isn't offered at church functions, or at small groups, etc.....one of the pastors even said in a Sunday School class, "I don't drink and here is why, but I don't necessarily think it is wrong to have a drink."

 

The above answers may not apply to you, they are just my experience with the Baptist church I attend.