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Resolution on Regenerate Church Membership

The following resolution was written by someone else and adopted at the Fall 2007 meeting of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. This resolution will be put forward at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis (and some portions of the resolution have been edited to fit that context). We at ConvictionalBaptists.org are proud to host the advance publication of this resolution. Further, we solicit your endorsement of this resolution both now and at the convention meeting in Indianapolis, believing that your advance endorsement of this resolution will bear witness to our Committee on Resolutions and our convention messengers of the widespread support for biblical church membership among the Southern Baptist people.

We know that this is not the only resolution that will be put forward on this topic this year, and we say, "Praise the Lord!" What a blessing that God is speaking to many Southern Baptists about the importance of obedience to biblical teachings about the church! There are specific aspects of this resolution that we favor, but we are proud to stand with all Southern Baptists who embrace the need to renew our focus on the biblical doctrine of Regenerate Church Membership at this strategic moment.

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith Message asserts that the Scriptures are "the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried" (Article I); and

WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church's only Lord, by grace through faith (Matthew 18:18-20; John 3:5); and

WHEREAS, A New Testament church is formed through covenant by a group of Christians intentionally gathering in the name of Jesus Christ and under his lordship (Matthew 18:19-20; Colossians 2:10, 19); and

WHEREAS, Baptism of only believers by immersion in the Triune name is the only proper means of entering a local New Testament church and is thus the indispensable beginning of regenerate church membership (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41); and

WHEREAS, Regenerate church membership is preserved by the practice of redemptive church discipline according to our Lord's command (Matthew 18:15-18, 1 Corinthians 5; Titus 3:10-11); and

WHEREAS, The Lord's Supper is to be celebrated in a worthy manner as a memorial of our Lord's atoning death, providing continuing evidence of regenerate church membership (1 Corinthians 11:23-29); and

WHEREAS, Regenerate church membership is necessary for the responsible practice of congregational church government (Matthew 18:17; Acts 6:3-4; 15:22); and

WHEREAS, The local church has been commissioned to make disciples of all nations through proclaiming the Word, by going, baptizing and teaching all things that Christ commanded, thus propagating regenerate church membership through evangelism (Matthew 28:16-20); and

WHEREAS, The New Testament ideal of regenerate church membership has long been a cherished Baptist principle as described by the Baptist Faith and Message (Article VI); now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June  10-11, 2008, humbly urge our beloved churches to renew their commitment to regenerate church membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ's lordship for all members of local churches; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to renew their commitment to the congregation as a covenantal assembly entered only by immersion of those who evidence a credible profession of faith in Christ; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to renew the practice of redemptive church discipline, reviewing their membership rolls and kindling fraternal kinship and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to celebrate the Lord's Supper as a meaningful memorial celebration according to the New Testament, and develop congregants capable of responsible self-governance; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage all of our beloved Southern Baptist churches to seek to fulfill the New Testament ideal of regenerate church membership for the glory of God, the edification of His people, and the more effective evangelization of the lost.

Sponsors

Note: Initial sponsors are listed first in alphabetical order, then all subsequent sponsors also in alphabetical order.


 NameChurch or Entity
1 Daniel AkinSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary, NC
2 David AllenSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
3 Bart BarberFirst Baptist Church, Farmersville, TX
4 John BoozerGreen Pines Baptist Church, Knightdale, NC
5 Matt BradyCarriage Hills Baptist Church, Southaven, MS
6 Emir CanerSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
7 Ergun CanerLiberty Baptist Theological Seminary, VA
8 Frank CoxNorth Metro First Baptist Church, Lawrenceville, GA
9 Mark DeverCapitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC
10 Jason DuesingSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
11 James T. EganFirst Baptist Church, Post, TX
12 Keith EitelSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
13 Ed EthridgeMacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, Irving, TX
14 Jonathan FalwellThomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA
15 Nathan FinnSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary, NC
16 Robin FosterImmanuel Baptist Church, Perkins, OK
17 Anthony GeorgeAloma Baptist Church
18 Scott GordonClaycomo Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO
19 Jeremy GreenFirst Baptist Church, Joshua, TX
20 Tim GuthrieArlington Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN
21 John HammettSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary, NC
22 Lloyd A. HarschNew Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, LA
23 Junior HillWestmede Baptist Church, Decatur, AL
24 Johnny HuntWoodstock First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA
25 Ken KeathleySoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary, NC
26 Wes KenneyTrinity Baptist Church, Valliant, OK
27 Steve LemkeNew Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, LA
28 David LinoFaith Family Baptist Church, Houston, TX
29 Nathan LinoNortheast Houston Baptist Church, Atascocita, TX
30 Nathan LorickFirst Baptist Church, Malakoff, TX
31 Peter LumpkinsMidway Macedonia Baptist Church, Villa Rica, GA
32 John MannLa Junta Baptist Church, Springtown, TX
33 Byron McWilliamsFirst Baptist Church, Odessa, TX
34 James MerrittCross Pointe Church, Duluth, GA
35 Jonathan MerrittCross Pointe Church, Duluth, GA
36 David MillsSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
37 Russell MooreSouthern Baptist Theological Seminary, KY
38 Paige PattersonSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
39 Bob PearleBirchman Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX
40 Jim RichardsFirst Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX
41 Jeremy RobertsPleasant Hill Baptist Church, Lenoir City, TN
42 Philip RobertsMidwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, MO
43 Tim RogersYadkin Baptist Church, Statesville, NC
44 Robbie SagersSouthern Baptist Theological Seminary, KY
45 Keith SandersFirst Baptist Church, Keller, TX
46 C. B. ScottWestmont Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL
47 Tim` SearcyNew Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, LA
48 Bailey SmithFirst Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA
49 Steven SmithSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
50 Joe StewartFirst Baptist Church, Littlefield, TX
51 Greg WeltySouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
52 Thomas WhiteSouthwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX
53 Terry WilderB&H Publishing Group/Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
54 David WorleyBethel Baptist Church Greenfield, TN
55 Jody Kent AndersonHarmony Baptist Church, New Albany, MS
56 Ron AnspaughFirst Baptist Church Woodstock, Woodstock, GA
57 Andrew ArthurThe Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, AL
58 Chris BontsCrossRoad Church, Floyds Knobs, IN
59 Jordan BranchOpen Door Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC
60 Beau K. BrewerBisbee Baptist Church, Mansfield, TX
61 Marc BrooksEmmanuel Baptist Church, Potsdam, NY
62 Page BrooksNew Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary/Vintage Church of New Orleans
63 James W. BryantFirst Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
64 Tom BryantFirst Baptist Church, Osprey, FL
65 Jarrett BurchBethany Baptist Church, Tennille, GA
66 Larry BurnsFirst Baptist Church, Belmont, NC
67 Mark CanerClough Pike Baptist
68 Vic CarpenterGrace Baptist Church
69 Cameron CoyleCommunity Baptist Church, Royse City, TX
70 Blain CraigOak Crest Baptist Church, Midlothian, TX
71 Winston CurtisHighland Park Baptist Church, Duncan, OK
72 John DalyValley View Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO
73 Steve DavidsonFirst Baptist Church, Sellersburg, IN
74 Michael DeBuskCrabapple First Baptist Church, Alpharetta, GA
75 Carl DiemerLeesville Road Baptist Church
76 Adam DooleyRed Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN
77 Scott DouglasBroadmoor Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
78 Roger DukeGermantown Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
79 Mark EakinMt. Gilead Baptist Church, Vivian, LA
80 Dave EarleyLiberty Baptist Theological Seminary, VA
81 David EpplingLiberty Baptist Theological Seminary, VA
82 Terry FaulkenburyWest Cabarrus Church, Concord, NC
83 Jacob FitzgeraldFirst Baptist Church, Zavalla, TX
84 Timothy GirdlerHillsdale Baptist Church, Louisville, KY
85 Jonathan GlassCa-Vel Baptist Church, Roxboro, NC
86 Michael GonzalesFirst Baptist Church, Colleyville,TX
87 Mike GwinnFirst Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA
88 Sonny HathawayNortheast Houston Baptist Church, TX
89 Bill HaynesGrace Baptist Church, Somerset, KY
90 Don HinkleConcord Baptist Church, Jefferson City, Mo.
91 Eddie HobbsFirst Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA
92 Doug HooverProvidence Baptist Church, Greer, SC
93 Ryan HutchinsonFirst Baptist Church, Durham, NC
94 Dean InserraThe Well, Tallahassee, FL
95 Keavin KeithVictory Baptist Church, Plaquemine, LA
96 Kevin KingAnchor Way Baptist Church, Steamboat Springs, CO
97 Scott LambProvidence Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO
98 Russell LangfordMacedonia Baptist Church, Cleveland, TN
99 Will LangfordHickory Grove Baptist Church, Independence, KY
100 David LanierSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary, NC
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