There have been some surprising developments here at the American Baptist Churches Biennial meeting. The most pressing and major issue that had to be approved by the delegates (those sent by local churches, which includes myself) was NOT passed. The motion to amend the bylaws and change the structure of the ABC was narrowly shout down. The current bylaws require a 2/3rds majority by the delegates. 
The motion only received 63% support, which barely fell short of 66% needed. It seemed that the changes were going to be easily passed, but that was not the case. Please check out the amended bylaws that did not pass here. There have been very few bloggers talking about this, but one blog addressed this issue well: Mindi Framingham. Also, my new friend Tripp Hudgins provided a great video blog of his review.
The general reaction I am hearing here is that during the business/discernment session the denominational leaders did not properly address the questions asked. There were several clarifying questions raised during the session. The delegates felt that most of the panel who answered the questions did not provide the needed insight into the “why” or “how” behind the changes. Having read the changes proposed, I felt that the new bylaws were slightly confusing. One delegate suggested that these changes should have been shared and given out in a printed document form two years ago at the Washington D.C. biennial. This year, the changes were available in PDF form on the ABC website. It would have been more effective to pass the document out two years ago and let the local churches, regions, and committees discuss the changes. Now, delegates say they are left with feeling that the denominational leaders did not provide the necessary explanation to the delegates.
Many of delegates expressed their frustration of what has been a consistent problem for the denomination: the lack of connection from the denomination leadership to the local church. Of course, because of our polity of local church autonomy, many local churches choose not to reach out to the denomination. I am an advocate of more denominational support and involvement in the local church in terms of direction and assistance. I am sure there is a large minority of churches that choose not to deeply connect with their denomination because they feel the ABC is not working with or for churches.
There was also talk about the process of Public Witness statements. The ABC General Board can make statements regarding theology, ecclesiology, and social issues. The criticism is that these statements really have no value because they are simply statements and are not binding or do not require action from regions or local churches. The bylaws that were voted down proposed that each region would vote on Public Witness Statements and the statements would pass only after a 3/4ths of the regions approving.
Lastly, it seems that some very vocal delegates want to address more denominational issues, statements, and polity changes at the biennials. The delegates that I talked to want to have more power to decide policy instead of the General Board making decisions for the denomination or want to have more dialog at biennial meetings.
That is it for now. If you want a complete view of what happen please go here and look to the links to the right.
4 Comments
It has always seemed to me, as a relative outsider to ABCUSA (I grew up Southern Baptist, and when I came to DC, we were allegedly dually aligned, but I found ABC hard to penetrate), that ABCUSA continues to tinker with structure almost as a substitute for doing mission. True, structure is important, and now that I teach Baptist Polity at a seminary, I spend a good deal of time working with students on structural issues; but form follows function, as the architects tell us. Find a structure that empowers mission and use it!
Thanks for the update. Another example of the disconnect between denominational leadership and the local church is that this information — and I mean just the basic information: the bylaws question did not pass — is not yet available on the abc-usa web site. The main page refers us to the abc news service page, whose only article from the proceedings is about Roy Medley being elected to a third term as General Secretary. That as an ABC pastor, I would have to google “abcusa biennial” and then find out what happened from a colleague 25 miles from home who happens to have a blog entry is indicative of the disastrous lack of denominational leadership we have been living with for far too long in the American Baptist family.
As someone who did read and reflect on the proposed changes, I would have voted against, had I been able to afford the trip to Pasadena. From what I could tell, the proposal would have added exponentially to the arcane way we already do business as a denomination, and would have eviscerated the already minimal input from the biennial delegates.
On an almost daily basis, I am torn between my love for a denomination that nurtured me and formed my Christian understanding and ministry and my deep grief and dismay that in a time so critical (and so ripe) for sharing God’s love in Christ we are thwarted at every turn by the shambles the spineless denominational bureaucracy has led us into.
Joe, thanks for your other comments as well. You are right. ABC has been fiddling with the structure and it has had an impact on the mission. The SBC has done a better job with mission, although they have their own problems as well.
Casper, thank you for your comments. We should get together sometime. You hit the mark with regards to getting the info on the bylaws. I too was unhappy with the vote. I abstained from the vote because I felt there was too much confusion. I too am torn between love for the denomination and seeing the fumbling that is occurring at Valley Forge.