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JACKSON, Tenn. (FBW) ? Although denominations are not clearly mandated by Scripture and today face significant challenges, they nevertheless have a future ? but only as servants of local churches on mission with God, Southern Baptist leader Ed Stetzer said Oct. 6 at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.
For Southern Baptists, in particular, Stetzer argued for doctrinal consensus around the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a “sufficient guide” as well as methodological diversity that permits cooperation with biblically faithful churches that may preach, worship and serve Christ in ways traditional churches do not.
“If an SBC leader says that he cannot be in the same denomination with a contemporary church leader because of his or her personal convictions, then he or she needs to leave the Convention,” Stetzer said in calling for valuing of methodological diversity. “Why? Because that person has established a more narrow standard than the BFM 2000 states.”
Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research and missiologistin residence of LifeWay Christian Resources, was the first speaker for Union’s conference, “Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism.” The Oct. 6-9 conference is being held in recognition of the 400th anniversary of the Baptist movement.
Speaking on the topic, “Denominationalism: Is There a Future?” Stetzer dismissed two faulty assumptions about denominationalism.
It is mistaken to assume “denominations are necessary or even an integral part of the mission of God. This is not to say that they are not, but, lacking a clear biblical commandment, we cannot assume that they should be,” he said.
Interpreting a role for denominations in the “life of local churches apart from the mission of God” is also wrong, according to Stetzer.
The mission of God is the key to “successfully navigating these waters of philosophical upheaval that have left many people wondering” about the future of denominations.
“Until we are assured of the role of denominations within the framework of God’s mission, we should assume them of necessity to be flexible, malleable and possibly even temporary. ? If denominations are to exist, it will be for the purpose of helping churches fulfill the Great Commission and join God on his mission,” he said.
Stetzer said there are several reasons why there is a future for denominations.
Denominations are “inevitable,” he said, because denominations are the best means of missions cooperation and because of their inherent self-preservation.
Stetzer said denominations are so inevitable that networks of independent churches are “proto-denominations” resembling denominations more than those involved would wish to admit.
Denominations also have a future because younger evangelicals today are “looking for a sense of rootedness in a fragmented society.”
“Whereas the Baby Boomers untied themselves from tradition and decided to chart their own course, many of the Baby Boomers’ children have begun to look back wistfully to the shore. They want the stability of a sturdy heritage,” he said.
“In a rapidly morphing age, the sense of historical solidarity and theological and ecclesial stability offered by a denominational heritage are a great value,” Stetzer added.
Doctrinal accountability rooted in confessions of faith is another reason for denominations in the future, Stetzer said, pointing to the drift to theological liberalism in independent churches and institutions.
Since there is a future for denominations, Stetzer committed most of his nearly 50-minute address to the type of denominations that should exist.
Answering the question, “What kind of denominationalism is desirable?” Stetzer cited four values: missional rather than tribal; confessional consensus; methodological diversity; and assisting churches, not vice versa.
Missional rather than tribal
“Denominations should be made up of churches that look outward rather than inward,” Stetzer said. While introspection is necessary, such should be “to focus us again on God’s global mission.”
“Tribal” denominations “deliver a message of ‘come and join us’ rather than ‘go and live for Christ.’ We focus on preserving who we are rather than proclaiming who He is,” Stetzer said.
Confessional consensus
Stetzer said there are five essential purposes of confessions of faith ? doctrinal statements ? for denominations: a common theology, a standard for denominational agencies, a source for local churches in affiliating and a tool for established churches, a “sentry against moving left,” and a “shield against excessive distinction” in which certain rules or distinctions are overemphasized.
Methodological diversity
Stetzer spoke at length about his concern that Southern Bap
