Cooperation

For we are God's fellow workers. ...

1 Cor 3:9 (ESV)


The Baptist Faith & Message


XIV. Cooperation

Christ's people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ's Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.


Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.
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For Southern Baptists cooperation means a worldwide kingdom work with others who share our faith, values and worldview.

Congregationalism is a deeply established Baptist principle. 

Congregationalism: The belief that a local body of believers is directly responsible to God's authority, not a church hierarchy.

Voluntary Association: The united, cooperative effort of churches with common beliefs to minister together in ways they could not minister alone.

Our churches can do together what no one church can do alone.

Cooperative Program: A plan of cooperation by which Southern Baptists provide financial support for ministry and missions in an ongoing, systematic way.

The Cooperative Program allows local Baptist congregations to unite in a single, unified budget for advancing the cause of Christ.


from The Baptist Faith & Message Study

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Our churches can do together what no one church can do alone.  Sometimes I wonder if Southern Baptists still believe this?  If only Southern Baptist Churches could get back to this Baptist pattern of cooperation.  It was John Wooden that said "It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit."

Soli Deo Gloria
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