We're officially leaving the IFB movement.

[jimmudcatgrant]

We have officially proposed to our church family that we join the Southern Baptist Convention.
We have scheduled a secret ballot vote on the matter, September 23.

This has been a two year process with our leadership, and we are simply joining like minded churches.
We have a few old timers who remember leaving the liberal SBC back in the 60s, but for the most part, we have had no negative reaction.

What we have discovered is that, when we join, NOTHING will change in our church.....
What we believe, preach or teach will not change.
How we conduct business and other aspects of church polity will not change!
How we carry out our missions program will not change.

We will simply officially align ourselves with their missions program, their humanitarian outreach program and be able to access their resources and benefits. It was a win, win for us, as we already had little to nothing in common with other IFB churches.

I would appreciate prayers for us during this transition....even from the IFBs here..... 

I understand your decision to leave the IFB, but I question the SBC's direction as well.  They let in a heretical church like the Elevation Church in Charlotte, and Liberty University recently had Pastor Furtick (who believes like T.D. Jakes. Rod Parsley, and the rest of the name it, claim it crowd) speak.  Furtick has made statements against teaching doctrine, having bible classes, etc, because they get in the way of evangelism.  He mocked Christians that want to be fed by the Pastor and called them lazy.  I guess he doesn't read scriptures like "Feed the flock".  I can't believe the SBC is endorsing heretics now.

 

[OZZY]

We have officially proposed to our church family that we join the Southern Baptist Convention.
We have scheduled a secret ballot vote on the matter, September 23.

This has been a two year process with our leadership, and we are simply joining like minded churches.
We have a few old timers who remember leaving the liberal SBC back in the 60s, but for the most part, we have had no negative reaction.

What we have discovered is that, when we join, NOTHING will change in our church.....
What we believe, preach or teach will not change.
How we conduct business and other aspects of church polity will not change!
How we carry out our missions program will not change.

We will simply officially align ourselves with their missions program, their humanitarian outreach program and be able to access their resources and benefits. It was a win, win for us, as we already had little to nothing in common with other IFB churches.

I would appreciate prayers for us during this transition....even from the IFBs here..... 

I understand your decision to leave the IFB, but I question the SBC's direction as well.  They let in a heretical church like the Elevation Church in Charlotte, and Liberty University recently had Pastor Furtick (who believes like T.D. Jakes. Rod Parsley, and the rest of the name it, claim it crowd) speak.  Furtick has made statements against teaching doctrine, having bible classes, etc, because they get in the way of evangelism.  He mocked Christians that want to be fed by the Pastor and called them lazy.  I guess he doesn't read scriptures like "Feed the flock".  I can't believe the SBC is endorsing heretics now.

They didn't 'let in'a church like Elevation, they BIRTHED it. Elevation was a church plant by the SBC.

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

We have officially proposed to our church family that we join the Southern Baptist Convention.
We have scheduled a secret ballot vote on the matter, September 23.

This has been a two year process with our leadership, and we are simply joining like minded churches.
We have a few old timers who remember leaving the liberal SBC back in the 60s, but for the most part, we have had no negative reaction.

What we have discovered is that, when we join, NOTHING will change in our church.....
What we believe, preach or teach will not change.
How we conduct business and other aspects of church polity will not change!
How we carry out our missions program will not change.

We will simply officially align ourselves with their missions program, their humanitarian outreach program and be able to access their resources and benefits. It was a win, win for us, as we already had little to nothing in common with other IFB churches.

I would appreciate prayers for us during this transition....even from the IFBs here..... 

I understand your decision to leave the IFB, but I question the SBC's direction as well.  They let in a heretical church like the Elevation Church in Charlotte, and Liberty University recently had Pastor Furtick (who believes like T.D. Jakes. Rod Parsley, and the rest of the name it, claim it crowd) speak.  Furtick has made statements against teaching doctrine, having bible classes, etc, because they get in the way of evangelism.  He mocked Christians that want to be fed by the Pastor and called them lazy.  I guess he doesn't read scriptures like "Feed the flock".  I can't believe the SBC is endorsing heretics now.

They didn't 'let in'a church like Elevation, they BIRTHED it. Elevation was a church plant by the SBC.

Wow, that makes it even worse. 

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

We have officially proposed to our church family that we join the Southern Baptist Convention.
We have scheduled a secret ballot vote on the matter, September 23.

This has been a two year process with our leadership, and we are simply joining like minded churches.
We have a few old timers who remember leaving the liberal SBC back in the 60s, but for the most part, we have had no negative reaction.

What we have discovered is that, when we join, NOTHING will change in our church.....
What we believe, preach or teach will not change.
How we conduct business and other aspects of church polity will not change!
How we carry out our missions program will not change.

We will simply officially align ourselves with their missions program, their humanitarian outreach program and be able to access their resources and benefits. It was a win, win for us, as we already had little to nothing in common with other IFB churches.

I would appreciate prayers for us during this transition....even from the IFBs here..... 

I understand your decision to leave the IFB, but I question the SBC's direction as well.  They let in a heretical church like the Elevation Church in Charlotte, and Liberty University recently had Pastor Furtick (who believes like T.D. Jakes. Rod Parsley, and the rest of the name it, claim it crowd) speak.  Furtick has made statements against teaching doctrine, having bible classes, etc, because they get in the way of evangelism.  He mocked Christians that want to be fed by the Pastor and called them lazy.  I guess he doesn't read scriptures like "Feed the flock".  I can't believe the SBC is endorsing heretics now.

They didn't 'let in'a church like Elevation, they BIRTHED it. Elevation was a church plant by the SBC.

Wow, that makes it even worse.

Furtick grew up in a traditional SBC congregation and was financially supported in his church plant by the SBC, as well as a couple of other church planting groups. His doctrinal statement is one that is solidly Biblical on paper, but I also question his associations and a few other things.

But he hardly represents or speaks for the SBC.....his association with them is loose to say the least. It also goes to the autonomy of SBC churches, which was essential in our eyes.
In NC, we voted on a Marriage Amendment last spring....and the SBC took the lead in promoting its passage. Elevation  took the opposite approach....

 

[Biker]

In NC, we voted on a Marriage Amendment last spring....and the SBC took the lead in promoting its passage. Elevation  took the opposite approach....

That's rich. Pharisees opposing Sodomites  :

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

In NC, we voted on a Marriage Amendment last spring....and the SBC took the lead in promoting its passage. Elevation  took the opposite approach....

That's rich. Pharisees opposing Sodomites  :

Which are you?  :-X

 

[Biker]

In NC, we voted on a Marriage Amendment last spring....and the SBC took the lead in promoting its passage. Elevation  took the opposite approach....

That's rich. Pharisees opposing Sodomites  :

Which are you?  :-X

huh? (borrowed from you ) This has nothing to do with me, I quoted your statement. See above

 

[Biker]

  Your Statement-->  In NC, we voted on a Marriage Amendment last spring....and the SBC took the lead in promoting its passage. Elevation  took the opposite approach....

My reply--->That's rich. Pharisees opposing Sodomites  :


You stated the SBC "took a led in promoting it's (marriage amendment) passage" That amendment is to ensure the legally recognized union between a man and a woman remains. Thus it opposes Sodomites, aka homosexuals, who want to partake of that union. A Union God invented, and defined.


Pharisees: A religious and Political Party who was generally known as Political Conservative.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Our vote last Sunday  resulted in an 89% majority voting to align our church with the SBC. We had a few more no votes than I anticipated, but we only had about 300 vote, out of probably 500 who were eligible to vote. I assume that those who didn't bother to vote, we're yes or I don't care....it was a secret ballot vote so it took a little effort to cast your paper ballot.

We are moving ahead but I am praying that we don't lose anyone because of this, because we were for all practical purposes am SBC church before the vote.

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

Our vote last Sunday  resulted in an 89% majority voting to align our church with the SBC. We had a few more no votes than I anticipated, but we only had about 300 vote, out of probably 500 who were eligible to vote. I assume that those who didn't bother to vote, we're yes or I don't care....it was a secret ballot vote so it took a little effort to cast your paper ballot.

We are moving ahead but I am praying that we don't lose anyone because of this, because we were for all practical purposes am SBC church before the vote.

When it is all said and done, Tarheel, people are still people.  They need to be saved, discipled, and loved, no matter our denomination.  You sound like you have your head on straight, so best wishes.

 

[brianb]

Our vote last Sunday  resulted in an 89% majority voting to align our church with the SBC. We had a few more no votes than I anticipated, but we only had about 300 vote, out of probably 500 who were eligible to vote. I assume that those who didn't bother to vote, we're yes or I don't care....it was a secret ballot vote so it took a little effort to cast your paper ballot.

We are moving ahead but I am praying that we don't lose anyone because of this, because we were for all practical purposes am SBC church before the vote.

You say for all practical purposes you were an SBC church, but it seems you were more Non-Denominational/unaffiliated than SBC.
The only differences I see between an IFB church and an SBC church beside the latter having annual conventions are missions and educational institutes. What kind missionaries does/did your church support? Are/were they IFB or SBC? The IFB churches I know only support like-minded missionaries which doesn't mean just any one who calls themselves IFB if they call themselves that at all - the name IFB isn't that important anyways - it's the beliefs and practices that matter.

And btw, even if an IFB church isn't KJV only/KJV preferred, has contemporary services or even in very rare cases is Calvinist - that church is still considered IFB even by many IFB churches who disagree. I would still have considered your church an IFB church or just a plain old Baptist church before joining the SBC. In fact I think there are churches like yours up in Canada especially in the Atlantic provinces like Nova Scotia and they are IFB.

 

[4everfsu]

What will RLS say? His little disciple leaving the IFB? TB, good luck to you and your church, may God continue to use you, your church and bless His ministry.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Our vote last Sunday  resulted in an 89% majority voting to align our church with the SBC. We had a few more no votes than I anticipated, but we only had about 300 vote, out of probably 500 who were eligible to vote. I assume that those who didn't bother to vote, we're yes or I don't care....it was a secret ballot vote so it took a little effort to cast your paper ballot.

We are moving ahead but I am praying that we don't lose anyone because of this, because we were for all practical purposes am SBC church before the vote.

You say for all practical purposes you were an SBC church, but it seems you were more Non-Denominational/unaffiliated than SBC.
The only differences I see between an IFB church and an SBC church beside the latter having annual conventions are missions and educational institutes. What kind missionaries does/did your church support? Are/were they IFB or SBC? The IFB churches I know only support like-minded missionaries which doesn't mean just any one who calls themselves IFB if they call themselves that at all - the name IFB isn't that important anyways - it's the beliefs and practices that matter.

And btw, even if an IFB church isn't KJV only/KJV preferred, has contemporary services or even in very rare cases is Calvinist - that church is still considered IFB even by many IFB churches who disagree. I would still have considered your church an IFB church or just a plain old Baptist church before joining the SBC. In fact I think there are churches like yours up in Canada especially in the Atlantic provinces like Nova Scotia and they are IFB.

We support an assortment of missionaries...from IFB's to Independents....Baptist Mid Missions to New Tribes.
We will continue to support our missionaries in addition to adding support for the SBC...who have over 10,000 missionaries currently.

Our practice, our ministry and worship philosophies were more in line with the mainstream SBCs than any IFB...at least in our area.
We never attended any conference or convention considered IFB...this has been true for many years.....we attend SBC conferences and workshops. As we move forward in our ministry, we believe that aligning or joining the SBC would be in our best interest as a church family.