A Resolution on SBC Agency Board Representation for Emerging State Conventions

Whereas, emerging state conventions are full and faithful partners with their sister churches of the Southern Baptist Convention in reaching our world with the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Cooperative Program; and

Whereas, prior to 2022, the operating budget of emerging state conventions was undergirded and, for many years, primarily funded by the partnership of the North American Mission Board and Lifeway; and

Whereas, emerging state conventions now “stand on their own two feet,” with operating budgets that are fully funded through the Cooperative Program giving of their churches; and

Whereas, the current policy and/or legal documents of most agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention do not allow many emerging state conventions to have trustee representation; and

Whereas, continued lack of representation on the trustee boards of Southern Baptist agencies, deprives emerging state convention churches of the voice of a valued partner in the worldwide gospel effort, which they faithfully support through the Cooperative Program; and

Whereas, emerging state conventions appreciate the historical operational budget support that has been provided in the past from their Southern Baptist family and the continued partnership in the areas of church planting and evangelism; and

Whereas, many emerging state conventions have recently celebrated the adoption of their first self-funded operating budgets;

Therefore, be it resolved that the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 11-12, 2024, acknowledge and celebrate the historical change that has taken place, which has eliminated the need for emerging state conventions to be dependent on support from outside Southern Baptist agencies for their operating budgets; 

Further, be it resolved that we recognize the value and basic fairness of allowing for trustee representation in the governing decisions of the agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention by emerging state conventions;

Finally, be it resolved that we deem it reasonable and advantageous to the Boards, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the churches of each state convention that those churches be represented on the various boards and agencies of the SBC by a trustee from their respective cooperating state conventions.