BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Church polity meshes independence and cooperation
Jan. 27, 2006

This week I am beginning a new series of articles on how the Florida Baptist State Convention functions, which I am titling “How Does That Work?” The first subject is polity. Polity is our strongest and weakest paradox, the “rope of sand” that wires us together.

Polity simply defined means: how we do our business. Closely associated with the concept of polity are the words “autonomy” or “autonomous” which means self government. Combining these two concepts with the biblical demands of missions and evangelism produces the following: We must be independent but cooperative.

There is a big difference between being independent and being non-cooperative. Let me explain this with an illustration: As individual members of a family grows into the mature person that God intends, each one must be independent to become who God would have him or her be. At the same time, each person must cooperate with other family members who are doing the same thing. This must be done within proper relations and defined biblical principles within the family unit.

Now magnify that to the church, God’s basic unit beyond the family. Churches must determine God’s purpose for their existence while cooperating with other members and churches. This is a tough assignment. One great testimony of the church is that we continue to survive each other!

As the circle of growth and influence continues, add the local Baptist association, state convention and national convention. Each is composed of the same persons--Baptist church members.

Some people have a misconception that is hard to dispel: They believe churches are composed of members; associations are composed of churches; state conventions are composed of associations; and the national convention is composed of state conventions. But that is not how Baptist polity is designed; that’s how it is reported for statistical purposes.

Southern Baptist statesman James L. Sullivan was a great influence in my life. When he talked, he made sense with a profound ability to make things simple. For example, his definition of organization: “Get all the brooms sweeping in the same direction.” He used a simple illustration to help me visualize polity.

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