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

How Does The Baptist Association Work?
Feb. 10, 2006

The Baptist association, founded in 1707, is the oldest organized unit of Baptist life beyond the church. In 2007, the Baptist association will celebrate 300 years of existence. The association remains as an essential link in the ministry of Florida Baptists and continues to be vital and relevant in Baptist life. The association is worthy of prayer and support.

Associations were formed for many reasons. Probably fellowship and doctrinal integrity were and remain among the most important aspects of association life.

Associations today are most often formed along county lines but not always. Some large associations may share sections of counties while another association is responsible for the remainder of the county. Other associations may follow a landmark, such as Florida’s Black Creek Baptist Association which follows the Black Creek from Georgia through Florida. Each association negotiates its own ministry boundaries with neighboring associations. The Florida Baptist Convention only assists when called upon.

Each association is autonomous, served by an executive board and a director of missions. Some associations refer to the director of missions as the executive director. As an association grows and expands its ministries, additional staff members are employed with specific responsibilities.

Each association is supported by the churches that comprise the association. Again the church is the ultimate decision maker for the financial support and ministry of the association. The Florida Baptist Convention works in partnership with our 49 Florida associations. Some very excellent work takes place in our associations.

Every association, to my knowledge, continues to promote fellowship among their congregations, especially among pastors. This is done through various meetings. It is a mistake for a pastor to rob himself of fellowship with the brethren. If we as pastors and church leaders ever needed fellowship and accountability for each other, it is now.

Every association, to my knowledge, has a Credential Committee. This committee is responsible for examining the doctrine of any new congregation that wishes to join the association. This committee also is responsible for examining the doctrine of any church that theologically strays from the truth. As a young pastor, I learned, “The association is the ‘theological watchdog’ of Southern Baptists.” This is still true and I thank God for it. My belief is that persons can believe whatever they desire. Persons can teach or preach whatever they desire — but not in my church! This is a very valuable aspect of associational life.

In summary of this very brief discussion of association work (it encompasses so much more):
• Each association is autonomous.
• Each association plans and promotes its own ministries.
• Each association has an executive board or some governing body that calls staff; receives/disburses funds; and calendars meetings, etc.
• Each association is supported by the churches within the association.

This is a third in the series, “How Does It Work,” designed to explain how the Florida Baptist State Convention functions.

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You may contact Dr. John Sullivan at
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