Journal: Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry
Volume: JBTM 02:1 (Spring 2004)
Article: Editorial
Author: Anonymous

JBTM 2:1 (Spring 2004) p. 1

Editorial

The Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry was pleased to host its first annual conference February 5–7, 2004. The theme for this event was “Issues in Baptist Polity.” Prominent Baptist leaders from churches, seminaries, colleges, and denominational entities assembled on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to explore and discuss various issues regarding Baptist polity. The theological foundations and practical implications of church polity were considered and debated from diverse perspectives. The panel discussion following the banquet provided lighthearted banter, yet also produced fruitful conversation on numerous subjects of passionate interests to Baptists.

We believe that God greatly blessed this gathering. Interest surpassed all our expectations; conference registration and attendance exceeded threefold our planned projections. Churches sent leadership teams to be trained and informed on matters of immediate interest and relevance. Pastors and deacons came to learn better how to relate each other and to minister more effectively in their respective offices. Interest in the subject was high, and feedback was incredibly positive. Baptists apparently are still interested in and continue to struggle with issues of polity. We are hopeful that this event provided a platform for reflection and produced resources to assist Baptist churches in their ministries.

Because of the continued (if unstated) interest in this subject, this edition of the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry is devoted to the subject of Baptist polity. To dedicate an entire journal volume to this issue may seem to some unimportant, divisive, or irrelevant. Such attitudes, however, are naïve or uninformed. Polity can be defined generally as “the organization

JBTM 2:1 (Spring 2004) p. 2

or governmental structure of a local church or fellowship of churches,”1 or as “a form of church government adopted by an ecclesiastical body.”2 In a real sense, church polity is simply the manner in which a group of Christian believers structures itself to discern and implement the will of God. When defined and considered in this light, polity is vitally important for today’s Church.

An issue of immediate interest in Southern Baptist life is the role and function of elders in a Baptist church. The essays in this journal that address this issue reveal the diversity of opinions and perspectives found in Baptist life. The article written by Dr. Daryl Cornett provides a biblical and historical investigation of the nature and purpose of elders. His analysis compares and contrasts differing perspectiv...