Grace global
Mission Partners
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Is Grace Bible Church an independent church or is it a part of a denomination?
Grace Bible Church is an independent church, in that we are not controlled by a denominational hierarchy. We call our own ministers, set our own budget, lease, buy, and possess our own property, and determine our statement of faith and standards for membership without the need for approval from any outside group.
However, we recognize that the Lord Jesus has charged us to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), and we believe this calling (commonly referred to as “the Great Commission”) is best achieved through cooperation with other like-minded churches. Therefore, we have entered voluntary partnerships with other groups of Christians for this purpose. These relationships enable us to cooperate to train the next generation of ministers, send missionaries around the world, and start new churches.
Our two main partnerships for these purposes are with the Acts 29 Network and the Southern Baptist Convention. Through our membership in the Acts 29 Network, we develop relationships with other churches and pastors primarily for the purpose of mutual support and church planting. As a Southern Baptist church, we support six theological seminaries and two large mission organizations (the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board).
How are Acts 29 and the Southern Baptist Convention governed?
Acts 29 is governed by an independent, self-perpetuating board of directors. The Executive Director is a full-time position; this person leads the network and its staff in its day-to-day operations and serves at the will and pleasure of the board.
The Southern Baptist Convention exists only for a few days each year when delegates representing more than forty thousand churches meet for the purpose of conducting the business of the convention. Delegates (called “messengers”) elect convention officers, including the president. The president serves a two-year term, is typically a pastor of a local church, and his primary authority rests in appointing members of committees who, in turn, nominate men and women to serve as trustees of the various convention entities (the above-mentioned seminaries and mission boards, Lifeway Christian Resources, the Executive Committee, etc.). The Convention, in its annual meeting, has the sole power to elect those nominated. These trustees, in turn, choose entity presidents, who serve at the will and pleasure of the trustees. This chart provides a helpful graphic to understand how Southern Baptist organizations are governed.
The Executive Committee acts for the Southern Baptist Convention ad interim, or between annual meetings. This committee does not direct or control the other convention entities, but it does review their financial statements and recommends the Convention annual operating budget. In addition, it receives and distributes the monies Southern Baptists give in support of denominational ministries, acts as the recipient and trust agency for all Convention properties, and provides public relations and news services.
The president of the Executive Committee, unlike the convention president, is a full-time position, leads the committee staff, and is often thought of as the “face” of the convention, particularly during the ad interim period. The president serves at the will and pleasure of the Executive Committee trustees, though he might serve for many years (for example, Morris Chapman from Kosciusko, Mississippi served as president from 1992-2010).