A Closer Look

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware Proposed Operating Document
(Approved at the BCM/D Annual Meeting 11/2003)

We are a fellowship of Baptist churches that share similar core values and have intentionally chosen to join together in friendly cooperation to reach Maryland/Delaware and the world for Jesus Christ.

In a spirit of trust and cooperation we affirm and value the following:

  • our love for Jesus Christ and for one another.
  • our commitment to the Bible as the Word of God.
  • the autonomy of the local church, the local association, the state convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
  • our commitment to the mission and vision of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Therefore, “we will intentionally assist in the starting and strengthening of congregations so that together we can accomplish the Great Commission.”
  • our cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention in achieving our worldwide mission.
  • affiliated churches that adopt The Baptist Faith and Message (2000 or 1963) or a similar statement in accord with the beliefs expressed in these Southern Baptist documents.
  • the continued employment and support of spirit-led BCM/D staff who affirm The Baptist Faith and Message (2000 or 1963).
  • our Belief that the ultimate task to which we are called, and which most assuredly binds us together, is the mission of reaching people for Jesus Christ and making disciples for His kingdom.

There are two ways to affiliate in friendly cooperation with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware:

  • We encourage those who desire to affiliate with the BCM/D to affiliate first with a local Maryland/Delaware association. Once the congregation completes the credentialing process for affiliation with the association and submits their first financial contribution in support of our cooperative missions effort, that congregation will be considered affiliated with the BCM/D.
  • Because the local church is autonomous, a church may petition the BCM/D for affiliation.  The process is as follows:
  1. The church should submit in writing on church letterhead a request for affiliation. The letter should contain: a statement that this request is a result of “official church action,” a statement of the church’s mission and vision, a brief statement as to why the church wishes to affiliate with the BCM/D, the church’s statement of faith and constitution/bylaws. This letter should be submitted to the Executive Director's office at the Baptist Center, 10255 Old Columbia Road, Columbia, MD 21046.
  2. The Executive Director or his designee will make contact with the pastor of the church to discuss the church’s request for affiliation.
  3. A committee of the General Mission Board will review the request for affiliation. The Committee will report to the General Mission Board and make recommendations concerning the church’s request.
  4. Upon approval by the General Mission Board, the church will be extended an official invitation to affiliate with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware.
  5. The affiliation process will be complete when the church submits its first financial contribution in support of our cooperative missions effort.
  6. The newly affiliated church will be encouraged to also affiliate with a local Maryland/Delaware association.


A Closer look at the Southern Baptist Convention

Your BCM/D is one of 42 state conventions and fellowships that work with the national Southern Baptist Convention, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn.
 
Since its organization in 1845 in Augusta, Ga., the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has grown to 16.3 million members who worship in more than 43,024 U.S. churches.

Southern Baptists sponsor about 5,200 national missionaries serving the United States, Canada, Guam, and the Caribbean,as well as sponsoring more than 5,375 internationalmissionaries who work among 1,225 people groups all over the world.

The SBC manages its worldwide efforts through 12 boards and agencies that are organized for various ministry endeavors. Support for its work comes from contributions through the Cooperative Program (CP Missions), the plan of giving that enables individual churches to share in these extensive national and international ministries.
 
Southern Baptists firmly hold to the principle of church autonomy and self-rule. 

Accordingly, the SBC does not ordain ministers, assign staff to churches, levy contributions to denominational causes, dictate literature and calendar or assign persons to churches according to place of residence. These are local church matters.

Though a church may be a Southern Baptist church without affiliating with a state convention or local association of Southern Baptist churches, it is customary to participate in all three.

Each of these groups of Southern Baptists share a common core of basic biblical beliefs and a commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world.