For those of us not attending the annual SBC meeting in Nashville, it has been a little difficult to get a clear understanding of what happened regarding the vote on who will have the college ministry assignment (national office). Early in the pandemic with churches not meeting, Lifeway Christian Resources lost considerable income due to churches not buying Sunday School literature and they cut $25 Million from their budget. As part of these cuts and layoffs, they announced Lifeway would no longer have a college ministry office and personnel, which at that time was one full time person and four part time contract workers. It had been reduced to the number over the years from as many as eighteen full time staffers. One significant change that many are not aware of is that Lifeway for many years had given approximately $250,000 to college ministry in states outside the south. The loss off this money has been huge for the college ministries in those states.
Since the college ministry assignment had been given to Lifeway by a vote of the Southern Baptist Convention, no other SBC entity could take on the national college ministry role. So, at the SBC meeting yesterday, there was a vote on a recommendation that Lifeway could alter its current ministry assignments. The next recommendation was then that the college ministry assignment be given to the North American Mission Board (NAMB). But, the request for Lifeway to change their ministry assignments was voted down by a vote of 4,448 for and 5,850 opposed. So, that made the recommendation for the assignment to be given to NAMB "moot".
Roland Slade, Chairman of the Executive Committee who brought the recommendations, said that Ben Mandrell of Lifeway and Keven Ezell of NAMB would be asked to work together "to determine a plan to be presented to messengers at a future annual meeting." So, next year at the annual SBC would be the earliest this would be resolved.
IS THIS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING?
This is just my opinion, but I think it is not a bad thing and could potentially be a good thing. The national collegiate ministry office does not direct college ministry done through BCM's and churches. Each state and church determines what they will do. The national office "waves the flag", provides resources, coordinates national meetings and national strategies. So, collegiate ministry will continue to be done at this point. The State Directors of BCM ministries have a group of officers who are taking on some national tasks such as Collegiate Week, etc for the time being..
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD POSSIBILITIES?
1. Possibly, NAMB will clarify and announce what their plans and strategy would be for college ministry. Some college ministry leaders oppose NAMB having the collegiate ministry responsibility because their focus has been campus church plants and have even been viewed as less than supportive of BCM ministries. Where they previously paid the salaries of BCM College Ministers on key campuses outside the south for as many as forty (40) places where local Baptists did not have the resources to do so, those salaries were deleted some years ago.
2. Alternatives can be discussed. One plan advocated by some college ministries pros is for the college ministry leader position by added to the office of the Executive Committee where that person would be able to relate to all agencies on an equal footing instead of just being a small part of one agency. One pastor said, "Take $750,000 and establish an office with a leader and 3 or 4 staffers in different key areas. It is a small price to pay for the future."
3. Hopefully, we will highlight college ministry and have a national dialogue about the need, priority and best steps forward in Southern Baptist life.
WHY DO WE NEED A NATIONAL OFFICE?
If college ministry is directed and done at the state and local church level, why does a national office matter? The simple answer is VISIBILITY, TRAINING AND RESOURCES. First, someone must continually articulate the need for reaching college students and to show the good things that are happening. Second, a national office can be key in providing training both in national settings and in state and local areas. Everybody should not have to reinvent the wheel. Finally, training materials for both College Ministers and students are a must. I am told that NAMB has begun producing some blogs, podcasts, and doing some personal coaching. That is a plus and may that continue to grow.# As financial cutbacks happen in many places, volunteers and part timers in college ministry become more and more significant, as well as helping new full time College Ministers start strong. Plus, we must do all we can to help College Ministers to serve effectively for the long term.
These are just my thoughts. I look forward to hearing many others. LET'S HAVE THE CONVERSATION!
# I had said in my first edition of this that no SBC entity was developing materials to help College Ministers. My friend, Paul Worcester, has made me aware of efforts NAMB is making in this area and that more is to come. I would apologize for the inaccuracy of that first statement.
Arliss Dickerson's brand new book, A COLLEGE MINISTRY SUCCESS FORMULA, is available at amazon.com/dp/B091F5S1RF. The new classic, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT COLLEGE MINISTRY, is at amazon.com/dp/B08CMD9CXX
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