The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 is a statement of beliefs that Southern Baptists hold in common. These beliefs are expressed in 18 articles of faith, ranging from the Scriptures (Article I) to the family (Article XVIII). The BF&M is best described as a confession – a statement of how we as Southern Baptists understand Scripture and all it reveals about life and godliness. [4] BAPTIST FAITH & MESSAGE 2000 The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ unified plan of giving through which cooperating Southern Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated receipts in support of their respective state convention and the Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries. [5] COOPERATIVE PROGRAM The Cooperative Program (CP) is the primary giving model for the churches of The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. Through the Cooperative Program, the SCBO partners with the SBC to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and advance the Kingdom in Ohio and around the world. 50% of all Cooperative Program gifts to the SCBO are given to the Southern Baptist Convention. The remaining fifty percent percent is invested into evangelistic ministries, church planting, and church health/revitalization within Ohio. COOPERATIVE PROGRAM IN OHIO 50/50 SPLIT The local association networks pastors and churches together in a geographical area. These networks create ministries such as support for pastors and training for church leaders, cooperative mission projects like Disaster Relief teams, block parties, student rallies, and more. Churches cooperate by giving to the budget of the Association and participating in the leadership and ministries of the Association. LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS Organizationally, the churches in the New Testament were clearly independent of each other. But organically, they were directly and inseparably joined at the Head. This calls for local churches to respect the independence and interdependence they share with others. Recognizing the Lord’s authority over each autonomous church is at the core of our Baptist heritage. [3] CHURCH AUTONOMY
[3] https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/sbc-life-articles/local-church-autonomy/ [4] https://mbcpathway.com/2022/04/29/what-is-the-baptist-faith-message/ [5] https://www.namb.net/give/the-cooperative-program/
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Understanding the Southern Baptist Convention
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