Post by Guadalupe on Oct 2, 2013 8:38:12 GMT -5
Baptist churches aren't baptizing
Charlie Butts (OneNewsNow.com) Wednesday, October 02, 2013
While the Southern Baptist Convention has a burden for the lost in America, it finds its own baptism rate sinking lower -- an issue a panel will soon be looking into.
For 2012, baptisms reportedly dropped 13 percent, dipping under 300,000. Al Gilbert of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) tells OneNewsNow that is the worst drop in 62 years.
"Some would say that the denominational culture has changed, and perhaps even the reporting seems insignificant," he notes. "And we do have to acknowledge that potentially the numbers may not be accurate because it may be that churches just aren't feeling a need to make the report."
Still, Southern Baptist officials believe the trend might relate to the next generation -- "that maybe we're not identifying the need to help our teenagers and even our older children understand how to publicly profess their faith," Gilbert says. "Are we even making sure that they've understood the claims of Christ and then they have declared that they're publicly a follower of Christ?"
That is one of many possibilities that will be considered by a panel of pastors from all backgrounds and parts of the country established to look into the matter, assess the situation and attempt to find solutions.
While concerns about the lower numbers have been expressed, the NAMB spokesman adds that no one finds the dip alarming.
- See more at: www.onenewsnow.com/church/2013/10/02/baptist-churches-arent-baptizing#.Ukwg_FO3JiU
Charlie Butts (OneNewsNow.com) Wednesday, October 02, 2013
While the Southern Baptist Convention has a burden for the lost in America, it finds its own baptism rate sinking lower -- an issue a panel will soon be looking into.
For 2012, baptisms reportedly dropped 13 percent, dipping under 300,000. Al Gilbert of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) tells OneNewsNow that is the worst drop in 62 years.
"Some would say that the denominational culture has changed, and perhaps even the reporting seems insignificant," he notes. "And we do have to acknowledge that potentially the numbers may not be accurate because it may be that churches just aren't feeling a need to make the report."
Still, Southern Baptist officials believe the trend might relate to the next generation -- "that maybe we're not identifying the need to help our teenagers and even our older children understand how to publicly profess their faith," Gilbert says. "Are we even making sure that they've understood the claims of Christ and then they have declared that they're publicly a follower of Christ?"
That is one of many possibilities that will be considered by a panel of pastors from all backgrounds and parts of the country established to look into the matter, assess the situation and attempt to find solutions.
While concerns about the lower numbers have been expressed, the NAMB spokesman adds that no one finds the dip alarming.
- See more at: www.onenewsnow.com/church/2013/10/02/baptist-churches-arent-baptizing#.Ukwg_FO3JiU
