We are, in essence, an independent church who has chosen to affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) through the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). Every SBC church is completely autonomous, having independence and freedom from external control and influence. We are not subject to the hierarchical control of any ecclesiastical or denominational body. Each church is self-governed and determines its own affairs. For example:
- Every SBC church chooses its own elders/pastors.
- Every SBC church owns its own buildings and assets.
- Every SBC church determines its own programs and polity.
- Every SBC church is free to contextualize its mission to the unique culture it is part of.
Why then associate with Southern Baptists?
Affiliation with the SBC enables our church to participate in the largest missionary organization in the world! Southern Baptists support approximately 4,800 missionaries who are engaging 787 people groups across the globe. Church planting and evangelism efforts coordinated by NAMB and individual state conventions result in more than 1,000 evangelistic churches planted each year. Working together, Southern Baptists saw 333,341 new believers baptized in 2011! Six Southern Baptist seminaries (Southern, Southeastern, Midwestern, Southwestern, Golden Gate, and New Orleans) educate in excess of 16,000 pastors, missionaries, and future church leaders each year.
