Christ Over All 5.18 David Schrock • Reading • “Seeking a Convention That Is Not Southern Baptist In Name Only: How to Regain Trust, Rebuild the Trustee System, and Avoid an Impending Exodus of Vocal Conservatives”
Mar 26, 2026
A long-form reading explores failures in denominational leadership, trustee systems, and financial stewardship. It outlines three reforms for rebuilding trust: humble leaders, accountable trustees, and structural reorganization. The conversation examines why pastors leave and how smaller, faith-aligned cooperative units might renew missions and relationships.
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Chattanooga Church That Chose Missions Over Convention
- David Schrock recalls serving at a large Chattanooga SBC church that gave ~50% of its budget to missions while remaining largely disconnected from SBC institutions.
- That church funded hundreds of missionaries directly and chose independence over funneling money through SBC entities, illustrating local choices driving disengagement.
Cooperative Program Is The Convention's Social Glue
- Schrock traces SBC identity to pooled resources since 1845 and the Cooperative Program since 1925 as the glue for missions and education.
- Recent controversies (female pastors, trustee problems, social initiatives) have eroded that shared commitment and driven churches to fund missions outside the SBC.
Three-Step Plan To Rebuild Trust
- Implement three changes: recognize humble leaders, recruit better trustees, and reorganize the convention into smaller cooperative units.
- Start with leadership that confesses errors, then strengthen trustees, then pursue structural subsidiarity to retain churches.
