Panama Baptists Unite For Assembly Meetings
Unity was the recurring theme of the recently concluded General Assembly of the Panama Baptist Convention. The word was on everyone’s lips. The re-elected President Francisco Medina emphasized it. The Assembly took decisions punctuated by it. The delegates debated, prayed and fellowshipped together signifying it. However, when it comes to the after meeting living out of unity we Baptists fail grandly at it.
Will genuine unity be evident in 2008 for Panama Baptists?
The Assembly adopted the Executive’s proposed 5-year plan. So we have 5 years to practice cooperation with each other.The foundation and anticipated success in achieving the goals of the Baptist Convention rests on one premise. You guessed it. Unity among the Baptists of Panama.
Over the next 5 years, the Baptist Convention will consider these 3 broad areas:
(a) Equipping pastors, church leaders, and church workers for the task of ministry – Plans are now in the pipeline for the establishment of a Baptist University. Right now though, the present Baptist Seminary needs a lot of work.
(b) Evangelism & Missions will receive greater attention – local and overseas mission efforts will be strengthened; church planting and growth will be promoted, and better financial support for the local missionaries, and one missionary family serving in Africa.
(c ) Unity is a necessity for us to accomplish the first two goals just mentioned. The planned approach to address the divisiveness among us a Baptists was outlined by the President and endorsed by the Assembly.
Roadmap To Unity Among Baptists In Panama
1. Strengthen Doctrinal Unity
If you know anything about Baptists, you are already shaking your head in despair at this one. Doctrinal Unity among Baptists? Come Lord Jesus!
In a Convention where the majority of the Baptists are of Southern Baptist Convention influence, and the rest of us are an assorted blend of Baptists with American stripes and Jamaica Baptist Union dots – 5 years?
2. Encourage Camaraderie and solidarity
Who wants to hang out with a female pastor? While that might take some time to happen, there is hardly much unity among the male pastors. Everyone just seem to be off – ‘you in your small corner and I in mine’. The light in each corner is too weak to make any impact. The thought of joining forces is yet to catch on.
3. Strengthen communication and information
There was some exciting news in this area. The publicity department of the Convention has been hard at work. Their two main publications are a bi-monthly newsletter and their newly launched website. The newsletter Eco-Bautista is the typical Baptist news that members forget to pay for, are reluctant to take, and which is left at the church.
I hope the new website gets more respect than the newsletter. This website has the potential of becoming one of the most powerful communication tools in the Convention. We will be able to communicate our mission and message to the whole world.
Of course, I am very proud of the fact that on the website the Convention acknowledges that the English-speaking migrants from the Caribbean started Baptist Work in Panama. The Jamaica Baptist Union was highlighted in this historical recap as well. I wonder how many persons are aware of the pioneering work of the Jamaica Baptists? We continue to blaze trails across the world for the cause of Christ.
So the Panama Baptist Convention Annual Assembly is behind me. I now prepare for the Annual Assembly meetings of the Jamaica Baptist Union February 20-24 in Kingston, Jamaica. Look out for that story.
In the meantime, drop by the Panama Baptist Convention website. It’s in Spanish but take a look anyway.
Have you got any ideas as to how Baptists can truly address this matter of unity? Share your thoughts…
Until,
Marvia
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