Editorial: Why stick with our denomination?

As politicians and pundits analyze the results of yesterday’s elections, Baptists have their own introspection to do. But we shouldn’t get lost in it. There is other work to do as well.

Asking, ‘Why?’

Just as Republicans are studying why they lost so many races across the country yesterday and what they need to do differently going forward, Baptists and other denominations in decline are asking similar questions: “Why? What do we need to do differently?”

I asked a couple of my own “why” questions on Facebook yesterday.

1. Referring to the upcoming 2026 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting: Given the widespread apathy toward and distaste for denominational stuff, why are we who attend denominational meetings still bothering with it?

2. Are those who aren’t still bothering with it closer to the right posture toward denominations than those of us “staying in the fight?”

Yes, there are underlying assumptions with each question, and I won’t spell them out here.

I received several responses to the first question, online and off.

As background for the first question: It is a regular talking point among those most involved in denominational work that many Christians, maybe most, don’t care about denominational stuff anymore.

Most Christians don’t appear to want to spend their time, energy, and resources—the three things denominational workers spend so much of—to maintain their denominations.

If the tide is turning—or has turned—against maintaining denominations, why are people like me still involved in their maintenance?

What we know

First, what we already know without having to ask.

We generally have a good idea why things are the way they are. Republicans knew weeks and even months ago the leader of their party was negatively affecting their polling numbers. They also knew some of the specific complaints their own voters had with them.

In the same way, we know plenty of reasons Christians are less interested in the stuff of denominations. Here are just a few.

Many don’t see denominations accomplishing much of importance anymore. Except infighting. We are very accomplished at that. And it’s not attractive. To much of anyone. Our infighting has worn out, driven out, and repelled many people.

Many have participated in the inner workings of their respective denominations, only to experience their role as rubber stamping decisions that ended up not moving much of anything much of anywhere.

Idealists resent how much time, energy, and resources it takes to maintain our denominations and related institutions, and they opt to redirect their time, energy, and resources toward those things they believe more effectively accomplish a more compelling mission.

Denominational loyalists often feel a corresponding resentment toward such idealists. They feel abandoned, left holding the bag of denominational maintenance and with fewer resources with which to do it. Some also feel betrayed.

These reasons and plenty more make denominational sustainability ever more difficult.

And those working to sustain their denominations know it.

So, why do we do it?

Why we do it

There are as many reasons people “stay in the fight” to maintain their denominations as there are reasons denominations are so difficult to maintain today. Some of those reasons are cynical and even contrary to Scripture, such as control, power, and money.

Some reasons are basic to human nature, such as not knowing any different. We stick with what we know.

There are also principled reasons, such as mission and heritage.

One Facebook respondent wrote yesterday: “Denominations, when they’re at their best, help to create a common yoke, theologically, that helps their churches and congregations understand what a follower of Jesus is in their tradition.”

Is this still needed?

Another responded that denominations provide a space for like-minded encouragement. However, to be sustainable, the encouragement must outweigh the discouragement so many feel within their given denomination these days. For many, it doesn’t.

Others referred to the strength in numbers a denomination affords. Cooperative ministry made Baptists—particularly of the Southern variety—a missions and theological education juggernaut.

Is this still needed? If so, from whom?

I don’t have answers to these questions, but I do have a question I think may need to take precedence: What one thing must a Christian denomination accomplish if it can accomplish only one thing?

A denomination’s what and why

Christian denominations as we understand them today have not always existed, and there’s no reason to believe they will go on existing. The continuous fracturing of denominations is one evidence.

But a look at human history demonstrates religious structures do seem to be inevitable. If today’s denominations cease to exist, other structures will arise to take their place. And if those structures don’t want to become what denominations are today, they will have to guard against it vigilantly—and still probably become something people don’t like.

Whatever the structure, whether it be a denomination, collaborative, or movement, it very likely will need to be, as one Facebook respondent wrote, nimble, narrowly focused, efficient, and not reliant on congregational growth for funding.

But this still doesn’t answer the question what one thing a Christian denomination must accomplish if it can accomplish only one thing.

I will be so bold as to answer that question now. Every Christian denomination must accomplish this one thing: following Jesus, proclaiming Jesus, bearing Jesus in and to this world.

Whatever particular understanding a denomination has of those terms, that one thing is a Christian denomination’s what and why. It is the mission that should compel loyalists and idealists alike.

Diminished engagement with what we value is a signal we haven’t given people sufficient reason, much less a compelling reason, to care about what we value. And this suggests we may not know the reason ourselves.

You may have noticed I haven’t answered the question I asked in the headline: Why stick with our denomination. That’s because those wanting to maintain the denomination need to answer that question for those who they want to stay.

For those sticking with our denomination, the work we need to do is to get clear on the mission that compels us. And then we need to get after that mission. I know, I know. But how? That’s for another editorial or three.

Eric Black is the executive director, publisher, and editor of the Baptist Standard. He can be reached at [email protected]. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.