Why Do We Have Denominations?

The annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is in June and already there is controversy. One of the controversies has emerged because a new group of SBC pastors has started a group, the Conservative Baptist Network of Southern Baptists. Their belief is that somehow the SBC is starting to drift left. I am trying very hard not to be snarky here, but that belief is completely unfounded. Nonetheless, controversy is emerging. There is further controversy over authors Beth Moore and Karen Swallow Prior. The Pastor’s Conference of the SBC which meets before the annual meeting of the SBC is also embroiled in controversy. Hosanna Wong, a speaker and artist, was scheduled to appear, but she has become a flashpoint. Some pastors are even threatening to boycott the meeting due to her presence. As if all of that is not enough, the Executive Committee of the SBC has launched an investigation into Russell Moore and the Ethics and Religious Liberty of the SBC. Of course, this is now typical of the SBC. Controversy has become the norm. Frankly, it should be an embarrassment. I do wonder if those who are stirring up such controversies have forgotten how to blush.

I wish the SBC was alone. Controversy has become the norm in many denominations. The United Methodist Church is looking at a schism in their upcoming General Conference. The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) is facing resistance do to the denomination’s move to the left. A new group of Presbyterians is being launched, the ECO (they call themselves A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians). If that is not enough, even Episcopalians have difficulties. Congregations and the denomination are literally suing each other over buildings and property.

I was once asked, “why do we have denominations, can’t we just be Christians?” In looking at denominations in turmoil, I’m tempted to agree. Who would not want to dispense with all of the arguing? Who would not want to dispense with the need to keep a careful watch on a denominational hierarchy in order to prevent them from betraying their principles? Denominations are a whole lot of trouble. They are wellsprings of conflict. Frankly, they can become grand diversions to the work of the Kingdom of God. So why not dispense with them?

I have come to believe that dispensing with them is a mistake. There are tasks that must be done that are beyond the power of one congregation. For example, one of the ministries that is near to my heart is the work the Baptist Children’s Home does in Guatemala. The orphanage founded there literally saves lives. The orphanage has rescued abandoned babies from ditches and from cardboard boxes. They have provided care for them. They have found homes for them. This work is important, vital. It cannot be done by my church alone. It takes dozens, hundreds of churches to marshal the resources necessary to build an orphanage.

One of the tasks the local church is charged with is the sharing of the faith. We believe the Gospel is to be shared around the world. Because we believe the Gospel is for everyone, we send out people to start churches, build homes, and alleviate poverty. The missionaries need support. Beyond salary, missionaries need the things you and I take for granted. They need health insurance, they need plans for when they are no longer able to work, they need to be able to educate their children. Placing just one missionary in another country is a huge expense. It is beyond the ability of a local congregation. Think of the expense it takes to send out hundreds of missionaries. To have missionaries, someone must train them, someone must send them, and someone must provide for them. It takes a large number of congregations to do it.

One thing congregations do not often think of is the training of pastors. Since the Protestant Reformation, training for pastoral ministry has followed an academic track. Before the Reformation, many priests were uneducated, some were illiterate. Much of that began to change with the birth of the modern era. Many universities were birthed explicitly for the training of pastors. When the Protestant Reformation began, it was movement birthed in universities. Martin Luther was a professor, and many of the conversations about the Reformation took place in universities. In our time, the training of a pastor is usually done academically. It is a very expensive undertaking. For denominations that have educational requirements of their clergy, the standard degree requirement is the Master of Divinity (M. Div.). The M. Div. is not your typical master’s degree  It is very long, usually around 90 semester hours. By way of comparison, the MBA from UNC is 62 hours. The MS in Global Health at Duke is 38 hours. The extra hours mean longer time and greater cost. Without denominational support, the cost is borne by the student. The cost to the student matters because a graduate from seminary with significant student loans cannot afford to serve most congregations. Further, if we are serious about what we believe, then seminaries aligned with our denomination are helpful. If we want pastors who fit within our understanding of the faith, then denominational seminaries are a necessity.

Denominations are supposed to be helpful. They are supposed to be guardians of doctrine, senders of missionaries, agencies of mercy, trainers of pastors, and public examples of the love of Christ. It is deeply shameful that many of them cannot fulfill these responsibilities well these days. It is more shameful that they cannot stop making a public spectacle of themselves. The answer, however, is not to do away with them. The answer is to demand they do their work better.