How Churches Formally Connect with and/or Become Members of the Columbia Metro Baptist Association

Church Network Connections and Church Members: The Columbia Metro Baptist Association desires to be a missional movement of Baptist churches and other evangelical churches in the Midlands of South Carolina whose doctrine and practice is consistent with Baptist traditions. Churches can connect to the Network of the CMBA or churches can become members of CMBA by the processes outlined below.

Church Network Connections: A church who desires to connect with the Columbia Metro Baptist Association network of churches because of (a) doctrinal compatibility with Baptists, (b) a similar commitment to missional engagement, and (c) a desire to be in family fellowship with Baptist churches, may present a request by written letter to the Director of Missions to connect with the Association as a network church. The Visionary Leadership Community can accept churches into the network at any regular or called meeting.

Once a church becomes part of the CMBA network, people from their churches may serve on the leadership communities which are under the supervision and guidance of the Visionary Leadership Community. They are encouraged to attend the Missional Leadership Community meetings and the Annual Session of the Association but may not vote on business matters.

Churches who are already network churches can request by written letter to the Director of Missions to become a Church Member. Their request can then be taken by the Visionary Leadership Community to the Missional Leadership Community or the Association in Annual Session for their approval as stated in Section 3 – Church Members.

Church Members: A Baptist church desiring membership in the Columbia Metro Baptist Association will present a request by written letter to the Director of Missions, accompanied by satisfactory evidence of (a) doctrinal consistency with Baptist doctrine, (b) a constitution showing congregational governance, (c) evidence of missional engagement, and (d) an indicated desire to be in family fellowship with other Baptist churches in the Midlands of South Carolina.

The Visionary Leadership Community shall decide on a recommendation of membership and forward it to the Missional Leadership Community or the Association in Annual Session, whichever meets next. Affirmation by two-thirds of the church representatives present at a Missional Leadership Community meeting or the messengers present at the Annual Session is necessary for an approval for membership in the Association.

Once a church becomes a member of the Association, people from member churches may serve as voting members of the Missional Leadership Community and the Visionary Leadership Community. Member churches may also select messengers to the Annual Session of the Association who may vote on business matters. The number who can serve on the Missional Leadership Community and as messengers to the Annual Session is defined in the constitution and bylaws.

To talk about connecting with and/or becoming a member of the
Columbia Metro Baptist Association, contact Jamie Rogers, Director,
at jamie@columbiametro.org, 803.622.0923, or at CMBA,
806 Universal Dr., Columbia, SC 29224.

About the author 

Kyndra Bremer