Definitions

Evangelism and church planting

1. Churches

The definition of a local church appears in the 2000 edition of the Baptist Faith and Message:

"A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of bap¬tized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth." Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation, each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scrip¬tural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture."

GUIDELINES

We believe that every local church is autonomous under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of His inerrant word. This is as true overseas as it is in the United States. Some churches to which we relate overseas may make decisions in doctrine and practice which we would not choose. Nevertheless, we are accountable to God and to Southern Baptists for the foundation that we lay when we plant churches, for the teaching that we give when we train church leaders and for the criteria that we use when we count churches. In our church planting and teaching ministries, we will seek to lay a foundation of beliefs and practices that are con¬sistent with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, although local churches overseas may express those beliefs and practices in different ways according to the needs of their cultural set¬tings. Flowing from the definition of a church given above and from the Scriptures from which this definition is derived, we will observe the following guidelines in church planting, leadership training and statistical reporting.

1. A church is intentional about being a church. Members think of themselves as a church. They are committed to one another and to God (associated by covenant) in pursuing all that Scripture requires of a church.

2. A church has an identifiable membership of baptized believers in Jesus Christ.

3. A church practices the baptism of believers only by immersing them in water.

4. A church observes the Lord's Supper on a regular basis.

5. Under the authority of the local church and its leadership, members may be assigned to carry out the ordinances.

6. A church submits to the inerrant word of God as the ultimate authority for all that it believes and does.

7. A church meets regularly for worship, prayer, the study of God's word, and fellowship. Members of the church minister to one another's needs, hold each other accountable, and exercise church discipline as needed. Members encourage one another and build each other up in holi¬ness, maturity in Christ and love.

8. A church embraces its responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission, both locally and globally, from the beginning of its existence as a church.

9. A church is autonomous and self-governing under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of His Word.

10. A church has identifiable leaders, who are scrutinized and set apart according to the qualifi¬cations set forth in Scripture. A church recognizes two biblical offices of church leadership: pastors/elders/overseers and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

2. New churches

The total number of new churches established during the statistical reporting year. Whether or not new churches are recognized by a convention/union, they must be recognized as newly established churches according to the IMB definition of church. Do not include outreach groups in this number.

3. Total outreach groups

The net number of total outreach groups that existed at the end of the statistical reporting year, after all increases and losses have been considered. Count only those units established with the intent to be developed into churches. In some places, these groups are called preaching points.

4. New outreach groups

The total number of new outreach groups established during the statistical reporting year. Count only those units established with the intent to be developed into churches. In some places, these groups are called preaching points.

5. Baptisms

The total number of individuals baptized within the context of existing churches, new churches and outreach groups during the statistical reporting year.

6. Church membership

The net number of baptized members of existing churches, new churches and outreach groups (if not reported through a sponsoring church) that existed at the end of the statistical reporting year, after all increases and losses have been considered.

Discipling

7. Participants in Church Bible Teaching

The total number of participants in church Bible teaching during the statistical reporting year. A Bible Teaching Ministry is an ongoing study of the Bible within groups such as Sunday School classes, home Bible studies, etc.

8. New believers in discipleship

The total number of new believers (individuals becoming Christians within the past year) who participated in some form of personal discipleship training during the statistical reporting year.

9. Church members in discipleship

The total number of church members (other than new believers) in existing churches, new churches and outreach groups, who participated in some form of personal discipleship training during the statistical reporting year.

Leadership Training

10. Non-residential leadership training

The total number of individuals who participated in non-residential pastoral leadership training programs (such as TEE, correspondence courses, short-term residential training and other on-the-job training programs) during the statistical reporting year.

11. Residential leadership training

The total number of individuals who participated in residential pastoral leadership training programs during the statistical reporting year.

Missions

12. Baptist partner home missionaries

The net number of missionaries deployed among other people groups within the same country at the end of the statistical reporting year, after all increases and losses have been considered.

13. Baptist partner international missionaries