Dr. Bill Mackey

I think the single most asked question I’m getting these days is: “What is the Baptist Building’s take on the Great Commission Resurgence or Great Commission Task Force?” Or, the variation might be: “What does Dr. Mackey think about the GCR?” referencing Dr. Bill Mackey, the executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

It’s a question I don’t mind answering although some folks do seem a bit surprised by the answer. I essentially say that we see the Great Commission Resurgence discussion as a positive and healthy one. Discussing the division of Cooperative Program resources is a completely legitimate and important process and it’s good that people are talking about ways Baptists can be more effective in sharing the Gospel. After all, that’s what all Christians need to be about.

It’s also good to see the passion that has been generated by the GCR document and the ensuing conversation about denominational entities at all levels. If this GCR discussion helps us become reenergized about the mission Jesus gave us all, it will have been a tremendous blessing.

I guess I could add that from a communicator’s standpoint, I see the GCR conversation as a great opportunity. I spend a lot of time sharing about how Kentucky Baptists are at work in fulfilling the Great Commission with all kinds of different audiences so when something like GCR comes along that gets people really paying attention, it provides a wonderful opportunity to educate and, hopefully, inspire.

Dr. Mackey has also been very positive about the opportunities being presented by this discussion and is strongly emphasizing the importance of praying for the new Great Commission Task Force. Here’s what he had to say recently about GCR on his own blog, Partners in the Mission:

If you attended or followed the news out the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Louisville last week, you’ve probably heard a lot of discussion about the “Great Commission Resurgence.” This refers to a call from SBC President Johnny Hunt for the SBC to put a renewed focus and energy on fulfilling the Great Commission.

The discussion resulted in a decision by the SBC messengers to ask Dr. Hunt to appoint a task force to closely examine the work of all SBC entities to study how Southern Baptists can work “more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.” The task force is to study the issues and bring a report to the 2010 SBC annual meeting in Orlando.

In a strict technical sense, the study of SBC entities has no direct impact upon the Kentucky Baptist Convention because churches, associations, state conventions and the SBC are all autonomous bodies. In a practical sense, however, this conversation will have an important impact on all Southern Baptist work, including the work of the KBC. As cooperating bodies, we want to work in concert with each other in order to bring glory to God, reach people for Christ and be good stewards of our resources.

Even as the Great Commission Task Force examines the work of national entities we will want to also be looking at own efforts here in Kentucky to fulfill the Great Commission. This is not new for us as a Convention as we periodically go through the process of evaluating our work, establishing goals and objectives and adjusting our structures and methodologies.

Exactly what the final outcome in the SBC or in Kentucky will be, no one knows at this point. The new SBC task force will soon be getting organized and beginning its work and the broader GCR discussion will play out in different ways across the 43 state conventions.

I am supportive of the Great Commission Task Force. Although I initially had some concerns, including the fact that evangelism was not listed explicitly as one of the priorities in the original GCR document, most were addressed in revisions to the document. Dr. Hunt has frequently referred to “intentional evangelism” in his discussions.

Dr. Hunt has also expressed that he has no desire to touch the structure of the SBC and has declared his respect for the responsibility of trustees who are charged with directing the various SBC entities.

We can trust that the Lord is at work through the process. Already, the passion and energy being generated by this discussion has shown that this is an important and, historic time, in the life of our Convention.