HARRISBURG, PA (BRN)- At their May 17, 2024, meeting at the Baptist Resource Network (BRN) Hub in Harrisburg, BRN Executive Board members heard Annual Church Profile (ACP) statistics, discussed a corporate statement in the face of the Law Amendment, and heard of recent efforts to take the BRN to the “Next Level.”
Dr. Barry Whitworth, BRN executive director, shared the highlights of the 2023 ACP results. Out of 304 churches eligible to report the ACP, 224 churches (74%) reported during the open period, and one reported after it closed.
From this report, he shared that the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee reported BRN’s Cooperative Program giving for 2023 at $1,208,833, but BRN’s records indicate that its year-end actual giving for CP through the BRN was $1,103,589, a discrepancy of $105,244. The discrepancy may be due to different recording times (fiscal versus annual) or churches may have inadvertently inflated their giving, he said.
The ACP also reported 20,585 members across Pennsylvania/South Jersey, up from 18,000 members reported in 2022. In addition, almost 21,000 people are reported as being weekly worship attenders; 10,239 in weekly worship attendance online; 9,842 were recorded in Sunday school/Bible study attendance, and 4,802 were enrolled in VBS.
“The star of the ACP report is baptisms,” Whitworth reported. “We had a hint that we would be up, and we were right.” In 2023, churches reported 1,602 baptisms, a 60% increase over 2022, a 109% increase since 2021, a 203% increase over 2020, and an 11% above pre-Covid in 2019.
“Last year’s baptisms were the highest reported since 2014,” he said, pointing to the last decade. “The baptism to member ratio in 2023 was one baptism for every 13 church members, which that number shifted from 2022, which stood at one per every 15 members.”
This year’s ACP had questions regarding issues surrounding sexual abuse. Each church in the BRN were given questions to which they could respond, “Yes,” “No,” or “Prefer Not to Answer.”
When asked the question, “Does your congregation require Background Checks for everyone working with children and students?”, 58% of SBC churches said, “Yes.” In comparison, BRN churches’ “Yes” response for this question was 93%.
When asked the question, “Has your staff, and those working with children, been trained in reporting cases of sexual abuse?”, 36% of SBC churches said, “Yes,” while 72% of BRN churches said, “Yes.”
When asked the third question, “Has your staff, and those working with children, been trained to care for survivors?”, only 16% of SBC churches said, “Yes,” while 34% of BRN churches affirmed that their staff and workers were trained in this capacity.
“Because of this Board’s commitment to take the issue of abuse seriously, our state convention finished first amongst all 41 state conventions in their reporting of these abuse questions provided on the ACP,” Whitworth declared. “I highly commend you, and the work of our team, for being the best amongst Southern Baptists in doing everything we can to protect the vulnerable against abuse.”
The Executive Board also discusses a proposed statement regarding the Law Amendment, which is facing a vote at the June 11-13 SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis. Once approved, the Board-crafted statement, which addresses what it means to be in “friendly cooperation” as it relates to the woman pastor issue, will be shared via various communication streams to BRN churches.
In addition to the Law Amendment statement, the Administrative Committee and the full Executive Board approved the pursuit of a partnership between Lancaster Bible College/Capital Seminary and Graduate School and the BRN. The partnership, explained Whitworth, would mutually benefit the two organizations, opening opportunities for students to serve and churches to have access to more resources.
In the Finance Committee report, Andy Weber, BRN’s director of finance and operations, shared that CP giving from January through April of this year is the highest in BRN history. Executive Board members affirmed the successful audit report for 2023, as well as the Cooperative Program year-end report.
The Board also approved two new Board members: Jack Bowser, a layperson from Harvest Church, Kittanning, and Darius Nable, pastor of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Cherry Hill, N.J.
In other news, Whitworth shared, “We have an award-winning podcast produced by Macala Mays, our associate editor of BRN United and our podcast producer!” In April, the BRN won second place in the Baptist Communicators Association’s podcasting category for the Celebrating Cooperative Missions Podcast.
“What a sweet affirmation of the Kingdom work happening in PA/SJ!” Whitworth said.
Whitworth also explained this year’s emphasis on BOLD, based on Proverbs 28:1, “The righteous are bold as a lion.” The theme ties into the organization’s effort to help churches move to their next level, he said, explaining the BRN’s three-year goal to see 150 individual churches completing a next step by the end of 2025.
To date, 104 total individual churches have taken a next step, with 22 churches taking two steps, 11 churches taking three steps, 3 churches taking four steps, and 1 church taking 5 steps. Altogether, 161 total next steps have been taken.
Whitworth also reported the BRN is currently in conversation with at least six congregations and four new church plants who are seeking BRN/SBC affiliation. He urged the board members to share the web page, www.brnunited.org/affiliate, with potential churches who may want to affiliate. This page introduces a new digital affiliation process.
Citing Philippians 3:12-14 and Deuteronomy 1:6-7, Whitworth shared about his aspirations for BRN 3.0, an effort to take the BRN itself to the “Next Level.” Presently, he and Andy Weber are evaluating BRN’s current delivery systems (“delivery mechanisms”) to “make sure we have all the right parts to deliver the resources and services that our churches expect us to deliver.”
Toward that aim, they are assessing job descriptions among current team members, the HubSpot database and management tool, and a forthcoming Customer Journey tool being developed to engage and reengage churches across the BRN.
Whitworth also shared about the October 8 Accelerate Conference, which will feature the theme, “Bold: Next Level.” Whitworth and Dr. Larry Anderson will serve as the keynote speakers, and there will be twelve one-hour breakout sessions that will challenge BRN churches and pastors to be bold in every aspect of ministry. The BRN’s “Next Level Blueprint,” which is designed to encourage and assist BRN churches to move to their next level, also will be unveiled.
David Ludwig, BRN’s associate director of church health and discipleship, gave testimony about the D-Life Bootcamps he has been holding throughout the network, from Erie to Toms River, N.J.
Explaining D-Life is biblical, simple, and reproducible, Ludwig said it is a process for churches to train every member to be a disciple-maker. The only curriculum for D-Life is the Bible.
“If your church is not reaching your community and making disciples, then the church will cease to exist,” he stressed. Interested churches can contact Ludwig at davidl@brnunited.org.
Dr. Brian King, pastor of Ezekiel Baptist Church and president of the Executive Board, encouraged fellow board members to “Be holy, because [God is] holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
“God chose us to transform us … thank God for His mercy to take us out of darkness and into His living hope,” he said. “Let’s love one another constantly.”
The next board meeting will be held October 7 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey at 604 Station Road in Grantville, Pa.
