15
15
Organizational Structures
In that same "Manifesto," Ketcham declares, "This is an Association of churches.
One of the weaknesses of the old Baptist Bible Union was the fact that it was an association
of individuals."
57
In order to be a member of the BBU, "Individuals were required to make
application for membership by signing a card which committed them to an acceptance of the
Confession of Faith. Anyone who thus signed was ,,in."
58
In this sense the GARBC was a
tightening of accountability in the organization.
On the other hand, the GARBC steered clear of "clanking machinery." Ketcham argued
for a:
. . . free wheeling fellowship, . . . sufficiently cohesive to hold us together in one great
task of providing a ,,City of Refuge for Baptist churches which could no longer
endure the machinery of a Convention, even if it was a good Convention.
59
The resulting structure in the GARBC would be a Council of 14 (later 18),
usually pastors (though later, 4 could be agency employees). The Council moves to approve
(or now, "partner with") mission boards, schools, social agencies, etc. The churches have the
final say, usually of course going along with the Council they elected.
60
This balancing act has been difficult for the GARBC to maintain through the
years. At times the organization seems to lack the authority to accomplish much as a
movement. To others, the system looks like a quasi-convention format, making the most
independently minded skittish or upset.
61
Nonetheless, it moved the GARBC away from both
Convention "conventions" and personality driven leadership, both of which were difficult for
the BBU to work out.
Separatism
The BBU protested long and hard that it was not a separatist movement:
57
"Manifesto," 4.
58
Ketcham, "Re: BBU," 1.
59
Ibid., 4.
60
Ketcham, "How the GARBC Operates" (pamphlet, Schaumburg, IL: GARBC,
no date; published as official "Literature Item #4").
61
For an example of this problem, see David A Norris booklets, "Struggle
Within the National Organization of the GARBC," and "Churches at Risk: Problems at the
National Level of the GARBC" (1988 and 1990, published by Norris in Ames, IA).