Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter Connects with CMBA

Alice Drive Baptist Church (ADBC) has connected with CMBA under the newly updated category of Church Network Connections. ADBC’s primary Baptist family relationship remains with the Santee Baptist Church. It has chosen to connect with CMBA “to formalize the information relationship we have with our peer size churches in the Columbia Metro Association” according to Lead Pastor Clay Smith. Check out this church at https://alicedrive.church/.

Lead Pastor Clay Smith

“Alice Drive already has an ongoing relationship with three churches in our association, and is making a strategic contribution to our family of congregations,” said George Bullard, CMBA Director. “Clay Smith is a great leader. We are glad to have him, his staff, and this outstanding church as part of our family.”

ADBC has two campuses in Sumter County. They have a coaching relationship with with a CMBA church, and they are in a peer group with several churches in the Midlands of South Carolina — two of which are in CMBA.

CMBA has for many years had two categories of members. Last year it revised and updated the category now known as Church Network Connections. Several congregations are looking at this membership category and may be applying for this type of connection with CMBA. This category is intended for churches who want to be a part of the missional movement developing within the CMBA family fellowship.

For more information about the CMBA membership category known as “Church Network Connections” contact George Bullard at GeorgeBullard@ColumbiaMetro.org or 803.622.0923.

Columbia Metro Baptist Association
Process for Accepting New Churches-in-Association
Article IV – Membership

Section 1 – 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 in the Section 2 and Section 3 below.

Section 2 – 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.

Section 3 – 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.

About the author 

Kyndra Bremer