How can BCI help you take your next step to multiply disciples, churches, and mission?
About BCIContact UsBCI is a partnership of churches working together for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are always eager to affiliate with likeminded churches to reach more for Christ.
why should we join bci?
BENEFITS OF A STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP
The Baptist Convention of Iowa exists to help church leaders multiply disciples, churches, and mission. From the beginning of the Christian movement, many church leaders have found the biblical and practical blessings of connecting with other churches for encouragement, support, and common ministry.
If your church is considering a partnership with the Baptist Convention of Iowa, consider the benefits of a statewide partnership explained below.
strategic stewardship
One of the primary ways we partner together is through financial giving to the SBC Cooperative Program. The majority of all general Cooperative Program receipts given to the Baptist Convention of Iowa are forwarded to the SBC national mission entities: International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, the six Southern Baptist Seminaries, and the Ethics and Religions Liberty Commission.
why join?
Download the “Why Join BCI” PDF for a list of benefits and advantages of a state partnership.
SUPPORT & COACHING FOR PASTORS & CHURCHES
The Baptist Convention of Iowa provides many support services for pastors and churches. Available services include financial coaching, LifePlan, strategic planning, preaching conference, coaching, and many other services.
MINISTRY EQUIPPING EVENTS FOR CHURCH LEADERS
In addition, the Baptist Convention of Iowa facilitates church planting summits, pastor and wife’s retreat, men’s and women’s retreats, statewide youth events, and frequent fellowship meetings for pastors across the state.
SUPPORT FOR SEMINARY EDUCATION
Students receive a 50% tuition discount at any of the six SBC seminaries. The closest seminary to Iowa is Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Full time seminary students affiliated with Iowa churches can apply to receive a $500/semester tuition grant for four semesters.
INSURANCE PLANS
Several staff members may be eligible to receive life insurance and disability insurance as well as access to preferred health (group size minimum is two staff members) and retirement benefits through Guidestone.
the SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
For more than 175 years, Southern Baptists have sought to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people everywhere. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has grown to be a network of more than fifty thousand cooperating churches and church-type missions banded together to make an impact for God’s Kingdom.
THE NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD
BCI affiliated churches participate in significant church planting efforts across the state and around the country. To see the church planting partnership benefits that are available to churches affiliated with the Baptist Convention of Iowa and partner with the North American Mission Board go here.
THE INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
The International Mission Board has missions personnel working in nearly every country of the world and is the largest protestant sending agency. Missionaries serving two years or more are fully funded. SBC connection allows churches to have access to IMB logistical support for short-term missions projects.
HOW DO WE JOIN BCI?
STEPS TO AFFILIATION
The Baptist Convention of Iowa is always eager to partner with gospel-centered, likeminded churches. The process to affiliate with the Baptist Convention of Iowa is straightforward though it may take some time to finalize. We’ve outlined the basic steps below. Contact us today to get the process started.
1. CONTACT BCI TO DISCUSS AFFILIATION
The first step to affiliating with the Baptist Convention of Iowa is determining compatibility of doctrines and ministry practice. Contact BCI Executive Director on any affiliation process or membership questions.
2. CONFIRM UNAFFILIATED STATUS
If your church is affiliated with another denomination or state Baptist convention, please inform their office that your church wishes to no longer affiliate with them.
3. OFFICIAL DECISION BY YOUR CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Your church leadership team must officially decide or vote to A) affirm the Baptist Faith and Message, B) agree to affiliate with the BCI and support its mission, C) agree to financially support the Cooperative Program by giving through the Baptist Convention of Iowa, and D) agree that the church will file an Annual Church Profile with the BCI each year.
4. CONTACT BCI ABOUT DECISION
After your church leadership team makes an official decision to affiliate with the Baptist Convention of Iowa as described above, inform the BCI office of this decision.
5. SBC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
All churches affiliating with the BCI are assumed to also affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. For churches without an SBCID#, BCI staff will help create a new one; for churches that already have an SBCID#, your current number will still work, but our staff will inform the national office of any change in state convention affiliation.
6. AFFLIATION PROCESS COMPLETED
Our staff will inform your church when the affiliation process is complete.