Documents & Helpful Resources

What is GABN?

It stands for the “Greater Atlanta Baptist Network.” We are a theologically-driven network of local churches who strive to encourage one another through pastoral fellowship and toward faithful ministry.

What do you mean by “theologically-driven”?

There is a temptation for pastors to focus on church growth above all else. We think faithfulness to the Bible takes priority. Sound theology drives robust evangelism and discipleship. We aim to be shaped by the message of the Bible and not the latest methods.

Are you a new association?

Previously known as the Atlanta Association of Southern Baptist Churches, we split from the Atlanta Baptist Association in 2001 when they refused to dismiss two churches who taught that a homosexual lifestyle is consistent with biblical ethics.

What does GABN do?

Each month we host a Pastors Fellowship at various churches in the network. We also provide grants to churches in need (usually a very young church or a revitalization work). We also host an annual pastors retreat.

Who can be a member of GABN?

There are two conditions for membership: First, you must affirm The Baptist Faith and Message (2000). Second, you must refuse participation in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Third, you must financially support the GABN.

Why are you affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention?

Many of our churches have roots in the SBC. We appreciate the doctrinal fidelity of the SBC as a whole. It seems wise that we cooperate for the spread of the gospel in our own backyard.

What is your relationship with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board?

The GBMB allows associations to nominate a member to sit on the Executive Committee. GABN can also facilitate the entrance of a GABN church into the GBMB.

How is GABN led?

We are led by an administrative team that meets a few times throughout the year. The voting members include a moderator, vice-moderator, treasurer, and no more than five officers-at-large. Every officer is elected by GABN to a term of one year.

How are GABN leaders chosen?

The moderator brings recommendations to the administrative team. Usually, officers are pastors that faithfully attend Pastors Fellowships and lead their churches to contribute to GABN. All officers must be affirmed by the GABN as a whole.

When does GABN meet?

The entire network is invited to an annual meeting each September.

What happens at the annual meeting?

We approve a budget, vote on new officers and incoming churches, and recognize churches that have disbanded or left the network. We also receive an update on the overall status of GABN. The annual meeting is a dinner for pastors and their wives .

Does GABN have staff?

Though GABN is free to hire staff, our Network Missionary is currently a volunteer. We budget for financial assistance, but this usually comes to less than a few hundred dollars annually. We have chosen to rely on volunteer leadership so the funds given by churches can go directly to churches in need and to fund events like the Pastors Retreat and annual dinner.

What can you tell me about the Pastors Fellowship?

It takes place once a month, usually on Wednesday from 12–2. The host church provides lunch (making an RSVP necessary). Pastors and pastoral staff are invited to attend. The agenda varies but includes some combination of personal updates, prayer, and discussion about ministry in general or a book we are reading together. For more detailed information, including a schedule of upcoming meetings, please check out the events page.

What do I need to know about the budget?

The largest line-item in the budget is our “Strategic Venture Fund.” We devote the majority of receipts to supporting church plants or revitalization work. Churches and plants may occasionally have other small needs as well. For that reason, we budget for a “Special Needs Care Fund” to allow the Network Missionary to respond quickly to various needs and a “Strategic Contingency Fund” that allows the Administrative Team to meet needs.

What do you do with extra funds?

We aim to accurately budget, thus limiting the existence of surplus funds. If we have surplus funds at the end of the fiscal year, we will divide those monies between two focuses: financing retreats and special needs that arise and are outside the scope of our budget.

How can I apply for funding from GABN?

Any GABN church is welcome to request funds. Therefore, if you are not a part of GABN, the first step is to apply for membership. When it comes to venture funding, please read our Funding Roadmap (found below). It will help you better understand the work we are most likely to financially support.

The Greater Atlanta Baptist Network is a theologically-driven network of local churches committed to the protection and proclamation of the gospel. We exist to encourage pastoral fellowship and faithful ministry. When possible and appropriate, we provide limited funding to churches and church plants.

The funding application below is the first step in soliciting funds. The GABN administrative team will review your application and may reach out to you for an additional interview. Please know that GABN is a volunteer network. If your application is time sensitive, feel free to reach out to our Moderator, the GABN Missionary, or any member of the Administrative Team.

Before you apply for funding, please note we believe the churches most likely to receive God’s blessing are those with leaders whose philosophy of ministry aligns as closely as possible with God’s inerrant Word. With this in mind, we prioritize our gifts to those works that demonstrate the following:

1. Commitment to Expositional preaching:

   Expositional preaching takes a particular passage of Scripture as its subject for the sermon. This does not neglect the value of preaching on topics (Christians need clear application to address the topics we all face every day). But most of all, Christians need the simple exposition and application of the Word of God.

2. Careful Attention to Church Membership:

   Churches that practice membership and discipline know who the members of the church are and hold those members accountable to live pure and holy lives. Membership is a biblical principle found throughout the Scriptures. Though each church may practice membership and discipline slightly differently, every church should know which Christians are entrusted to their care and should seek to discipline them in grace and godliness.

3. Biblical Church Government:

   According to the BF&M 2000, the scriptural officers of the church are pastors and deacons. Wherever possible, churches should have more than one pastor or elder. This plural leadership is a gift to the local church, support to the main preaching pastor, and best models the practice we find in the New Testament.

4. Biblical and Theological-Mindedness:

   Paul told Timothy to pay attention to his life and his teaching (1 Tim. 4:16). Jude urged the early Christians to contend for the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). We aim to partner with ministries eager to protect and promote good theology. This is the foundation of any lasting ministry and will inform both our evangelism and discipleship.

5. Engaged, Energetic Leadership:

   We are eager to know the churches, pastors, and staff in our network. We invite all pastors of GABN churches to join us for a monthly Pastors Fellowship where we can know, encourage, and support one another. These relationships are valuable to us and, we trust, are valuable to the Lord as well. We want to support leaders willing to be engaged in our network and who demonstrate the passion, godliness, energy, and wisdom to lead a congregation.

6. Strategic presence:

   Because our funds are limited, we want to support the most strategic work possible. We know this is a very subjective test, but we aim to ensure GABN funds serve places in dire need of a solid, gospel witness.

7. Financial need: Some workers have many streams of support, some few. The level of financial support you are currently receiving may be a factor in whether or not GABN provides you additional funds.

We pray God blesses GABN with increased resources so we can support as many good works as possible. We are doing everything we can to encourage ministry faithful to God’s Word and committed to GABN’s overall vision. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact our Moderator, GABN Missionary, or any member of the Administrative Team.

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