Every individual believer needs to be a functioning member of a local church. It is through local church life that many of the ordinary means of grace are administered and received: the sacraments, accountability, submission to leadership, and church discipline, to mention just a few. Without the local church, personal autonomy and even rank individualism run free
I believe with all my heart that in the same way, local churches need to be associated with other likeminded churches—for very similar reasons. Without some kind of associationalism, local churches are in effect little papacies under the control of one man (or a select few men). The modern rise of non-denominationalism (coming of age in the 1960s and 70s) has poured gasoline on the fires of spiritual anarchy and individualism.
Our church became a member of an old established denomination in 1985. In the mid 90s that denomination was trending toward spiritual liberalism. We, and a few other biblically conservative churches in that association, fought against that spiritual migration. Upon leaving that denomination we sought to unite with a handful of groups, but couldn’t find a fit. We started a small association with three member churches, but one turned in a profoundly different direction. With only two member churches, and no other immediate prospects, that association folded.
It was at that time (2000), FIRE (Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals) was forming. It was and is a perfect fit. We were officially welcomed into the fellowship early in 2001. There were fewer than 20 members at that time. FIRE has grown over the last 25 years having 125 churches in membership. Besides the annual international fellowship conferences, there are a number of regional fellowships that have smaller, more intimate, regional fellowship conferences. Our region, (Southwest) is the largest region. Our church has hosted several of the SW regional fellowship conferences.
In 2016 I was asked to join the board of directors. Our elders affirmed that commitment. A single term on the FIRE board is 3 years. A board member may be invited to remain on the board for a second consecutive term, and then again for a third consecutive term before “terming out.” If you do the math, you might notice that 2025 is the end of my third consecutive term. After nine years, I “term out” this May at the international fellowship conference in Atlanta (that Braden and I will be attending).
Though I will no longer be on the board, our church will continue in our solid commitment to FIRE. Pray, as we may be hosting the SW regional fellowship conference in October of this year.