For much of 2019 and half of 2020, the pastors spent focused time in prayer and counsel as they considered a future association or denominational affiliation for Walnut Creek. This July the pastors announced that Walnut Creek would be officially moving forward with joining the Baptist Convention of Iowa.
“We recognize that as a church we are joining an organization that has an imperfect history and future, however, we are hopeful that joining the BCI will position us well to help make God’s church more fruitful, united, and holy for His glory,” Pastor Tim Greeno.
“We recognize that as a church we are joining an organization that has an imperfect history and future, however, we are hopeful that joining the BCI will position us well to help make God’s church more fruitful, united, and holy for His glory.”
Similar to being a part of GCC, being a SBC member church should not greatly impact day-to-day life in the church. WCC’s strategy, structures, and calendar will remain largely unchanged. The only changes that our members may notice are new opportunities to attend trainings and conferences organized by the BCI, to collaborate with other BCI churches, and to be equipped and resourced in the areas of church planting or post-secondary education.
You can learn more about the BCI on our resource page at walnutcreekchurch.org/bci.
In August 2019, after the GCC National Pastor’s Conference in Bloomington, MN; WCC formed a committee of pastors to begin gathering data for discerning where God might be directing us in the future regarding broader association or denominational affiliation. This committee was encouraged by GCC President John Hopler because it was becoming clear that the future of GCC was uncertain.
Over the course of the last two years, several key developments related to the organizational structure and vision of GCC have resulted in us considering alternate options for affiliation. Our primary reason for considering alternative options is the fact that GCC has been in an evaluation process over the last two years. They have formed two different committees to help assess their future and seek to answer this key question: “What is the most effective way for member churches to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?”
GCC officially dissolved in this November. This decision left autonomous local churches with no denominational affiliation who are now free to continue informal relationships, form new types of legal ministry organizations, or affiliate with existing organizations that serve local churches in the work of the Great Commission.
Throughout our history with GCC, we have enjoyed fruitful relationships with many churches and pastors, and we’re excited to continue working with churches in this network to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ for many years to come.