About

Who We Are

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 400 autonomous Baptist churches in Maryland and Delaware as well as several other states. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Columbia, Maryland, including missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism, and more.

The BCM/D is strategically located in the heart of the mid-Atlantic region. From the suburbs of the nation’s Capitol to the mountains of western Maryland to the seashore to the Chesapeake Bay watershed to the urban centers of Baltimore and Wilmington, the BCM/D serves its constituent churches. The two states represent a highly diverse population, with nearly six million people organized in twenty-seven counties.

The BCM/D is organized throughout eleven geographic associations within the two states, and in cooperation with over 420 churches. We are committed to the expressed vision of planting new churches and strengthening existing ones.

Our Mission

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware will intentionally assist in starting and strengthening congregations so that together we can fulfill Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Our Strategies

To accomplish our mission and vision, the BCMD will organize, staff, plan, and budget around three basic strategies.

Church Multiplication:

Church Multiplication exists to glorify God through the extension of His Kingdom by encouraging, enlisting, equipping and empowering BCMD churches, planters and other partners to multiply congregations throughout our multi-state region.

Church Strengthening:

A healthy church is purposefully transforming. Church Strengthening partners with and helps BCMD churches grow healthier as they fulfill Jesus’ commands and our BCMD mission by encouraging them and providing services like coaching, connecting, and consulting.

Acts 1:8 Missions and Evangelism:

Missions and Evangelism assists BCMD churches in developing and implementing effective missions and evangelism strategies that fulfill Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.

Our Core Values

We are a fellowship of Baptist churches that share similar core values and have intentionally chosen to join together in friendly cooperation to reach Maryland/Delaware and the world for Jesus Christ.

In a spirit of trust and cooperation we affirm and value the following:

Our love for Jesus Christ and for one another.
Our commitment to the Bible as the Word of God.
The autonomy of the local church, the local association, the state convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Our commitment to the mission and vision of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Therefore, “we will intentionally assist in the starting and strengthening of congregations so that together we can accomplish the Great Commission.”
Our cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention in achieving our worldwide mission.
Affiliated churches that adopt The Baptist Faith and Message (2000 or 1963) or a similar statement in accord with the beliefs expressed in these Southern Baptist documents.
The continued employment and support of spirit-led BCMD staff who affirm The Baptist Faith and Message (2000 or 1963).
Our belief that the ultimate task to which we are called, and which most assuredly binds us together, is the mission of reaching people for Jesus Christ and making disciples for His kingdom.

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What We Believe

Churches who affiliate with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware ascribe to the Baptist Faith and Message, which serves as a summary of the Southern Baptist faith. They follow either the 2000 statement, which was adopted on June 14, 2000, or the 1963 statement, adopted May 9, 1963, by the Southern Baptist Convention.

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Affiliation with the BCM/D

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) is a fellowship of Baptist churches that share similar core values and have intentionally chosen to join together in friendly cooperation to reach Maryland/Delaware and the world for Jesus Christ. In a spirit of trust and cooperation, we affirm and value our love for Jesus Christ and for one another; our commitment to the Bible as the Word of God; the autonomy of the local church, the local association, the state convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention; and our commitment to the mission and vision of the BCM/D.

We also affirm and value our cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention in achieving our worldwide mission; affiliated churches that adopt The Baptist Faith and Message (2000 or 1963) or a similar statement in accord with the beliefs expressed in these Southern Baptist documents; the continued employment and support of spirit-led BCM/D staff who affirm The Baptist Faith and Message (2000 or 1963); and our Belief that the ultimate task to which we are called, and which most assuredly binds us together, is the mission of reaching people for Jesus Christ and making disciples for His kingdom.

Two Ways to Affiliate in Friendly Cooperation with the BCM/D

We encourage those who desire to affiliate with the BCM/D to affiliate first with a local Maryland or Delaware association. Once the congregation completes the credentialing process for affiliation with the association and submits their first financial contribution in support of our cooperative missions effort, that congregation will be considered affiliated with the BCM/D.

Because the local church is autonomous, a church may petition the BCM/D for affiliation. The petitioning process is outlined below.

Petitioning Process

The church should submit in writing on church letterhead a request for affiliation. The letter should contain: a statement that this request is a result of “official church action,” a statement of the church’s mission and vision, a brief statement as to why the church wishes to affiliate with the BCM/D, the church’s statement of faith and constitution/bylaws. This letter should be submitted to the Executive Director’s office at the BCM/D located at 10255 Old Columbia Road, Columbia, MD 21046.

The Executive Director or his designee will make contact with the pastor of the church to discuss the church’s request for affiliation.
The Affiliation Committee of the General Mission Board will review the request for affiliation. The Affiliation Committee will report to the General Mission Board and make recommendations concerning the church’s request.
Upon approval by the General Mission Board, the church will be extended an official invitation to affiliate with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware.
The affiliation process will be complete when the church submits its first financial contribution in support of our cooperative missions effort.
The newly affiliated church will be encouraged to also affiliate with a local Maryland/Delaware association.