WHEREAS, Scripture presents the local church as an embodied assembly of baptized believers who covenant together for worship, discipleship, fellowship, and mission (Acts 2:41-47; Hebrews 10:24-25); and
WHEREAS, Christ entrusted the local church with baptism and the Lord’s Supper as visible ordinances to be practiced within the gathered body (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26); and
WHEREAS, Christ promises his active, validating presence over the collective decisions of his church when, acting as his witnesses, they gather together to prayerfully resolve matters in his name (Matthew 18:17-20); and
WHEREAS, Digital technologies and platforms provide new opportunities for gospel proclamation, biblical instruction, communication, and connection; and
WHEREAS, Technological developments also introduce challenges that may obscure the importance of the gathered church, of church membership, and of pastoral ministry, and may further confuse the goodness of embodied existence; and
WHEREAS, Local churches have sought to make wise use of available technologies for the sake of the gospel, while recognizing that such tools must never be confused with the local church itself; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 9-10, 2026, affirm that—unless providentially hindered—regular, embodied assembly is vital to equipping the saints for the work of ministry and building up the body of Christ, and that this biblical pattern is not fulfilled by digital participation alone (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24-25); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm the responsible use of digital technologies and platforms as aids to ministry, while recognizing that such tools cannot fulfill the biblical functions of the gathered church, cannot replace the personal ministry of pastors and members, and should be used to support and encourage connection to the embodied life of a faithful local church (1 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 John 12); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be administered within the gathered church, under the oversight of pastors, in keeping with the New Testament witness, and not by virtual or digitally mediated substitutes; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage local churches to exercise wisdom, integrity, and theological discernment as they teach and model meaningful membership, mutual accountability, and faithful participation in the embodied life of the church; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we reaffirm that a local church is the embodied assembly of baptized believers, gathered for his glory and gifted for service, for the good of one another, and for the advance of the gospel, and is not merely a virtual or technological experience, nor can any digital form, by itself, constitute a New Testament church (Romans 12:3-13; 1 Corinthians 12).