About

The Beginning of the Ekklesia Consortium

For some time a number of Fundamental Baptist pastors and educators have discussed the need for an organization committed to planting and strengthening theologically sound, separatistic Baptist churches. As a result, in late 1998 a handful of committed fundamental Baptist leaders met to discuss needs within fundamentalism and specifically the need for church planting. In June of 1999 this same group met again officially to plan their first church plant. At that meeting the Ekklesia Consortium was born.

The Purpose of the Ekklesia Consortium

The Ekklesia Consortium (EC) was established to glorify God by producing and perpetuating independent fundamental Baptist churches.

The purpose of the EC is an expression of our affirmation of the primacy of the local church – that it is the exclusive institution commissioned to carry out God’s agenda for this age. Therefore, His people must uphold the reproduction and strengthening of local churches as a priority responsibility.

The EC will serve as a recommending agency for church planting. It will also provide fellowship and education opportunities to aid pastors in strengthening local churches.

The Distinctives of the Ekklesia Consortium

Historic Baptist Doctrine

The EC is committed to establishing churches that are not only Baptist in name, but also in doctrine. Therefore, we chose a modified version of the London Baptist Confession (LBC) of 1689 to articulate the doctrinal position of the EC. The LBC is a superb document for two reasons. First, it is well known as a bold and accurate expression of theological orthodoxy. Second, it embodies the faith embraced by the majority of Baptists, from the beginning of the formal Baptist movement in the early seventeenth until the early nineteenth century.

It is unfortunate that the Baptist movement suffered the erosion of doctrinal standards in the nineteenth century giving rise to the man-centered theology and practices that are prevalent today. We long to see Baptist fundamentalism return to the strong theological base found in its historical roots.

Among the many strengths of the LBC is its clear emphasis on:

• The absolute authority and sufficiency of God’s Word
• The uncompromising proclamation of man’s complete depravity and inability, and God’s absolute sovereignty
• The clear exposition of the marvelous doctrines of God’s sovereign grace

Fundamental

The EC is an organization born of and committed to fundamentalism. The cornerstone of fundamentalism is the practice of biblical separation. We are concerned about the inconsistent application of separation in some quarters of fundamentalism. Too often, personal and ecclesiastical separation are applied to practical matters while significant matters of doctrine are ignored. We believe that the doctrine of separation must be applied to matters of both faith and practice and that priority must be given to the preservation of pure doctrine because “belief precedes behavior.”

Other Distinctives

We are committed to establishing and strengthening churches:

• That utilize a traditional dispensational hermeneutic
• That are committed to expository preaching.
• That are passionately evangelistic

This overview does not exhaust the distinctives of the EC. For further information, please request the following EC publication:

The Second London Baptist Confession – In Modern English & Modified by the Ekklesia Consortium to Reflect Its Theological and Philosophical Distinctives.