Then lock and load because all SBC leaders have giant, bright red bullseyes on their back. Sadly, it’s part of our system. I diverge from almost all SBC leaders – the number of which includes entity heads, celeb megapastors, influencers, and others – on a few things but not enough to leave or participate in […]
Still no report from the ERLC study task force
The SBC Executive Committee voted back in February to form a study task force to “review the past and present activities” of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). It was reported at the time that the task force would report back to the Executive Committee by September. The EC met today virtually. Not a word was […]
Discussion over our name is not a new thing
If you follow Southern Baptist news (and why wouldn’t you) then you are aware that recently the discussion about changing the name of the SBC to “Great Commission Baptists” has been brought back to the forefront. One of the main reasons for this is the announcement of the theme for 2021 Annual Meeting in Nashville. […]
State conventions and legacy spending; unchecked financial hemorrhaging here in Georgia
The state conventions in the south (and, counting some border states one might take sixteen of these which would account for ninety percent or so of all SBC metrics – churches, members, money, CP giving, mission giving, etc.) have been around for a long time, many preceding the founding of the SBC in 1845. Some […]
Nine Takeaways from LifeWay’s Theology Report (Scott Douglas)
It’s fitting to write this while our church is hosting a weekly homeschool community through Classical Conversations. CC’s motto is “To Know God and make Him known.” It permeates everything they do. I hear my wife singing to her group of “Apprentices” about the Boston Tea Party and the class directly across the hall is […]
Building Better Baptists: Forging a Solution
Life always gets in the way of blogging, and it has happened again. I started a series a few weeks ago called “Building Better Baptists.” My premise is that our problems are not denominational or structural, but heart problems. Today, I read a Facebook post in which a pastor accused our president of defunding the […]
We Are Great Commission Baptists – I HOPE!
I’ve tried to avoid rants recently, but sometimes us old codgers (after Sunday, I’m one year more codgery after all) just need to codger. Our president, J.D. Greear just announced the theme for the 2021 convention in Nashville. We should be rejoicing that there are VOWELS in it, but I saw several people grousing about […]
SWBTS, Baylor, Sue over Alleged Patterson Attempt to Change Foundation Funding
Southwestern Seminary and Baylor are suing the Harold E. Riley Foundation and its trustees over what they allege is an illegal attempt to divert funds from the schools contrary to the foundation’s purpose and bylaws. I skimmed the lawsuit and read the story, but I cannot pretend to have an in-depth knowledge of the facts […]
On Diverse Reading Lists: A Friendly Response to Denny Burk (Griffin Gulledge)
This was originally posted on Griffin’s website, Contra Mundum (griffingulledge.com). It is reposted here with permission. Disclaimer: During my time in Louisville, Denny Burk was the associate pastor of the church where I was a member. We maintain a friendly relationship to this day, and this post should be read as no exception to that. […]
“I don’t see how a Christian could vote for…”
Large majorities of various Christian sub-groups (classify by race, by region, and other means) vote either Republican or Democratic. While I understand the presence of an escape hatch to the statement (“I don’t see”), can a pastor effectively minister to a congregation that has mixed political constituencies? I don’t see how. Could some of the […]
About some state conventions claim that NAMB “abandons true collaborative partnership”
Now that statement is a shot across the bow but it isn’t much of a surprise or shock. About the only meaningful change wrought by the Great Conservative Resurgence Report, which blue ribbon GCR committee was chaired by Ronnie Floyd and adopted overwhelmingly (3 to 1 ratio in favor) by the SBC in annual session […]
James Petigru Boyce, “An Ultra Pro-Slavery Man”: A Response to Dr. Tom Nettles
When the Past Meets the Present By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. “Sitting in Broadus Chapel waiting for my Christian Preaching Class to begin. Oddly enough the man who this chapel is named after would have likely observed me as an individual that he just had to deal with or even in his own words, ‘one […]