I read a tweet this morning by Jonathan Merritt that spoke triumphally of the fact that LifeWay was closing all its stores. He pointed out that while LifeWay was closing, Jen Hatmaker and others whose books LifeWay had stopped selling were still going strong. As is normal in the Twittersphere, there was a piling-on without […]
LifeWay closing ALL of its stores…this year
LifeWay Christian Resources to close all stores in 2019 Interim CEO makes an epic decision. I suppose one could see this train coming but not so fast and not so completely. ‘See ya online’ I suppose.
It’s Springtime in the Southern Baptist Convention
The Spring Equinox today at 5:58 pm, Eastern Daylight Time. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing…the Doxology, either that or the Sevenfold Amen, except for in Nashville where something about tears and beer have to be worked into every song. The Executive Committee has a guy, the celebrated […]
The SBC Will NEVER Fix the Problems in the SBC
We discuss a lot of issues about what has gone wrong in the SBC. When I first started blogging, we were still experiencing minimal growth and we could argue that while we are not exactly in our halcyon days when the SBC was busting at the seams, we were not doing as badly as “those […]
Any more surprises in store for SBCers this year?
Some unexpected things have already happened. Speculation is rampant, but then, we are SBCers and we always speculate about things. It doesn’t cost a thing. Here you go…from the hacking and plodding SBC hinterlands: J. D. Greear can stir the pot, as we have seen. Any more surprises, JD? Here, take this giant Baptist spoon […]
SBC Voices NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge 2019
Well, nothing brings productivity to halt like March Madness. Unless you’re a Hog fan, but I digress. For those who are interested, we are doing our annual bracket challenge through ESPN. Here’s the information: This message is from John Hibbard who is challenging you to play Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com. Get in on the […]
Our housing allowance: safe for now with appeals court ruling
We clergy love our minister’s housing allowance and want to keep it. It’s our very own Sacred Clergy Tax Break and the most important item in the tax code that recognizes clergy and gives us favorable treatment under the tax law. Unsurprisingly, some want to clean up the tax code and eliminate the tax break […]
Good Ides of March news: Housing Allowance upheld
Our Sacred Clergy Tax Break safe for now. Ruling of the federal appeals court is in. Scintillating commentary to follow when I feel sufficiently scintillated. Court protects ministers from $1B tax lawsuit Here is another report, from a source not many among us read: Appeals Court: Tax-Free Housing for Faith Leaders (But Not Atheists) is […]
I Am Embarrassed by My State Paper, The Baptist Message
One week ago I wrote my first draft of this article, then I didn’t post it because I realized I was angry and my words were not appropriate nor were they even coherent due to my frustration. Thus, I have waited until today when the hard copy of the article to which I was responding […]
Constitutional Amendment? Credentials Committee? How Shall We Address Sexual Abuse in the SBC?
Southern Baptists stand in agreement that we must demonstrate to the world that sexual abuse is a wicked thing, that we will protect and minister to victims, and that the days of cover-up among us have come to an end. When we leave our Annual Meeting in Birmingham, we want to have spoken with one […]
Inquiries, investigations, and registries: It’s complicated
“The subject of a database is complicated and will take time to evaluate” That was J. D. Greear’s statement to the Executive Committee not quite three weeks ago. Seems like ages have past since he named churches and spoke to the group about sex abuse in the SBC. That all Southern Baptists at every level […]
Resources on Sexual Abuse Prevention & Response
One of the things we’ve learned recently is that we need to learn a lot more on the subjects of sexual abuse and prevention. Below I’ve tried to compile a starter list of resources I’ve found helpful and insightful. Please add resources in the comments you’re aware of that will help pastor and churches grow […]