As Southern Baptists prepare to meet in Dallas, many are understandably frustrated that messengers will be asked to approve a $3 million priority allocation of Cooperative Program funds to cover anticipated legal expenses. It’s important for us to remind ourselves how we got where we are. The Original Motion At the 2021 SBC annual meeting, pastor and messenger Grant Gaines moved the creation of a task force to oversee a third-party investigation into the actions of the SBC Executive Committee regarding sexual abuse in the SBC.[1] Below is the full text of the motion:[2] I move that … [Read more...] about Collective Amnesia and the Priority Allocation: Why the Guidepost Investigation Was Necessary and We Must Pay Our Bills
I’m still all in on our cooperative work
I’m still all in on our cooperative work as Southern Baptists. Things are not perfect in the SBC. That’s no secret. We have our issues. We always have. We always will. Until Jesus returns. But I am still committed to cooperating with other like-minded churches for the sake of the gospel. I attended my first Southern Baptist Convention in 2013 in Houston. Fred Luter was the president. He was re-elected for his second term at that meeting. Some guy in an ugly lime green suit was the second vice president. Sorry, Dave! The Calvinism task force presented their report. It was Russell … [Read more...] about I’m still all in on our cooperative work
The Big Votes at #SBC23
Like many of you, I will be in New Orleans next week for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. This will be my 10th SBC annual meeting. I haven’t missed an annual meeting since my first one in 2013 in Houston. My feelings about our upcoming annual meeting are about the same as they always are. I am excited to see friends I haven’t seen since we left Anaheim. I am certainly a little nervous about how everything will turn out once all the votes are counted. I am also hopeful that Southern Baptists will be able to come together, do the business of our convention of churches, … [Read more...] about The Big Votes at #SBC23
Ronnie Floyd did what he had to do
Last night Ronnie Floyd announced his resignation as president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. You can read the Baptist Press article here. The article contains the full text of Floyd's resignation letter to EC trustees and Southern Baptists. Floyd attributed his resignation to “decisions made on Tuesday afternoon, October 5, in response to the 2021 Convention," which he said, "now place our missionary enterprise as Southern Baptists into uncertain, unknown, unprecedented and uncharted waters." EC Chairman Rolland Slade said of Floyd's resignation, “I am saddened by his … [Read more...] about Ronnie Floyd did what he had to do
How should the Ed Litton borrowing sermons situation be handled?
I believe there are significant concerns that have been raised regarding Ed Litton’s use of JD Greear’s sermons. I don’t like the way the concerns first came to light. None of us should be prowling the internet seeking someone to devour. I’ve been guilty of doing that before. It wasn’t right then. And it isn’t right now. We already have an adversary who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. When Christians seek to devour one another, they image the devil, not Jesus. But legitimate concerns shouldn’t be ignored just because they came to light by illegitimate means. That’s the same argument I … [Read more...] about How should the Ed Litton borrowing sermons situation be handled?
A history of SBC presidential elections since 2000
This year's presidential election was very close. Since I only started attending the convention in 2013, I was interested to look back and see how close previous SBC presidential elections have been. Combing through old SBC annuals is tedious, but there are a lot of interesting nuggets to be discovered. I love that Wiley Drake nominated himself for SBC President in 2011. Thus, Bryant Wright is the only SBC president since 2000 who had an opponent when he ran for re-election. As you can see below, the 2016 election between Steve Gaines and J.D. Greear was the closest over the last two … [Read more...] about A history of SBC presidential elections since 2000
What does it mean to have a voice in the SBC?
I just read an article where one of the loudest voices in the Southern Baptist Convention in recent years complained about having no voice. He said that his church gave over $200k last year to the SBC, but they feel like they do not have a voice in convention affairs. His comments caused me to ask, "What does it mean to have a voice in the SBC?" My first SBC annual meeting was in Houston in 2013. I have attended every year since. In the time since my first annual meeting, I've become deeply immersed in the work of our Southern Baptist Convention. I don't serve on any boards or committees at … [Read more...] about What does it mean to have a voice in the SBC?
Why I Am Being Nominated for SBC Recording Secretary
Let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Adam Blosser. My wife, Ashley, and I have been married for ten years. We have four children. I am the lead pastor of Goshen Baptist Church in Spotsylvania, Virginia where I have served for almost five years. And Dave Miller is nominating me for recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention. There are three primary reasons why: 1. I want to serve Southern Baptists. My entire life has been spent in Southern Baptist churches. As a child, my Southern Baptist parents took me to our Southern Baptist church every time the doors were open. … [Read more...] about Why I Am Being Nominated for SBC Recording Secretary
There’s no Looming Storm: A Response to Dr. Mohler
Al Mohler has an article this morning called, “Women Pastors, Women Preachers, and the Looming Test of the Southern Baptist Convention.” I certainly share his convictions regarding women serving as pastors and/or preaching when the church is gathered on the Lord’s Day. I believe Scripture is very clear with the answers it provides to those questions. I agree with Dr. Mohler that 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 are the most helpful biblical texts in answering these questions. But while I share Dr. Mohler’s convictions, I do not share his feeling of alarm. Dr. Mohler quotes from 1 Kings … [Read more...] about There’s no Looming Storm: A Response to Dr. Mohler
Dr. Akin on Critical Race Theory
Dr. Danny Akin recently held a chapel Q&A session with students at Southeastern. As you might imagine, several of the questions he received were about critical race theory. You can watch him answer those questions in the video below. Start at the 38:52 mark. Some highlights of Dr. Akin's response include: First of all, you should always be concerned about any accusation about our institution. They could be true. And they could also be false. And the way that you find out is by being a good thinker and investigating the accusation. Not playing the fool and listening to what are … [Read more...] about Dr. Akin on Critical Race Theory