Most people — including pastors and church leaders — have little experience conducting investigations into sexual harassment complaints or other allegations of misconduct. In my HR career, I have conducted or advised on many. One of the most egregious ways of mishandling an investigation is to fail to start one. The Guidepost report brings to light many of these failures. One that every SBC church leader could learn from is the failure of the Counseling Pastor (CP) at FBC Woodstock to take appropriate action in 2010 when he first learned that Dr. Hunt had engaged in sexual misconduct. You … [Read more...] about How would you handle a sexual misconduct investigation?
What was lost has been found: Spurgeon’s earliest sermons
The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon are back in production after a nearly two-and-a-half-year hiatus. Originally planned as a 12-volume set, the project will only produce 9 volumes — one per notebook of Spurgeon’s earliest sermons. I reviewed Volume IV earlier this year and noted what had changed under the new editor and research team. With the recent publication of Volume V, I think the trajectory for the final four editions is set. I asked Broadman and Holman Publishers for a review copy, and here’s what you can expect from it and the series going forward. As with each previous edition … [Read more...] about What was lost has been found: Spurgeon’s earliest sermons
Bunyan’s Badman: Why buy the cow when the milk is cheap?
John Bunyan is one of the most famous Baptists in history, though I suspect he’s less well-known today than at any other time in the last 50 to 100 years. Google would seem to agree. In case the name is unfamiliar to you, Bunyan is famous for writing Pilgrim’s Progress. This is a beloved Christian allegory first published in 1678. It has been translated into over 200 languages. (By comparison, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has been translated into just shy of 90.) I’ve read Pilgrim’s Progress a few times, and it’s widely available in modern and children’s editions that update … [Read more...] about Bunyan’s Badman: Why buy the cow when the milk is cheap?
Reading some Spurgeon in 2021
After going on a nearly two-and-a-half-year hiatus and transitioning to a new editor and research team, The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon are back with Volume IV. Courtesy of Broadman and Holman Publishers, I'm glad to bring you up to speed on the latest addition to this series. First, a little background on Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He was one of the most influential preachers of the 19th century. He regularly preached before crowds of more than 5,000 in his church in London (once to a crowd of over 23,000 people). He also founded a college, an orphanage, and was a strong advocate for … [Read more...] about Reading some Spurgeon in 2021
Are you feeling called to Charlestown, Indiana?
I clicked on a link to a page on the SBC website recently and discovered that the link was broken. What happened? Well, it seems that the entire site has been overhauled, and it looks pretty good. I’m surprised the Baptist Press didn’t cover it. It’s been a while since I shared a job listing, so, to draw your attention to the sleek, new SBC.net, and to highlight a church in need of a pastor, here I go again with some light comedic flair. Has the present pandemic left you drawing an extra $600 of unemployment (until recently)? Is your job situation shaky? Do you feel called to be an … [Read more...] about Are you feeling called to Charlestown, Indiana?
Are you feeling called to Gillette, Wyoming?
Did you know that the SBC website has church job listings throughout the country? Some of those vacancies could use a little extra advertising, so I’ve taken it upon myself to highlight one every once in a while (with a modicum of humor mixed in). Go west, young man, to Westside Baptist Church in Gillette, Wyoming. The church posted an announcement for a Lead Revitalization Pastor on September 19, and if it wasn’t obvious from the title, the 50-ish-year-old church is looking for revitalization. The candidate must be an “energetic visionary,” which is fitting for the “Energy Capital of … [Read more...] about Are you feeling called to Gillette, Wyoming?
Are you feeling called to (the other) Des Moines?
Did you know that the SBC website has church job listings throughout the country? Some of those vacancies could use a little extra advertising, so I’ve taken it upon myself to highlight one every once in a while (with a little humor mixed in). The First Baptist Church of Des Moines is looking for their next pastor. No, not that Des Moines. It might be dangerous living that close to Dave. I’m talking about the one in New Mexico. Never heard of it? Well, that may have something to do with its population, which currently stands at about 128 people. The county — about half the size of New … [Read more...] about Are you feeling called to (the other) Des Moines?
Are you feeling called to Texas
Alas, I had prepared this vacancy announcement in advance, but when it came time to post it, I saw on the church’s Facebook page that they had just called someone to serve as pastor. Rather than let my work go to waste, consider this a "what could have been" if you had applied sooner. Did you know that the SBC website has church job listings throughout the country? Some of those vacancies could use a little extra advertising, so I’ve taken it upon myself to highlight one every once in a while (with a little humor mixed in). What can I say about this next vacancy? Not very much, it would … [Read more...] about Are you feeling called to Texas
Are you feeling the call to Hawaii?
Did you know that the SBC website has church job listings throughout the country? Some of those vacancies could use a little extra advertising, so I’ve taken it upon myself to highlight one every once in a while (with a little humor mixed in). The last vacancy announcement was located in a sportsman’s paradise. This one is located in a literal paradise: the island of Oahu. Cornerstone Fellowship – Mililani Mauka Church has not one, but two vacancies they’re looking to fill. The first is an interim pastor for “no less than 6 months and no longer than 12 months.” The second is for their next … [Read more...] about Are you feeling the call to Hawaii?
Are you feeling the call to Alaska?
Now that I'm a seminary grad, I'm on the hunt for a lead pastor position. I want to be open to anywhere if God so leads, but absent some clear direction otherwise, I am maintaining my search focus on the midwest. That means there are hundreds of pastoral search committees around the country that won't see my resume. Some of those vacancies could use a little extra advertising, so I've taken it upon myself to highlight one every once in a while with a little flare I can only hope will be worthy of our very own humorist, William Thornton. First up, the First Baptist Church of Petersburg, … [Read more...] about Are you feeling the call to Alaska?