Dave Miller

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary has no formal ties to the SBC, but has always had an informal relationship with our convention. In my younger days, before the changes brought by the CR at our six official seminaries, many pastors encouraged young men called to the ministry to go MABTS for theological education because it was solidly conservative. The former president there had a rule that those involved with the school were not to criticize the SBC or the CP. The current president, Mike Spradlin, has taken a different tack, choosing to spread divisive lies meant to tear down our … [Read more...] about It May Be Time for the SBC to Break ALL Ties to MABTS

The Executive Committee has an email for its president that is published and is available to Southern Baptists to use. It is my understanding that in this maelstrom, Ronnie Floyd is isolating himself from social media and tends to only listen to his supporters, those who tell him he's doing a great job. There have been statements by seminary presidents and several from state conventions and state pastors organizations, but we have no idea if they are getting through. Here's my suggestion. Tell Ronnie Floyd directly how you feel. Send those letters directly to him. PLEASE - if you do, … [Read more...] about A Suggestion: Email Ronnie Floyd and Tell Him What You Think

Various state conventions and groups in states have taken unprecedented action to state their displeasure with the Executive Committee's action to thumb their nose at the messengers of the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting and refuse to take appropriate action to deal with sexual abuse. I would guess that my list here is not complete, but here are the ones I have seen. To my knowledge, Michigan Baptists got the ball rolling with this stunning resolution. Tommy Green, the top-notch exec from Florida, sent this letter to his pastors, acknowledging the problem but maintaining that the CP was … [Read more...] about State Conventions Speaking Out about Executive Committee Failure

We are used to the entity leaders supporting one another or at least staying silent about one another. The actions of the Executive Committee last year were so egregious that the seminary presidents actually sent a representative to speak out against the power-grab by the CBN-led officers whose new business plan would have upended our polity and essentially given the EC control over the other entities. That plan failed nearly unanimously. Now, seminary presidents are speaking out against the failure of the Executive Committee to follow the will of the messengers of the 2021 Annual Meeting … [Read more...] about Seminary Presidents Speak Out on Executive Committee Failure

I have heard a lot of people advocating for what I have called the nuclear option - a vote in Anaheim to remove EVERY SINGLE trustee at the EC who votes to oppose the will of the messengers and refuses to support an agreement to give full support to best practices for the Sexual Abuse Task Force. I wrote an article last week saying that such was not a good idea, for three primary reasons. First, last week's meeting was preliminary - the final decision wasn't made yet. Second, there is another way. We can be patient and slowly replace trustees, year by year.  Third, once we open this … [Read more...] about Reconsidering the “Nuclear Option”

Rob Collingsworth posted a Twitter thread for the ages today. I wish I had time before the Executive Committee meeting to ask him to make it into a post for you to read here, but there isn't time. He explains the issues comprehensively. I would encourage you to read the entire thread.   Time for an explainer on the issues within the Southern Baptist Convention, conflict among the Executive Committee, and our looming polity crisis. Buckle up. Where to begin? Let's start in 2000. 1/ — rob collingsworth (@rcollingsworth) September 28, 2021 Ronnie Floyd has worked to scuttle … [Read more...] about A Twitter Thread YOU Need to Read

I was watching the machinations of the Executive Committee Tuesday as they tried to reach an agreement about how to proceed on the recommendations of the Sexual Abuse Task Force. There was a recommendation that was going to let the staff handle negotiations in coordination with the EC officers, working out an agreement with Guidepost and the Task Force. A series of amendments and substitute motions followed until finally one motion was adopted, cobbled from the floor from a recommendation by a woman (they did not identify themselves - I think her name was Melissa?). They made several changes … [Read more...] about A Fascinating Twist: ONLY EC Officers Are Authorized to Negotiate with the Task Force

I had a fairly horrendous typo in this article - basically substituted abusers for the abused in a sentence.  Changed the meaning badly. Hopefully you didn't see it or just saw what I meant to say. Thanks to the friend who pointed it out. I was watching the Executive Committee meeting yesterday when in the middle of the confusing debate, Ronnie Floyd stood up and sought to get the trustees to vote down all the amendments that had been offered and go with the original motion to let the officers and staff hammer out an agreement on dealing with the task force. During his impassioned plea to the … [Read more...] about It’s Time to Stone Achan: An Open Letter to Ronnie Floyd

After a tumultuous and disappointing Executive Committee meeting in Nashville, in which the EC failed to do what the messengers of the convention clearly and forcefully instructed them to do, what Ronnie Floyd said they should do, and what the Task Force asked them to do, the outcry on social media has been intense. Some have suggested the use of the nuclear option, to remove every EC Trustee who voted against Jared Wellman's motion to waive privilege. It was a frustrating meeting - the wranglings of the board, stalling moves by those whose actions do not buttress their verbal support of … [Read more...] about Should We Use the “Nuclear Option” at the EC?