Dave Miller

I thought yesterday's voting in the Pastor's Conference elections was a little unusual. The last time we saw anything like this, that can was staring under his glasses examining hanging chads in Florida. What was wacky, wild day in St. Louis! Poor Scott Gordon. I think he's still sequestered in the Green Room waiting to make a nomination for the very wonderful Jose Burgos for 2nd VP, which frankly may never happen. Permit me a word about three things that happened today. 1. No one won any election today.  I saw a commenter in William's  post demanding JD withdraw. He can do that, … [Read more...] about Can It Get Any Weirder? 2016 Southern Baptist Convention Day #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_tIxFJhR5k&feature=youtu.be The resolutions committee presented an absolutely gutted version of Dwight McKissic's resolution, but James Merritt stood and courageously called us to strengthen it again. His amendment passed overwhelmingly, and the restrengthened amendment passed by about a 90% majority. PRAISE GOD!! ORIGINAL (before amendment) Resolution 7...which isn't nearly strong enough... #SBC16 pic.twitter.com/95pLhdBGuq— Rayden Hollis (@raydenh) June 14, 2016 … [Read more...] about Resolution 7: Southern Baptists and the Confederate Flag

First Up - Fred Luter nominates David Crosby You can believe that topping this speech won't be easy. Character. Compassion. Concern. A passionate speech. Good stuff. Next - Johnny Hunt nominates Steve Gaines "For such a time as this..." Gaines to lead us back to soul-winning. Build on Ronnie Floyd's foundation (Two for 2 on going overtime) Finally - Jimmy Scroggins nominates J.D. Greear Muslim authorities in SE Asia wanted to stop JD because of his gospel work. Scroggins compliments all candidates (good move). Also set a tone for the "way forward." He will move us … [Read more...] about Presidential Election – Nominations #SBC16

Two things happened during the first introduction of miscellaneous business that were sad.  First, there was NOT a SINGLE motion from Wiley Drake. Not one. I have called for an investigation and a search party to be organized. Where is Wiley?  The second is more serious.  At a Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, two men stood and offered motions that would shock our Baptist forebears who have been committed to the principles of religious liberty. The first motion called for the firing of anyone who advocated for freedom for Muslims. The second excoriated those who … [Read more...] about Two Sad Moments in Baptist Life #SBC16

We have a reservation for about 20 at the Old Spaghetti Factory at 5 pm tonight. Our agenda is messed up. We were gonna a) start planning the PC for 2017 or b) start analyzing what went wrong. Instead we've got to wait till tonight to find out if we won or lost. The vote was razor thin and a ballot was taken. We will eat Spaghetti anyway at 5, but I'll have to go back at the start of the evening session to find out what happened. Join us at 5. 727 North 1st St. Scott says there is a train or something you can get. 2.50 each way … [Read more...] about Bluster with Bloggers at Old Spaghetti Factory

During the Pastors Conference and Annual Meeting it is a free-for-all!  Post your observations and opinions at will. If two people post at the same time, so be it! It might be best, though, if your post isn't SBC related, to hold it till after the gavel falls. … [Read more...] about SBC Voices Contributors…Post at Will

There I go again - a misleading title. Actually, there are very few points that one can draw from the terrible events in Orlando last night. When we drove away from Columbus last year we were shocked at the news coming out of Charleston, SC - a white supremacist loner had killed 9 people at a Bible study at a black church on Wednesday night. Now, as we are headed to St. Louis, we hear about the Islamic terrorist who killed at least 50 people in a gay bar in Orlando. Our immediate tendency is to start trying to make generalities and to draw conclusion - to do what my title did in jest, to … [Read more...] about Terror Strikes Again: This Proves My Point!

I am running so far behind in getting ready and leaving for the convention - a recent Africa trip has had that effect. However, it seems that our group has decided that our best bet for a gathering is to meet at the supper hour at the "Old Spaghetti Factory" at 727 N 1st Street, within walking distance of the Convention Center, at the supper hour on Monday night. It's usually pretty early, but come on down. I have made a very generous offer. If the Pastor's Conference election goes well (defined as winning with at least a 95% majority) - then I am picking up the tab.  Seriously, we … [Read more...] about A Bluster of Bloggers, St. Louis Style – Old Spaghetti Factory, Monday Supper

I am sitting in the Ziguinchor airport in the Casamance, southern Senegal. When we finally got back out of the Essing villages after 8 days, I read an exchange by the "Voices for a New Baptist Future" group. We've fallen into our old patterns, haven't we? When we elected Fred Luter as our president we slapped ourselves on the back because we'd put those bad ol' days of racism in the past. Some of us who have continued to raise the issue have been chastised - why keep hammering on the issue when we have clearly made so much progress? Those days have passed. Why keep hammering on that? We … [Read more...] about Play that Funky Music, White Boys