Growing up in a family of mostly secular humanist educators, I never once questioned if I should be going to public school. My father was the elementary school principal my friends referred to as Dr. Huntington and my mom was a school teacher and a college counselor for most of my life. So, when private Christian school and homeschooling were mentioned to me, I had no point of reference for it. And to be honest, the homeschooled kids I met seemed like they were from a different planet. It was in public high school where I was exposed to Christian teaching about the wrath of God and the saving … [Read more...] about Christians and the Public School (by Dale Huntington)
Safeguarding Our Churches Against Sexual Abuse (A guest post by Tim Overton)
Editor's note (Todd Benkert): I've encouraged more ideas on how to address sexual abuse -- particularly the problem of serial abusers who go from church to church. Here is one such idea. Feel free to discuss the merits of Tim's idea in the comment section, but I applaud such efforts at creative thinking on the issue. Tragic stories of sexual abuse have come to light during the past year. These horrific sins have created a movement among Southern Baptists to do more to protect our congregations. The convention strongly believes in Scriptural inerrancy. Everyone universally … [Read more...] about Safeguarding Our Churches Against Sexual Abuse (A guest post by Tim Overton)
On Pastoral Tenure as Covenant (Phillip Powers)
I recently read an article about an Oklahoma pastor who is retiring after serving in the same church for 60 years. And let me just begin by saying that this is the kind of pastor that deserves the platform though he would probably never ask for it. So often, we platform the personalities that are the most visible, those pastors who have the largest churches, who have published the most books, who speak regularly on the conference circuit. It would seem we have missed the mark. Our measures of ministry success reflect all of the values and metrics of the world and none of the values of God, who … [Read more...] about On Pastoral Tenure as Covenant (Phillip Powers)
How Executive Committee Leaders Failed in Their Fiduciary Duties Long Before October 5th (Benjamin Wright)
By now it’s not news to readers of Voices that the President and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee has resigned. He has reminded us repeatedly of his fiduciary duties to the SBC, and in his resignation letter explained that he can no longer carry out those duties after the October 5th EC vote to waive attorney-client privilege relative to the Sexual Abuse Task Force investigation. You may have also read Rod Martin’s letter of resignation from the EC, in which he writes that “the SBC is in grave danger” due to the EC vote to waive privilege. Floyd believes the SBC is in “uncertain, unknown, … [Read more...] about How Executive Committee Leaders Failed in Their Fiduciary Duties Long Before October 5th (Benjamin Wright)
Third time’s the charm? (by Dave Pittman)
“Third time’s the charm”, that’s what we’re told, right? On their third attempt to honor the wishes of Messengers, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee voted 44 to 31 to waive attorney-client privilege (albeit in a VERY limited manner) and agree to the contract with Guidepost to begin the investigation on sexual abuse. But let’s be honest, this is not an investigation on all cases of sexual abuse within the SBC. It’s only about the last 20 years and only within the SBC EC. Is there already a documented case of libel regarding a case of sexual abuse? Yes. And will there be … [Read more...] about Third time’s the charm? (by Dave Pittman)
Trauma Comes to Church: A Licensed Counselor’s Perspective (by David Hughes)
“I was sexually assaulted as a child and I want to work through it with you”. I had been punched in the gut. I knew when I went to grad school to become a counselor that I wanted to be a trauma therapist. Like most trauma therapists, I have a trauma history of my own. For some reason, some survivors are compelled to turn around, walk back into the wound, and help others. Call it part of the healing process. Still, this was my very first client. Counselors need hundreds of hours of counseling just to graduate so we can take our board exam and be provisionally licensed while we accrue … [Read more...] about Trauma Comes to Church: A Licensed Counselor’s Perspective (by David Hughes)
Letter from Southern Baptists to the SBC Executive Committee
Members of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, As faithful members of Southern Baptist churches across the United States and messengers to the 2021 annual meeting in Nashville, we write to express our frustration and disappointment with the recent actions of the Executive Committee. In June, over 15,000 messengers spoke with near-unanimous clarity by adopting the “Motion to Investigate the SBC Executive Committee.” The messengers were clear when they moved, “that the task force agree to the accepted best-standards and practices as recommended by the commissioned … [Read more...] about Letter from Southern Baptists to the SBC Executive Committee
Why the Executive Committee Didn’t Do the Right Thing (by Dave Pittman)
Last week, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee met in Nashville to vote. This was supposed to clear the way for an investigation into sexual abuse within the SBC. So, what on earth happened? As Liz Evan, an attorney and SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force member so accurately stated, “They (The SBC Executive Committee) have flagrantly defied the overwhelming will of the Messengers. A few dozen folks in Nashville decided they know better than the 17,000 Messengers appointed by the churches. Waiver of privilege was not something the Messengers delegated to the EC to consider in … [Read more...] about Why the Executive Committee Didn’t Do the Right Thing (by Dave Pittman)
Q&A: Primary Issues Related to Executive Committee’s Handling of Guidepost Contract
At last week's Executive Committee meeting there were a lot of terms and concepts involved that represent unfamiliar territory for most of us as Southern Baptists. This Q&A is designed to address the most pressing questions we face as the EC Officers and SA Task Force work this week for an agreement on how to proceed. 1. Why is it important for the Executive Committee to waive privilege? Attorney-client privilege is a legal rule that allows the clients of attorneys to keep confidential any legal advice that their attorneys provide them. First, it is important because the motion that … [Read more...] about Q&A: Primary Issues Related to Executive Committee’s Handling of Guidepost Contract
The Future of Southern Baptists Hangs by a Thread (by Malcolm Yarnell)
I first noticed William Lane Craig refashion divine eternity and then adopt a heterodox Christology. Now Craig argues Genesis 1-11 is “mytho-history, not to be taken literally,” denies Genesis 3 records the first sin, and says cherubim are “fantasy.” He admits the genealogies give the early text an historical aura, but dismisses them as “artificial symmetry.” While there are certain denominations which allow for non-literal interpretations of Genesis 1-11, the Southern Baptist Convention has historically taken a strong stand against treating the Bible as “myth,” especially in the sense of … [Read more...] about The Future of Southern Baptists Hangs by a Thread (by Malcolm Yarnell)