The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma was only a year old when Alonzo Nunnery came to pastor in Oklahoma. The young convention had formed as a merger in 1906 from the conventions in Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory and Nunnery came to the state to pastor in Granite, Oklahoma, from Tennessee. Nunnery spent from 1907-1939 as a pastor in southern Oklahoma, and undoubtedly left a mark on the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO). His contribution, though less than desirable, helped the fledgling convention cement its beliefs and firm stand in their convictions. Born in … [Read more...] about The man who was no longer Baptist
Baptists You Should Know, Sallie Holmes
Landrum Holmes made his way home with a heavy heart. As a missionary in Chefoo, China he was used to hardship and difficulties. But this time something weighed even heavier than usual. As he opened the door and greeted his wife he began to tell her of the death of a fellow missionary. "If I thought I should die and leave you alone," he said, "leave you to go all that long way back by yourself, I should find it hard to say 'Thy will be done.'" His brave wife's quick and encouraging reply was, "Landrum, I would not go back; I would stay here and work." His face shone with deep joy. "If you feel … [Read more...] about Baptists You Should Know, Sallie Holmes
The Authority of the SBC Executive Committee: Where does it come from and how far does it go?
As the trustees of the Executive Committee prepare to meet this week, discussion has elevated about the responsibility of the trustees to the convention, with words flying around like attorney-client privilege, best practices, executive session, and the fiduciary duties of the Executive Committee. What follows is some research into the historical role of the SBC, how they spend the money of the convention, and the authority that has been given to them by the messengers. Over the history of the EC as an SBC entity, the Convention has been clear that … [Read more...] about The Authority of the SBC Executive Committee: Where does it come from and how far does it go?
In the name of God by OS Hawkins
History is written by the victors, or so I'm told. But it's not always easy to tell who won. That's one of the lessons from the from the outstanding new book "In the Name of God: The Colliding Lives, Legends, and Legacies of J. Frank Norris and George W. Truett" by Dr. OS Hawkins. The book does just what it describes, examining the entangled lives and legacies of these two legendary pastors. As pastors of FBC Ft Worth and FBC Dallas, respectively, both men had an outsized influence on their community, the SBC, and even evangelicalism as a whole. I cannot recommend the book enough for any … [Read more...] about In the name of God by OS Hawkins
Should SBC employees be allowed as messengers at the Annual Meeting?
There's been some discussion lately about the appropriateness of employees of SBC entities serving as messengers to the SBC Meeting. Much of this was sparked by a post on Twitter from Tom Buck. Undeniable fact: If the votes of SBC employees were removed from the vote in Nashville... and only the votes of everyday SBC pastors and church members were left... Mike Stone would've won in a landslide. — Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) August 12, 2021 While it's impossible to know the truth of Pastor Buck's statement without assuming the motives and votes … [Read more...] about Should SBC employees be allowed as messengers at the Annual Meeting?
A History of the Formation and Function of the Executive Committee
The SBC Annual Meeting in 2021 is one that will be remembered in history as an important one for some time. While it’s easy to get lost in the respective highs and lows of the meeting, it’s also important to remember that the actions of the SBC when it gathers can have lasting actions. One such meeting happened in 1916 when the actions of one messenger still affect us today. The Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives records it this way. In 1916, M. H. Wolfe of Texas proposed to amend the SBC Constitution “to create one strong executive board which … [Read more...] about A History of the Formation and Function of the Executive Committee
Lessons from Birmingham
It's no secret that the 2021 SBC Meeting in Nashville will have a focus on events that happened at the last meeting in Birmingham. There will (probably) be attempts to turn over Resolution 9, which has caused much discussion in Baptist circles since then. I will make no tries to predict the future, but I do think we can learn something from Birmingham. But for our lesson we need to go back a little farther than 2019, to the first time the Annual Meeting was held in Birmingham in 1891. Baptists were not always keen on the idea of having their own publishing arm. Several times this idea had … [Read more...] about Lessons from Birmingham
History and Notes of Resolutions at the SBC Annual Meeting
It's no secret that this year at the Southern Baptist Convention is shaping up to be a contentious one, especially when it comes to resolutions. Several have already been released, and more are in the works. Anyone who is a member in good standing can submit a resolution to the SBC meeting, where a committee will decide whether or not to present it to the convention at large during the business sessions. The SBC has done a remarkable job of keeping track of all the resolutions ever presented at their website, with a very handy searchable database. My rough count shows somewhere over 600 … [Read more...] about History and Notes of Resolutions at the SBC Annual Meeting
A Statement, Not A Creed
The 1963 SBC Annual meeting in Kansas City was highly anticipated. At the previous year’s meeting the SBC Executive Committee recommended that a committee be appointed to examine the Baptist Faith and Message. The committee was to be led by the current SBC President Dr. Herschel Hobbs, and made up of state convention presidents, among others. The motion from the EC instructed the committee to “...present to the Convention in Kansas City some similar statement which shall serve as information to the churches, and which may serve as a guideline to the various agencies of the Southern … [Read more...] about A Statement, Not A Creed
A Brief History of SBC Presidents
The 2021 Presidential election of the Southern Baptist Convention looks to be one of the most contested in recent history. But I think we all would do well to remember the history of the position, how elections were handled, and why it mattered. The SBC President is the man who represents, in some part, the SBC to the country at large. He serves as an unofficial face for the SBC and is often asked to preach at various events as part of that role. But the President is more than ceremonial. In their book SBC FAQs by Keith Harper and Amy Whitfield they answer the question, “What does the … [Read more...] about A Brief History of SBC Presidents