The Pastor’s Conference has been a slow-motion train wreck from the start. One would expect the Executive Committee to exert control over what happens at the venue identified as the Southern Baptist Convention in annual session. I still have gripes about who gets display space in the exhibit hall for the SBCAM even though the […]
Count me in on Vision 2025
Baptist Press reports on Executive Committee CEO Ronnie Floyd’s report to the EC yesterday: Floyd issue Vision 2025 call to reach every person with the Gospel Five “strategic actions”: Increase the total number of full-time, fully funded missionaries by a net gain of 500, giving the SBC 4,200 full-time, fully funded missionaries through the International […]
I don’t think I’ll join Brad Jurkovich’s secret group with undisclosed funding
People sometimes declare themselves to be 4 point Calvinists, or 3 1/2 point Calvinists. I’ll describe myself as a 4 point Jurkovichist. That is, I’ll fully take three of Jurkovich’s five points listed under “our purpose” and half of two others making me a four-pointer. Shoot, I’d join the group but you have to give […]
Perhaps this is why abuse victims and their advocates always seem to be spittin’ mad at the SBC
Those of us who follow these things have probably thought that abuse victims and their advocates are in a perpetual state of anger at “the SBC.” Two abuse victims wrote here that “There is a tipping point, though, at which genuine advocacy slips into routine outrage…” I thought that to be a cogent statement at […]
Is it worth it? SBC resolutions and SBC Pastor’s Conference
The Pastor’s Conference is the largest and easiest target around. Make all SBCers happy? Sort of like making all of your church members happy. Not a snowflake’s chance in Gehenna of that. Back when Adrian Rogers would always close the Pastor’s Conference it was a thrilling event indeed. Not so much now. Dave Miller and […]
Randy Adams will make history if elected SBC president
If Randy Adams is elected SBC president this June he will make some history in a couple of ways. It’s been a long time since a state convention CEO was elected president of the SBC, maybe never (I’ll let some SBC history person fact check me on that). I’m certain that we haven’t had a […]
Decadent entertainment, our culture, and the Bible
“Near nakedness,” you say? “Indecent!” “Not family entertainment!” …I read in the indignant tweets. Shocking! At a Super Bowl! No wardrobe malfunction, just the wardrobe or lack thereof? I’m a bit flummoxed by all the furrowed brows and pious sniffs over this. I will state that your humble hacker and plodder blogger did not watch […]
IMB: 3,619 to 4,119 by December 31, 2024
Our largest and most important entity, The International Mission Board, has a five year plan, announced by President Paul Chitwood at the recent IMB trustee meeting. The plan calls for a number of things but, most importantly, it calls for an additional 500 overseas field personnel. I assume that means a 500 net increase by […]
On the road on Sunday morning during the worship hour
I am painfully literal here. Churches I’m around designate 11 am to noon as “the worship hour.” Difficulty may arise if the beloved pastor attempts to expand the worship hour to the worship hour plus five or ten minutes. While in my stage of life, senior and getting no less so, the 9:30 am service […]
In high weeds: The Executive Committee’s proposed mission, ministry changes
New leadership is expected, one presumes, to make staffing changes and to make adjustments to legal documents, including mission and ministry statements. Thus, Ronnie Floyd has proposed the rewriting of the SBC Executive Committee’s mission statement and ministry assignments. This will be taken up at the EC’s meeting next month {I can’t find the actual […]
JD speaks for JD, but he is the SBC President
From the Houston Chronicle: SBC President cautions churches about hosting disgraced leader Paige Patterson “Trustees terminated Paige Patterson for cause, publicly disclosing that his conduct was ‘antithetical to the core values of our faith,’ ” Greear told the Chronicle. “I advise any Southern Baptist church to consider this severe action before having Dr. Patterson preach […]
What’s this inconsistent use of autonomy, anyway?
The complaint was that “the SBC” (scare quotes are essential in the present context; if an explanation is needed, just ask) uses autonomy as an excuse for inaction on abuse in churches and by “SBC” (same for the quotes around “SBC” but I’ll not take the time to do so for the rest of this […]