This strong language in an1885 postcard from James Bruton Gambrell editor of the Mississippi state paper, The Baptist Record, to Georgian Patrick Hues Mell. I have a few postcards of historical interest to Southern Baptists. These days, we Tweet about technical legal terms like “waiver of privilege” and what kind of ice cream we like. […]
Questions for “the Prince of Parliamentarians”
That Prince would not be Barry McCarty, nor my favorite parliamentarian, Amy Whitfield, but Patrick Hues Mell (1814-1888) who was SBC president longer than any other man, two terms totaling 15 years. I’ve been to a lot of SBC meetings, the big annual meeting, state conventions, and associational meetings. I’ve presided over lots of church […]
I discovered a cache of 19th Century SBC correspondence: Gambrell, Graves, Mell, Robertson et al
Some years ago my father bought an old Victorian house near downtown Athens, Georgia. It was once a grand place but had been rental property for some time. Before he sold it I went with him through the house and among the discarded items was a box of old correspondence. I kept the items and […]
If churches are SBC headquarters, then look to see what HQ is doing on international and North American missions
In our dual approach to funding denominational causes, cooperative and societal, the bulk of missions money comes through the two offerings dedicated to international and North American missions. Those would be the two named offerings: Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong. They are both at record levels reflecting the true interests and goals of Southern Baptist […]
Take in the good news that Lottie Moon hit a record $177.6 million for 2019-2020
Back in 2009, an era ago, the Lottie Moon goal was set at $175 million. The receipts fell short by $26 million, $29 million, $30 million, $28 million…years on end proving that it was an unrealistic goal. Even in the post voluntary retirement year where 1,100 missionaries left the field, the receipts were far under […]
The inevitable resort to weaponizing money in church and denominational conflict
Happens every time. It’s in our DNA as Southern Baptists. In those periodic times when there is dissension and conflict in our Grand Denomination the cry goes out, “Don’t send them your money!” That’s seldom appropriate and seldom effective. I daresay that every pastor of an SBC church has been in the place where individuals […]
In any SBC drama and conflict the Cooperative Program takes a hit
…and these last weeks have been more drama since the hot years of the Conservative Resurgence. I have observations and opinions but perhaps the investigation will prove beneficial in the long haul. No one knows. One might note this significant change in the Baptist Press policy on reporting abuse: Baptist Press will continue to report […]
What we need is a little more optimism, a lot less doomsday
Here is the press release of the SATF: Today, the members of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention voted to fully fund the third-party independent investigation by Guidepost Solutions as requested by the Sexual Abuse Task Force. It also encouraged the Executive Committee officers and Task Force to work toward a solution within […]
Reasons for close scrutiny of The Sex Abuse Task Force
I learned an early lesson about the realities of Southern Baptist life: Anyone who asks honest, respectful questions about individuals, entities, budgets, policies and the like gets looked at askance, with disapproval, with suspicion and wariness. I asked some questions about the new Sex Abuse Task Force. Others have done the same. One hopes that […]
The eighth generation church member and pastors’ suspicion of multi-generation church families
I recently read a story about a baptism, a young girl who was the eighth generation of her family in that one church. That’s a lot of ‘begats.’ Most people wouldn’t be able to come up with names for eight generations of their family. Eight generations back from my grandchildren would reach to my great-great-great […]
SBC’s record is 50-0 in lawsuits
This according to longtime convention attorney, Jim Guenther, and is the estimate for ascending liability lawsuits where someone has a problem in a local SBC-affiliated church and sues the Executive Committee or SBC. There has never been a successful lawsuit of this type. Yes, I understand that the current matter is gravely serious and involves […]
Why can’t some followers of Jesus just talk normally?
There’s another epidemic raging through our fair land. In addition to COVID-19 and variants there is a highly infectious strain of alternative communication making deep inroads into our Christian subculture. Here are just a couple of examples: Some ministry leaders don’t just resign but “step into a substantial season of reordering.” Indeed, marching into a […]