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 7 days regarding the waiving of attorney-client privilege as directed by the Messengers in their motion. While we are glad that the investigation can begin, we are disappointed that so far, the Executive Committee has not followed the … [Read more...] about What we need is a little more optimism, a lot less doomsday
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 current reaction of the SATF is a pattern for the future. The TF brethren and sistren are issuing regular updates and have answered some questions. They declare that they will be open and transparent. This signals a new day in the SBC where the … [Read more...] about Reasons for close scrutiny of The Sex Abuse Task Force
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 grandparents. Having spent fifty years researching family genealogy, I can list that far back from memory which would include some direct ancestors born in the late eighteenth century and quite a few Civil War veterans. Most people have a real life and deal with live folks. I … [Read more...] about The eighth generation church member and pastors’ suspicion of multi-generation church families
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 deplorable and heinous sins. My hope and prayer is for the SATF to do their work efficiently and sensibly and come to the end by helping the SBC and its churches in the matters involved. You can read what Guenther says about ascending liability … [Read more...] about SBC’s record is 50-0 in lawsuits
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 summer, winter, spring, fall, presumably a globally climate change enhanced "substantial" season, not just a normal season. I recall (from reading, not from personal experience) the year without a summer, 1816. Now that was a … [Read more...] about Why can’t some followers of Jesus just talk normally?
Autonomy, abuse, and the Executive Committee
While the subject is before us, it may be helpful to provide some context. The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention is critically important even though it has a small budget (around $6 million, set at 2.95% of Cooperative Program national receipts) and a small staff. They do a lot. But here's what they don't do: They don't ordain ministers (and, thus, they cannot revoke ordinations). They don't assign pastors to SBC churches. They don't supervise pastors of any SBC church. They don't fire pastors or staff of any SBC church. They don't supervise … [Read more...] about Autonomy, abuse, and the Executive Committee
The independent Sex Abuse Task Force: Questions and observations [unusually long, but read it anyway].
The Sex Abuse Task Force authorized by convention motion in June is living and active and has a website with updates. On June 16, 2021 the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, TN overwhelming passed the following motion: “I move that the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 15-16, 2021, in Nashville, TN, ask the newly elected president of the SBC to appoint a task force within 30 days of the date of this Convention that shall be comprised of members of Baptist churches cooperating with this Convention and experts in sexual abuse and the handling of sexual abuse-related … [Read more...] about The independent Sex Abuse Task Force: Questions and observations [unusually long, but read it anyway].
Obituaries and news reports in the COVID-19 era
A well-known Southern Baptist evangelist died yesterday of pneumonia and COVID-19. While I wasn't acquainted with the 51-year old man, the Baptist Press report of his death quoted a couple of pastors local to me. It was a tragic death that is being mourned all over the SBC. I join those who pray for comfort and peace for his family and friends. Notable in the Baptist Press article was this sentence: "Baptist Press was unable to confirm whether he had received the COVID-19 vaccine." Vaccination, I have been reminded, sometimes brusquely, is a personal choice and a private matter. I don't … [Read more...] about Obituaries and news reports in the COVID-19 era
Most SBCers, naturally, live in SEC country
The SEC ventures west of the Mississippi to poach the University of Texas and Oklahoma University from the Big 12. The Big 12 was mostly the Big 1 and Eleven Others. Whatever, the SEC was already the dominant college athletic conference and adding Oklahoma, four college playoff appearances, enhanced that. Maybe Texas being in the SEC will motivate them to find a way to join the top tier in ways other than big hat talk. Credit to the Longhorns for beating Georgia in a less meaningful non-playoff bowl a few years ago. A win is a win and this Dawg fan doesn't make excuses for his team's losing, … [Read more...] about Most SBCers, naturally, live in SEC country
Are SBC Annual Meeting resolutions more harmful than helpful?
Answer: Absolutely...sometimes. Recent history makes this longtime SBC observer wonder if we would not be better off to find another approach to issues of note. What would that approach look like? I'm not sure but if the current system is a net negative then smart SBC people should find the more positive alternative. For some years I've taken the more radical position that we should eliminate resolutions entirely as an agenda item for the annual meeting. We've had, supposedly, the smartest people around to lead and populate the Committee on Resolutions, a committee that is directly … [Read more...] about Are SBC Annual Meeting resolutions more harmful than helpful?