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?
I’m all vaxxed up. What to do as the delta variant revs up?
My wife and I went to our small town farmers market last Saturday. It was located behind the court house and there were a dozen or so vendors, hobbyists, veggie and fruit sellers. As soon as we had we walked into the area, I spotted a young guy headed for me. "Man," I thought, "this is some aggressive squash seller." Turns out he was with the health department which had a tent giving free COVID vaccines. "I'm all vaxxed up." I told him. "Have been since March." I'm pleased that local health people are semi-aggressive in promoting vaccinations. Frankly, it's a drop dead easy … [Read more...] about I’m all vaxxed up. What to do as the delta variant revs up?
On the Executive Committee’s independent sexual abuse investigation and Task Force.
Among the most notable items of the recent SBC Annual Meeting was the passage of a motion by Ronnie Parrot and Grant Gaines that directed the SBC Executive Committee to "transfer oversight of the independent third party review into handling of sexual abuse to a task force" appointed by the SBC President. The new president, Ed Litton, has named the Task Force which has seven members and two advisors. The Executive Committee had earlier secured Guidepost Solutions for an independent review of its handling of sexual abuse issues; thus, an outside outfit will be doing an "independent review" … [Read more...] about On the Executive Committee’s independent sexual abuse investigation and Task Force.
Ridgecrest is open and still a great place
I didn't have plans to come back up here after Lifeway sold their venerable conference center in the North Carolina mountains but the new owners have it open and here I am. It's quiet this week but still a great place. The Ridgecrest Foundation owns it now and it's called Ridgecrest Conference Center. The campus is tidy. The staff friendly and helpful. I like it and will return. I have a bit of nostalgic heaviness as a I roam around the familiar spots here. Back in the day I'd be in charge a group of students ("youth" was still an acceptable word back then) from my church. There would … [Read more...] about Ridgecrest is open and still a great place
Plagiarism/schmagiarism, how about the whole religious/church industrial complex?
So everyone says at some level,"Hey Ed, cut that stuff out" even though he (a) obtained prior permission, and (b) apologized. The number of heroic virtue signalers are legion in this matter. A few of my favorites: Don't do anything your homiletics prof would not approve of. Good luck with that. Can we note the difference between the classroom and the real world? Good profs recognize that some weeks the typical single staff pastor will not have 20 hours for sermon prep. And if you re-preach a sermon to the same audience, isn't that called something? Laziness? Phoning it in? I'm … [Read more...] about Plagiarism/schmagiarism, how about the whole religious/church industrial complex?
Taking a look at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
The ERLC lacks a permanent leader at the moment, Russell Moore having resigned earlier this year after leading the organization for eight years. I always liked the demeanor that Moore brought to the ERLC. The acting President is Executive Vice President Daniel Patterson and the ERLC trustees have appointed a search committee for the new leader. I do not know him but presume he and all ERLC employees are wonderful people and represent the SBC well. The ERLC President has the toughest job in the convention. Severe criticism is guaranteed, some will be vicious and unchristian. A few … [Read more...] about Taking a look at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
Ed Litton, speaking for himself
Jonathan Howe interviews Ed Litton on SBC This Week. You can hear Litton’s answers. https://sbcthisweek.com/an-interview-with-ed-litton/ This will take about 23 minutes of your time. I appreciated SBCTW addressing what is happening. We don't usually do things this way. … [Read more...] about Ed Litton, speaking for himself
Certainly, I fully support our SBC president Ed Litton
Among the SBC Voices writers and editors, I believe I am the only one who does not know Ed Litton personally. I've never met him. I did not attend any of his pre-convention meet-and-greets. Until about a year ago, he was someone that I had never heard of. After reflection, he got my vote for SBC president because I thought he was the right guy for the task and because I thought he had the right message for our times. I still believe those two thing are true. All SBCers who eat and drink SBC politics are fully informed, some fully and sinfully engaged, about the news that Litton preached … [Read more...] about Certainly, I fully support our SBC president Ed Litton
We are a convention of pundits and analysts…but I’m not buying that the election looked closer than it really was
Ed Litton won the SBC presidential election by a total of 556 votes out of 13,112 total votes counted. That's pretty close. I read that it wasn't really close, that there are reasons to conclude that the margin of victory, less than three percent, didn't represent the level of support that the CBN candidate had. I'm not buying that. After asking people I knew who were involved in SBC politics what they thought would be the outcome of the election, I can't recall a single one feeling confident about making a prediction. Now that the votes have been counted everyone is an … [Read more...] about We are a convention of pundits and analysts…but I’m not buying that the election looked closer than it really was
Decidedly low tech but high confidence SBC voting and counting
So, my millennial techno savvy friends who don't write checks, who use Venmo, order groceries online and Prime every purchase. You are in charge of the SBC Annual Meeting. How would you manage voting? There are some rules in place: Only registered messengers may vote. Votes may be made only by those present in the hall. No proxy voting allowed. This years SBCAM had 15,726 registered messengers, largest in a quarter century. Each was given a bundle of paper ballots when they registered. A number of votes were made by marking ballots. So far, no one has complained about the … [Read more...] about Decidedly low tech but high confidence SBC voting and counting