Comment in general or address any of the big areas: money, entities, associations, state conventions, national, mission boards and missions, sex abuse, CP... … [Read more...] about Open question: What positive signs for the future do you see with the SBC?
With a half century of steady decline the Cooperative Program hits it’s centennial
I suppose there will be all manner of celebrations, somewhere, over the centennial anniversary of our venerable flagship denominational giving scheme, The Cooperative Program. I don't recall seeing much about it but we have about six months to go. Here's the most salient fact about the Cooperative Program: It provides the longest running trend in Southern Baptist life. The CP has been consistently declining as a percentage of church undesignated giving for about half of its life. It is still a huge source of funding for denominational entities, although the sums to distribute have … [Read more...] about With a half century of steady decline the Cooperative Program hits it’s centennial
On the eve of the CP centennial Tennessee state convention tries something different
Next year is the centennial of our venerable flagship giving scheme, the Cooperative Program. One hundred years of, well, caring and sharing and all that. What a great idea! Churches pool their giving in a single fund, the Cooperative Program. State conventions collect it, take a portion, and forward all the rest to the SBC Executive Committee which, in accord with messenger votes, parcel the money out to our entities - IMB, NAMB, the six seminaries, ERLC. A small slice is kept by the EC. Tennessee Baptist Mission Board directors seek to reallocate funds from national CP to IMB During … [Read more...] about On the eve of the CP centennial Tennessee state convention tries something different
Has the sex abuse database gone the way of the cicada, underground?
I read about the cicada tsunami all winter and heard and saw my first of the red-eyed, hard shell devils back in April. Apparently, they have gone back underground. We can expect them again in 2037. I think my noisy friends will emerge after I'm dead, my life expectancy being a few years short of their 17 year cycle. The SBC has been dealing with the issue of abuse for years. Two grand task forces were created, one of which is still active. Multiple millions have been spent. The SBC and SBC Executive Committee have a bushelful of lawsuits to defend, including one from a former SBC … [Read more...] about Has the sex abuse database gone the way of the cicada, underground?
The scintillating SBCAM24 preview from the hinterlands
There's a presidential race on steroids I never thought I'd live to see an ordinary pastor be president but through an odd route, here comes Bart Barber to end the run of megapastor presidentes. At least Barber talks to us. I don't have much to complain about with him. I like cows, longwinded former bloggers and such. He's done a good job. Our first Twitter/X president. We have tribes in the SBC, you say? Six, count 'em, six presidential candidates: Jared Moore. Former SBCV writer, smart guy (he has a PhD now from Suthun Seminary now, they don't hand them out to dumb guys, do they?), … [Read more...] about The scintillating SBCAM24 preview from the hinterlands
Who gave the Executive Committee power to rule individual pastors as being “biblically disqualified?”
Our 83 member Executive Committee has not served us well recently. While the EC individuals may all be stellar people, clearly the organization as a whole is an embarrassment to the SBC. Perhaps if the new CEO has success he can rectify this situation. One hopes and prays. A question: Who appointed this beleaguered group to rule on individual pastors as being "biblically disqualified?" No one. Yet, they have done just that and it may be demanded of them that they do so regularly, if the Law amendment passes. Recent EC church expulsions included West Hendersonville Baptist Church for … [Read more...] about Who gave the Executive Committee power to rule individual pastors as being “biblically disqualified?”
If you’re standing for election to an SBC office, scrutiny is expected: 1VP candidate Michael Clary and miniscule cooperative giving
Adrian Rogers used to illustrate two parallel values in SBC life: doctrine and cooperation. He would take two hymnals and stand one on its edge vertically with the other lying flat. "No train can run on these tracks," he would state, meaning that the SBC has to have both doctrinal matters and cooperative matters working together or the Grand SBC Train runs off the tracks. Michael Clary is an announced candidate for SBC First Vice President and is running on the Credo Alliance ticket along with SBC presidential candidate, Jared Moore. Moore used to write for SBC Voices. He had over two … [Read more...] about If you’re standing for election to an SBC office, scrutiny is expected: 1VP candidate Michael Clary and miniscule cooperative giving
Shall we relinquish the messenger directive to create a database that includes credible reports of abuse?
We are several years into abuse reform in the SBC and we can point to near unanimous messenger votes, two grand task forces, extensive and expensive reports, millions of dollars spent, millions of words...and no database of abusers. Why is this? The convention voted to implement this database to include four categories of offenders. From the first sex abuse task force: Confession in a non-privileged setting Conviction in a court of law Civil judgment rendered Determination by an independent third party according to a preponderance of evidence We have now had the latest … [Read more...] about Shall we relinquish the messenger directive to create a database that includes credible reports of abuse?
Is the EC properly defining how pastors are considered “biblically disqualified”?
This week's SBC Executive Committee meeting was dominated by the difficult, some would say disastrous, rollout of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force's goal of creating a private nonprofit to handle the database. No further comment by me on that here, but I'm interested in the EC's vote to exclude four churches. Baptist Press story here. The four churches are: Immanuel Baptist Church in Paducah, Ky., New Hope Baptist Church in Gastonia, N.C., West Hendersonville Baptist Church in Hendersonville, N.C., and Grove Road Baptist Church in Greenville, S.C. These churches are officially … [Read more...] about Is the EC properly defining how pastors are considered “biblically disqualified”?
Henry Blackaby, RIP
It seems fitting to have an old fashioned blog article on Henry Blackaby. After all, his famous study Experiencing God was first published pre-blog in 1990 but with its soaring popularity on in the late 20th century was easily a subject for the early blogosphere. I never met Henry although he was a featured speaker at a few events I attended. I used his study a few times with small groups in my church. It was unique at the time and very helpful in discipleship in the church. Once the study was a big hit and sales skyrocketed, Lifeway (naturally) expanded the product line to maximize … [Read more...] about Henry Blackaby, RIP