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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Ed Litton, speaking for himself
Jonathan Howe interviews Ed Litton on SBC This Week. You can hear Litton’s answers. 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.
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 […]