The state conventions in the south (and, counting some border states one might take sixteen of these which would account for ninety percent or so of all SBC metrics – churches, members, money, CP giving, mission giving, etc.) have been around for a long time, many preceding the founding of the SBC in 1845. Some […]
“I don’t see how a Christian could vote for…”
Large majorities of various Christian sub-groups (classify by race, by region, and other means) vote either Republican or Democratic. While I understand the presence of an escape hatch to the statement (“I don’t see”), can a pastor effectively minister to a congregation that has mixed political constituencies? I don’t see how. Could some of the […]
About some state conventions claim that NAMB “abandons true collaborative partnership”
Now that statement is a shot across the bow but it isn’t much of a surprise or shock. About the only meaningful change wrought by the Great Conservative Resurgence Report, which blue ribbon GCR committee was chaired by Ronnie Floyd and adopted overwhelmingly (3 to 1 ratio in favor) by the SBC in annual session […]
NAMB’s lengthy lawsuit; be sure and read this National Review article
NAMB, as most SBCers know, has had this long-running lawsuit going. They are being sued by a former state convention head and strident NAMB critic. Here’s a sensible and straightforward article by two attorneys with Becket, a religious liberty specialist law firm. Fifth Circuit to Decide Whether Southern Baptist Minister Can Sue Southern Baptist Ministry […]
What does it take to get an SBC pastor defrocked, de-ordained?
Trick question because there are no “SBC” pastors. The SBC (Executive Committee, seminaries, state convention, local associations) does not ordain clergy, Not one. Not ever. Thus, the “SBC” cannot revoke any individual’s ordination. We all knew that, right? Ordination is a bit of a scandal itself in the SBC. There are no standards, no requirements, […]
Anti-abortion as divine permission for Christian hatred, misogyny, and racism
I don’t speak for the others on the team here but on abortion there is no diversity. All are firmly opposed, as is the SBC officially in resolutions, and all SBC leaders that have spoken on the matter. Nothing has changed in years about this in the SBC except, as I see it, the intensity […]
Can “Great Commission Baptists” be raised from the dead?
The unofficial nickname of the SBC, “Great Commission Baptists,” was passed by the convention in annual session back in 2012 with a 53% vote. It has barely had a pulse for eight years. Now, we have a small flurry of advocacy for the use of the name. Respected and astute Nathan A. Finn , professor […]
Undermining the Cooperative Program, you say?
The Cooperative Program is our grand cooperative funding mechanism. SBC churches give on average a little under 5% of their undesignated offering plate dollars to the CP, totalling over $460 million. It is the envy of other denominations. But you knew all that, right? Ronnie Floyd, CEO of our Executive Committee has outlined a plan, […]
ERLC should answer questions from the Executive Committee [update: I hear there has been answers submitted]
[But I don’t know what the answers are. They will be dribbled out to the hinterlands eventually, I suppose, unless some Baptist pundit gets his hands on them and tweets them.] This is a long-running, slow motion deal. It is critical in many ways that we get this right. SBC Executive Committee creates ERLC study […]
Ridgecrest Conference Center scares me…
…only because I’m here at the place and looking around at things to spend money on if I owned it. When I arrived mid-week, I didn’t see another guest. Lots of staff. No paying customers save for one pastor who is appreciatively discounted. No complaints from me. Lifeway announced earlier this year that they were […]
Leaving the SBC behind? This has to be discussed about Cornerstone Church
I don’t recall a more widely discussed departure from the SBC than that of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta. In my memory only a few high profile, moderate churches leaving the denomination generated as much publicity. Christianity Today has the most comprehensive story about this: Atlanta Church Splits With SBC for Downplaying Racial Issues [Pastor John] […]
Put John Lewis statue in the rotunda, Alexander H. Stephens in a museum
This is a totally parochial article, pertains to the state of Georgia. Each state gets to put two statues in the Capitol Rotunda. The last time I was in the place, I gazed absentmindedly at our state’s statue of Alexander Hamilton Stephens while some group’s tour guide blathered on about the statues. Stephens was the […]