Here in the Peach State which is not even one of the swing or battleground states this election is like no other in some ways. We've got the candidate from Q-Anon, or that's what her opponents say. We've got the Hezbollah candidate, or at least that's what a friend from the middle east said when he saw the candidate's signs. Seems the guy owns a very successful gun store and has a silhouette of an AR-15 or some similar menacing weapon. Second amendment guy, I guess. And then we've got the candidate who brags about being "to the right of Atilla the Hun (he who "slew monks and maidens in … [Read more...] about An election like no other…or, so we’re told.
How Alaska Baptists would destroy the Cooperative Program and blame it on NAMB
It's called The COOPERATIVE Program, not the Cooperative Program CAFETERIA. Necessary background reading (not that anyone actually reads relevant articles): Alaska Baptists vote to withhold CP funds, this is a thorough article by George Schroeder, associate VP at the SBC Executive Committee. If you think Schroeder's piece is biased then show me how. Quotes from both sides. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, said the action taken by Alaska’s state convention “is a unilateral breach of a 95-year system as our most trusted funding mechanism,” and added: “The … [Read more...] about How Alaska Baptists would destroy the Cooperative Program and blame it on NAMB
Lottie, Annie, and the CP: Good news, bad news
The three most important offerings for Southern Baptists are the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions and the Cooperative Program. How are these faring in the age of COVID? The numbers are in. Here's how we're doing. Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total exceeds goal at $159.9M The total is the second highest in history. It's $4.5 million over what IMB budgeted and $2.6 million more than was given last year. Great news here! Although some churches give to Lottie year round, most churches still … [Read more...] about Lottie, Annie, and the CP: Good news, bad news
Alaska state convention action: Can the CP survive cafeteria style? [Revised, updated, nuanced]
There is other news of note than the sad saga of LifeWay and President and Mrs. Trump being sick. For a bright, positive example consider our IMB appointing 80 new missionaries, ones that are "fully funded" and supported by our existing revenue stream. More on that later. But about the Alaska state convention and our beloved Cooperative Program as reported in Baptist Press: Alaska Baptists vote to withhold CP funds ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BP) – Messengers to the annual meeting of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network took the unprecedented step of attempting to withhold the allocation of … [Read more...] about Alaska state convention action: Can the CP survive cafeteria style? [Revised, updated, nuanced]
You want SBC villains?
Then lock and load because all SBC leaders have giant, bright red bullseyes on their back. Sadly, it's part of our system. I diverge from almost all SBC leaders - the number of which includes entity heads, celeb megapastors, influencers, and others - on a few things but not enough to leave or participate in a new and needless CR. There has to be a way that we consider ourselves on the same side against the devil, debauchery, and societal deterioration. There also has to be a way for Bible believing churches and people to join together in favor of the Gospel, grace, goodness, and … [Read more...] about You want SBC villains?
State conventions and legacy spending; unchecked financial hemorrhaging here in Georgia
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 SBC history nerd can inform me as to which state convention will be celebrating their bicentennial soon. My state, Georgia, has a state convention that was founded in 1822. Likewise, several institutions that are or have been connected with the GBMB and which are funded in part by them … [Read more...] about State conventions and legacy spending; unchecked financial hemorrhaging here in Georgia
“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 brain trust persuade me otherwise. I can see a categorical personal statement, e.g. "I will not vote for any party that supports abortion" or similar. One day, it cannot come too soon, we will be post COVID-19. One day we will be post-Trump. … [Read more...] about “I don’t see how a Christian could vote for…”
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 a decade ago, was that the North American Mission Board be "liberat[ed] to conduct and direct a strategy of reaching the United States and Canada with the Gospel and planting Gospel churches...Thus, we believe that the North American Mission Board must be refocused and unleashed for … [Read more...] about About some state conventions claim that NAMB “abandons true collaborative partnership”
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 over Religious Dispute The Fifth Circuit will soon decide whether to reconsider a case over whether religious groups control their own internal religious matters, or if — in the words of the plaintiff — “Caesar must enter the temple to … [Read more...] about NAMB’s lengthy lawsuit; be sure and read this National Review article
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, no accepted practices, no training, no apprenticeship, nothing, nothing, nothing. As an obscure, old codger blogger once (or twice, or thrice) wrote, "some SBC churches would ordain a ham sandwich." It's all about local church autonomy, of … [Read more...] about What does it take to get an SBC pastor defrocked, de-ordained?