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?
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 of reaction towards anyone who doesn't favor political solutions that would eradicate abortion and make it illegal. Where this has put some in our circles is in a place where the most vicious, harsh, hate-filled rhetoric may be directed, with presumed divine sanction, at any who depart in the slightest … [Read more...] about Anti-abortion as divine permission for Christian hatred, misogyny, and racism
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 at the SC Baptist state college, North Greenville University, offers a string of reasons why it's time to embrace the nickname. While state conventions should retain their regional names for contextual reasons, it is time for Southern Baptists to embrace a name that better reflects our … [Read more...] about Can “Great Commission Baptists” be raised from the dead?
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, Vision 2025, that sets a goal of returning the CP to $500 million and more. COVID-19 has struck a blow against that for the moment. July was a good month for the national CP but the EC reports year to date totals down a bit from last year. Still, the EC … [Read more...] about Undermining the Cooperative Program, you say?
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 task force. This was back in February. Mike Stone, chairman at the time, said: "This is not a governance issue. This is a budget issue related to their fulfillment of their mission and ministry assignment. We continue to hear reports that are largely anecdotal but increasing in … [Read more...] about ERLC should answer questions from the Executive Committee [update: I hear there has been answers submitted]
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 going to sell the conference center. The virus has caused all conferences here to be cancelled. Normally, the place would be crawling with students attending events. As it is, only a few families are here for getaways. We’re all masked up. Lifeway said the center was … [Read more...] about Ridgecrest Conference Center scares me…
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] Onwuchekwa, who grew up in Houston, the son of Nigerian immigrants, said the SBC tried to make him feel welcome. But from the beginning, he had concerns. “We got on the bus with skepticism, nine years ago,” he said. In 2015, with help … [Read more...] about Leaving the SBC behind? This has to be discussed about Cornerstone Church
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 Vice President of the Confederacy and a virulent racist. Find his pre-Civil War quotes about the struggle being about white supremacy. Not much nuance about his views. A perpetually sickly person, it is said that he never weighed over 100 pounds. He made up for that with his … [Read more...] about Put John Lewis statue in the rotunda, Alexander H. Stephens in a museum
So, wear a stinkin’ mask…
...if that doesn't exert you too much. Here I am in my blogging sanctum sanctorum, my basement of course, all masked up but only for illustrative purposes. I don't quite get it when I see people in their car alone with a mask. I stay pretty close to home these days but venture out to Lowe's or Kroger's when we need stuff. I'm under authority here in my domicile and a room needs painting; thus, not one but several trips to Lowe's to get the right color and all that. I wear a mask. Thus far, no one has screamed at me, looked askance at me, or sneered at me for doing so. Lucky … [Read more...] about So, wear a stinkin’ mask…
“Woke” won’t work here
“Woke” is a dog whistle, a red flag signal; a brainless, thoughtless, mindless, vapid bit of freshman frat boy drivel. If the word is snarled out in a comment it’s a lead pipe cinch that the comment is a flash of drive-by nonsense. There are good arguments for and against renaming SBTS buildings. “Woke” or lack thereof isn’t one. Editors here differ on some of these questions. Contributions are welcome for and against. If we were gamblers there would have been heavy odds that this piece by DMcK would generate a record number of trashed comments. We’re ultimately on the same side, or so … [Read more...] about “Woke” won’t work here