One might think that our six seminaries are the safest and most secure of all SBC entities. The combined revenue streams of tuition, Cooperative Program, private gifts and other income sources would insulate the schools from disaster. After all, no hurricane would reach Louisville. Now, the pandemic has shut off tuition revenue. Southern seminary announced a staggering $16 million budget reduction - from $53.2 million to $37.2 million. Tuition accounted for close to one-half of Southern's income. The Cooperative Program, around 19 percent. Southeastern has announced that they plan to apply … [Read more...] about Our little SBC world – upside down now.
Some COVID-19 vignettes from the hinterlands
In my part of Georgia we've been locked down for weeks. The last in-person church service I attended was March 15th. Here are a few things I've noticed. You can add yours in a comment. If you think about it, it's absolutely amazing that the populace has responded quickly and cooperatively to the crisis. Almost all churches immediately stopped having physical gatherings. I don't know of an SBC church in my area who blithely continued with in-person services. I don't know how typical my 12 year-old church is but the congregation is doing well while not congregating. Giving for the five … [Read more...] about Some COVID-19 vignettes from the hinterlands
There’s a new, independent database for Baptist clergy abusers and alleged abusers
The longtime goal of some abuse victims and their advocates is for the SBC to fund and manage a database of convicted, confessed, and credibly accused clergy abusers. The Executive Committee of the SBC has long declined to take this step. The concrete proposals I have seen call for the Executive Committee to create and fund an independent panel of abuse experts that would receive and investigate reports. The panel would also maintain records of reports received. Some hierarchical churches utilize this system. I don't know of any organization of autonomous churches that does this. If you know … [Read more...] about There’s a new, independent database for Baptist clergy abusers and alleged abusers
So, Al Mohler will vote for Trump?
Mohler, somewhat long winded, in his own words, here. The Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., one of the key leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, plans to vote for President Trump in the fall, a reversal of his position in 2016 when he argued that support of Trump risks destroying evangelicals’ credibility. One of the country's best religion reporters, Sara Pulliam Bailey, in The Washington Post yesterday. Trump formerly "The Great Evangelical Embarrassment" (Mohler's phrase in WAPO, 2016), is now his guy for 2020. Boom! One might say that he just blew up his credibility but more likely, … [Read more...] about So, Al Mohler will vote for Trump?
Will COVID-19 see 2,500 SBC churches close over the next twelve months?
LifeWay Research director Scott McConnell was interviewed about our current health care crisis where almost every church in the country is not holding physical services. In an article entitled, Empty pews, empty collection baskets, coronavirus hits U.S. church finances he said: “It would not surprise me at all if 5% of churches close over the next year,” McConnell said. That is five times the typical annual closure rate estimated by The Christian Century, a U.S. mainline Protestant magazine. If his speculation holds true (and he did not apply it to just SBC churches) that would … [Read more...] about Will COVID-19 see 2,500 SBC churches close over the next twelve months?
Change comes hard for Southern Baptists but better come quickly
And I'm one of them. Hardheaded or stubborn might be the words used by my wonderful wife about her wonderful, retired SBC pastor husband. It was less than a month ago that the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Things moved rapidly. Here are a few observations about the past month. Many of these are obvious to all. I have retained a keen grasp of the obvious. Look elsewhere for profundity and meta-analysis. An extended period of church where virtually (did you catch that?) no congregation meets in their dedicated worship building is something unanticipated by all. We … [Read more...] about Change comes hard for Southern Baptists but better come quickly
“My God! What are we going to do about this?”
In the dark days of 1942 one of the United States Navy commanders in the Pacific was reported, twice, to have exclaimed, "My God! What are we going to do about this?" in response to critical communications about the war situation in his command area. Such didn't inspire confidence in his ability to lead and the admiral was soon sacked. This article isn't about national leadership during our current COVID-19 crisis. It is about pastoral leadership and public communications from some segments of Christendom active on social media. There is not a whole lot that the pastor can do other than … [Read more...] about “My God! What are we going to do about this?”
Government Paycheck Protection Plan for your church
I'm not the best person here to explain or opine on this, since I'm not an active pastor and don't have a payroll to meet. I know that many pastors are considering this. The Payroll Protection Act is a part of the CARES Act, the multi-trillion government response to the COVID-19 crisis. Here's how Baptist Press put it in regard to churches and non-profits: Nonprofits, including churches and other religious ministries, are eligible to receive funds covering up to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll, with a cap of $10 million per loan. Jonathan Whitehead, occasional commenter here and … [Read more...] about Government Paycheck Protection Plan for your church
The government bailout of your church…possibly…but hopefully you won’t need it.
Hearty credit to GuideStone for their fast action, research, and simple explanation of how the COVID-19 Pandemic Phase III Stimulus Package might affect you and your church or ministry. Great work also by Baptist Press (which carried GuideStone's Q&A Friday and a FB live event yesterday with Jonathan Howe asking questions of GuideStone Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Harold Loftin, Jr. We all get checks or deposits, with an income cap. Churches are eligible to obtain small business loans for "payroll protection." Church staff under many … [Read more...] about The government bailout of your church…possibly…but hopefully you won’t need it.
On releasing my inner misanthrope
Social distancing? Hey, I got this. I was born for this, brethren and sistren ("Hey doc, back off a bit would you? You're in my space"). Six feet, you say. How about sixty? I DNA tested at four percent Neanderthal. Is it necessary to point out that the socially obtuse Neanderthals died out. This requires some translation but maybe they didn't like each other's company. As a pastor, I spent a considerable number of years working on likeability. Made some genuine progress, according to my wonderful wife. Although the qualifications for pastor/elder/overseer do not include "must be … [Read more...] about On releasing my inner misanthrope