People sometimes declare themselves to be 4 point Calvinists, or 3 1/2 point Calvinists. I'll describe myself as a 4 point Jurkovichist. That is, I'll fully take three of Jurkovich's five points listed under "our purpose" and half of two others making me a four-pointer. Shoot, I'd join the group but you have to give assent, check a box, about "affirming" the CBN purpose. At this stage in life, I'm all for capital preservation, not wild risk-taking and I'd hate to be tied to every statement that comes out of Brad Jurkovich's mouth. He is the only leader of this group at this stage. Plaudits … [Read more...] about I don’t think I’ll join Brad Jurkovich’s secret group with undisclosed funding
Perhaps this is why abuse victims and their advocates always seem to be spittin’ mad at the SBC
Those of us who follow these things have probably thought that abuse victims and their advocates are in a perpetual state of anger at "the SBC." Two abuse victims wrote here that "There is a tipping point, though, at which genuine advocacy slips into routine outrage..." I thought that to be a cogent statement at the time...but then, cases keep coming forward. There are a number of abuse stories involving the SBC that feature megachurches, celebrity pastors, and notorious cases that are years, decades old. The SBC is a convention of small churches. USA Today has a lengthy story on a small … [Read more...] about Perhaps this is why abuse victims and their advocates always seem to be spittin’ mad at the SBC
Is it worth it? SBC resolutions and SBC Pastor’s Conference
The Pastor's Conference is the largest and easiest target around. Make all SBCers happy? Sort of like making all of your church members happy. Not a snowflake's chance in Gehenna of that. Back when Adrian Rogers would always close the Pastor's Conference it was a thrilling event indeed. Not so much now. Dave Miller and his gang had the last, best PC. It was innovative, focused on the ordinary SBC pastor rather than celebrities, an authentic grassroots enterprise. It was that PC, one should remember, that actually took money and gave it to a number of pastors who couldn't afford to attend … [Read more...] about Is it worth it? SBC resolutions and SBC Pastor’s Conference
Randy Adams will make history if elected SBC president
If Randy Adams is elected SBC president this June he will make some history in a couple of ways. It's been a long time since a state convention CEO was elected president of the SBC, maybe never (I'll let some SBC history person fact check me on that). I'm certain that we haven't had a non-celebrity, non-megapastor as SBC president since the 1970s. Adams would be both of those. His only announced opponent, Al Mohler, is a first order SBC celebrity. Either way the election goes, we will have a denominational employee as SBC president. This isn't an issue for me, since his power is … [Read more...] about Randy Adams will make history if elected SBC president
Decadent entertainment, our culture, and the Bible
"Near nakedness," you say? "Indecent!" "Not family entertainment!" ...I read in the indignant tweets. Shocking! At a Super Bowl! No wardrobe malfunction, just the wardrobe or lack thereof? I'm a bit flummoxed by all the furrowed brows and pious sniffs over this. I will state that your humble hacker and plodder blogger did not watch one moment, not one nanosecond, of the Super Bowl halftime show. I wouldn't know Shakira from sriracha. I'm told they are both, uh, hot. I watched exactly two plays of the game itself. Big deal. Congrats Chiefs. I'm happy as long as the Pats aren't … [Read more...] about Decadent entertainment, our culture, and the Bible
IMB: 3,619 to 4,119 by December 31, 2024
Our largest and most important entity, The International Mission Board, has a five year plan, announced by President Paul Chitwood at the recent IMB trustee meeting. The plan calls for a number of things but, most importantly, it calls for an additional 500 overseas field personnel. I assume that means a 500 net increase by the end of 2024 which would bring the total field personnel up to 4,119. These would be numbers which haven't been seen since prior to the IMB's retirement incentive program implemented by former IMB head David Platt. Chitwood's plan is modest. Platt's approach … [Read more...] about IMB: 3,619 to 4,119 by December 31, 2024
On the road on Sunday morning during the worship hour
I am painfully literal here. Churches I'm around designate 11 am to noon as "the worship hour." Difficulty may arise if the beloved pastor attempts to expand the worship hour to the worship hour plus five or ten minutes. While in my stage of life, senior and getting no less so, the 9:30 am service we attend is a great Sunday schedule. Several times annually my church has just a single Sunday morning service at 11 and it seems like most of the day is gone by then. I love the earlier service. So, your humble, semi-retired pastor who isn't in the pastorate these days takes a trip to the beach … [Read more...] about On the road on Sunday morning during the worship hour
In high weeds: The Executive Committee’s proposed mission, ministry changes
New leadership is expected, one presumes, to make staffing changes and to make adjustments to legal documents, including mission and ministry statements. Thus, Ronnie Floyd has proposed the rewriting of the SBC Executive Committee's mission statement and ministry assignments. This will be taken up at the EC's meeting next month {I can't find the actual date of the meeting just now). Baptist Press reported on it yesterday: Floyd to propose SBC EC mission, ministry changes. A link is provided there to the old language. Updating the language of the SBC Executive Committee’s ministry assignments … [Read more...] about In high weeds: The Executive Committee’s proposed mission, ministry changes
JD speaks for JD, but he is the SBC President
From the Houston Chronicle: SBC President cautions churches about hosting disgraced leader Paige Patterson “Trustees terminated Paige Patterson for cause, publicly disclosing that his conduct was ‘antithetical to the core values of our faith,’ ” Greear told the Chronicle. “I advise any Southern Baptist church to consider this severe action before having Dr. Patterson preach or speak and to contact trustee officers if additional information is necessary.” and "Southern Baptist churches must take our mutual accountability to each other more seriously than we have in the past,” he said. “If … [Read more...] about JD speaks for JD, but he is the SBC President
What’s this inconsistent use of autonomy, anyway?
The complaint was that "the SBC" (scare quotes are essential in the present context; if an explanation is needed, just ask) uses autonomy as an excuse for inaction on abuse in churches and by "SBC" (same for the quotes around "SBC" but I'll not take the time to do so for the rest of this article) clergy. I understand that. There are a number of high profile, long running abuse cases that involve churches affiliated with the SBC and staff for those churches. An abuser would move from one SBC church to another, complaints would be made to SBC leaders whose answer would be that that they didn't … [Read more...] about What’s this inconsistent use of autonomy, anyway?