William Thornton

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston has announced his intent to file legislation for a “pastor protection act” later this year when the legislature is in session. The pastor protection act will: a) provide security for pastors against forced termination b) legislate civil protections for pastors against obstreperous deacons c) cause the state to pay for […]

For most of us religious liberty in America is an abstract matter that allows us to declaim profusely and vigorously in matters that never touch us personally. We can talk and blog about it without leaving our comfortable pastorates. We can preach about it from our secure pulpits without risking anything save boring our congregation […]

Because of the offering in her name, Charlotte Digges Moon, Lottie Moon to all of us, is the SBC’s most heroic figure, a completely subjective opinion.      Regina Sullivan wrote the latest biography of LM (cover image is shown above). A previous biography, 1980, was written by Catherine Allen. I bought the former and was […]

“…by the authority vested in me as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the laws of this state…” Thus, thousands of Southern Baptist clergy complete a marriage ceremony by some fashion or wording invoking the authority granted them by the government, the state. How are you feeling about that now, brethren? I’ve done […]

…would be the Southern Baptist Convention in those two days that the convention is actually in existence between gavels at the annual meeting. I use the word “deliberative” ministerially, brethren and, in spite of goofballs, circus acts, and impenetrable machinations and motions at the meeting, I rather like the idea that one duly registered SBC […]

Baptist Press has the unofficial count, 5,406, for the meeting in Columbus earlier in the week. Sorry I couldn’t make it 5,407. The last six years are shown below: 2010 Orlando           11,070 2011 Phoenix             4,814 2012 New Orleans    7,814 2013 Houston       […]

This is how the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article headline read Tuesday. Baptists declare ‘spiritual warfare’ over gay marriage Since I wasn’t present, I don’t know if the writer got Ronnie Floyd’s words and attitude correct but the article looked about right. Declaring “spiritual warfare” on gay marriage, thousands gathered here Tuesday for the annual Southern Baptist […]

A lot of smart SBC people have looked at the summary of SBC statistics that were just made public and know a lot more than I do. The Baptist Press article, SBC reports more churches, fewer people by LifeWay writer Carol Pipes is what we usually get, almost a template where the numbers are changed from […]

As a pastor of average-sized Southern Baptist churches, sometimes above and sometimes below, I always enjoyed the routine of fellowships, after worship finger food, Wednesday evening meals, VBS snacks, class socials and any other occasion where folks showed up and shared food. I figure an average of twice a month for thirty years, probably more. […]

Each year prior to the SBC annual meeting the IMB reports the total for the previous year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Lottie Moon offering tops $153 million The $153 million is a huge sum but is about one million dollars less than last year’s record total of $154 million. The decrease is […]

The only thing I invest in Florida is an occasional chunk of tourist money. The only thing I bring out of Florida is sunburn and a few fish. But I do think events concerning the Florida Baptist Convention are interesting, since it is one of the largest of the state conventions and one of the […]