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Here are the Southern Baptist national entity heads in 2010 with a look at what happened during the 2010s. International Mission Board, Jerry Rankin. Rankin was a short-timer in January, 2010. He left in July of that year. Tom Elliff was his replacement, serving from 2011-2014. David Platt took the top job in 2014 and served until late 2018. Paul Chitwood was elected and took office late in that year. Our oldest, largest, richest, and most important entity went through the 2010s with four CEOs. It wasn't a good decade in many respects. We went from a career missionary as leader (Rankin), to … [Read more...] about 2010-2019, a decade of disasters for SBC entities

I'll go with just these three, mainly because I didn't keep a record all year. There is a tipping point, though, at which genuine advocacy slips into routine outrage, especially regarding a large and lumbering religious system that has managed to ride by most cultural reforms on the backs of those who have preserved a dangerous status quo. The labeling of some sex abuse advocacy as "routine outrage" is the key here. Susan Codone and Megan Lively, both abuse survivors, co-authored the article, The Credentials Committee, A Call for Patience.  “…if we ask women to do something spiritually … [Read more...] about What are your top quotes from SBCers for 2019?

Bill Tolar, December 29, 2018 (late year death not reported until early 2019). Longtime SWBTS professor. Rick Stanley, January 7. Step-brother to Elvis and evangelist. Jimmy Allen,  January 9. Last of the moderate SBC presidents, 1977-1978. His successor was Adrian Rogers. The changeover was permanent. One of the most energetic and capable SBC presidents. A family member of mine did some financial services for him. When Dr. Allen was told "Oh, my brother is a Southern Baptist preacher", he insisted on sending greetings. Bailey Smith, January 14. He followed Adrian Rogers as president, … [Read more...] about Notable SBC deaths of 2019

These are in order from the most popular. Doctrinal Concerns of Southwest Baptist University Alumni. SWBU Alumni. This and the one below were of intense local interest. Not on my radar and not of much impact to the SBC as a whole. This follow-up article added to the controversy but was not as well read here. I look askance at the use of anonymous websites aimed at damaging any individual. We can handle things better. Too much of the worst of the old Conservative Resurgence in this brouhaha. Southwestern Seminary: Painful Recalibration. Dave Miller. Judging from attention or lack thereof … [Read more...] about Top Ten Voices Articles for 2019

The great automobile companies have historically been in the Detroit area. There's no good reason for that, seems to me. It's cold up there. But the big company plants are there, along with scads of ancillary manufacturers, services, and the like. Detroit isn't the Motor City for nothing. The area functioned as a magnet for all things related to automobiles. It has been reported that five of the top ten sending churches for Southern Baptists are in the Raleigh/Durham/Wake Forest area. A comprehensive analysis of why wasn't reported but it would be an easy guess that Southeastern Baptist … [Read more...] about SEBTS is to mission sending as Detroit is to the auto industry

That's right. At 11:19 PM Eastern is the moment the the sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. OK, genius, you explain how the sun is at it's lowest when it's dark outside. It's an astronomical thing and SBCers don't do astronomical things well, excepting perhaps megapastor salaries. Being a keen observer of the human condition, particularly the Christian, Baptist, Southern Baptist human condition, I judge that "solstice" both as a term and as a concept, is not to be mentioned in polite SBC company. The brethren and sistren are likely to think one to be a little too … [Read more...] about Finally! Winter Solstice is here

To tidy up and finish my list. Add these four and you get twelve, a good Bible number. Forsuchatimeasthis rally in Birmingham. It was a big newsmaker nationwide. Paige Patterson and SWBTS sued over rape case. The litigation is ongoing. Kathy Litton elected registration secretary. If you don't include the two vice-presidents, officers who are elected but have no responsibilities and duties, there are only three elected national SBC officers: president, recording secretary, and registration secretary. First time a woman has been elected to any of these. Tom Ascol and Founders create … [Read more...] about Top SBC News of 2019, Part Two

In the recent incident in which a female reporter was slapped on the derriere (and arrested and charged with sexual battery, a misdemeanor), reports labeled the guy a "youth pastor," "youth minister," "youth group leader," along with other various non-church related titles. The church says he is a volunteer worker. So, how do we get to "pastor" for one of the many people in every church who volunteer and work with adults, children, students, or preschoolers? I have no idea. Was the man ordained? Was he a paid staffer at the church? Did the church formall install him in a position of … [Read more...] about “Pastor” ain’t what it used to be

Watched or listened to the whole Founders movie, almost two hours. I'm retired and free to waste time as I see fit. There's no grass growing right now that needs watching and, not being all that energetic, there's no drying paint to gaze upon. There are some interesting things in this and some points that I would join but the film is mostly a lot of old white guys talking mostly about matters of race; long-in-the-tooth white men talking about what women should do,movies we've seen for a long time. And someone tally up the minutes of the film that puts African-Americans front and center as … [Read more...] about Maybe they can get a dead cat bounce out of the movie

When I took my first pastorate almost forty years ago, one noticeable aspect of it was that when there was ministry to be done for those who were near death, it almost always occurred in an insitution, primarily hospitals. I made countless visits to intensive care units to pray for church members who were near death. It was common in those days for the member to be connected to all manner of monitors, tubes, and other medical equipment. One family member, perhaps two, might be in the room with their loved one while others sat in the waiting room and maybe rotated in and out of the ICU … [Read more...] about More Americans are dying at home. Notice the change pastor?