William Thornton

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?

Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express story on sex abuse. The SAE must have lost a coin flip over who gets top billing. A compilation of stories of sex abuse in SBC churches over the past two decades, the series has dominated news in the SBC for the year. Credit to Rob Downen and John Tedesco (and others) for an enormous amount of reporting on this. Credit also for getting SBC polity right in most cases. This SBC pastor (retired) finds little to complain about in the series. We could have and should have done better. Ronnie Floyd elected Executive Committee CEO. A much higher profile … [Read more...] about Top SBC News of 2019, Part One

I can easily top the headlines that Baptist Press uses. Use any headline you like but it's good news that the venerable Cooperative Program is off to its best start in a decade. CP giving off to best start in a decade sayeth Baptist Press. The numbers are up over a million dollars over the same period (two months) last year. The amount given, though, is a bit under what is budgeted. Designated giving, mostly Lottie and Annie, is up over 27%. Not sure what accounts for that but it's good news. It would be good to set a Lottie Moon record this year. _________________ Mark … [Read more...] about Cooperative Program off to best start since Mark Sanford fake-hiked the Appalachian Trail

Baptist Press reported yesterday about the SBC Credentials Committee's establishment of an "online submission portal for reports of a church's alleged departure from Southern Baptist polity, doctrine or practice." I want to be optimistic and supportive of the effort. It's a difficult task. Good people are involved with the best motives and highest concern for these things. My observations are not criticisms. I'm reading the stuff for the first time and relaying what strikes me about it. A few observations: It should be remembered that this is about CHURCHES, not INDIVIDUALS. The … [Read more...] about The enhanced Credentials Committee: observations and questions