William

The continuing rancor triggered by Paige Patterson's invitation to speak at a church in Florida makes me ask this question: Has the SBC while in annual session, the SBC Executive Committee, any of the 41 state conventions affiliated with the SBC, or any of the 1,146 local associations of Southern Baptist churches ever blacklisted an individual minister? I don't know that any of these ever have taken any formal action to do so, the Convention at every level relating to churches not ministers. If any employees of these entities speak to the matter, they speak they speak as individuals, just … [Read more...] about Has “the SBC” ever blacklisted ministers?

...that can't get any respect. I can't think of the last time I heard a pastor say anything positive about the fact that he lived in the parsonage. Maybe never. I don't see data on it but church-owned housing seems to have been declining for a long time. Younger pastors are aghast at the idea of being tied to the church by living in a house owned by the church. Each of the churches I pastored had a parsonage and my family and I lived in it because that was the only option available. For the two rural churches I pastored the only way the pastor could live on the church field, where his … [Read more...] about Behold, the lowly parsonage…

Here are a few reasons why: We'll elect a new SBC President in sultry Orlando in June. It was announced back in November that Al Mohler will be nominated for SBC prez. The early timing of the announcement was an eyebrow raiser. Mohler quickly responded that he would accept the nomination. Hey, I'm just glad he didn't say that he would accept the presidency. Ordinary SBCers get to vote. He'd get my vote if I decided to attend the meeting and swelter it out in what used to be a perfectly good swamp. Surely, someone else will also be nominated. There's an announced candidate for 2nd Vice … [Read more...] about Already? 2020 and it looks like a very interesting year for the SBC

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