No suspense about why the SEC is the leading college football conference: money. The lowest paid head coach in the conference still makes more than $2 million annually. Some SEC assistant coaches make that much. My team, Georgia, will have no less than four assistant coaches making over one million dollars for the year if bonuses are scored. It's old news that any of those four will be paid more than the university's president. The head coach will make many times as much as the president. This, brethren and sistren, is cold, hard capitalism. College football in the SEC fills enormous … [Read more...] about The pastor and givers and why the SEC is the leading football conference
Questions from the Voices Distinguished Chair of SBC Realism
By the grace of God and the tolerance of Dave Miller, I occupy the lofty heights of the SBC Voices Distinguished Chair of SBC Realism. Alas the chair is not endowed but I'm receptive to any offers. Here are a few questions for the SBC hoi polloi: Revitalization Church revitalization has been a buzzword and a watchword since I took my first church in 1982. Do those who are practitioners and contributors to the concept have honest metrics that actually demonstrate the success or failure of revitalization efforts? I'm not accusing anyone of anything, just asking. What is the measure of … [Read more...] about Questions from the Voices Distinguished Chair of SBC Realism
Pastor, be neither bullied nor shamed in your preaching
There is nothing profound about this. You have a church and a pulpit. Use it to God's glory. Sometimes events occur that demand your attention from the pulpit. The congregation looks to their pastor and church for a word from God in the midst of such events. I'm reading how every pulpit in the nation should address white nationalism, white privilege, white supremacy, Christian nationalism, Christian supremacy...various phrases that flow on social media with such indignation. Some of these concern me. Some events demand immediacy. Most do not. I'm semi-retired now and don't have a group … [Read more...] about Pastor, be neither bullied nor shamed in your preaching
In the span of 15 months implosions of both Traditionalists and Calvinists
My first writings here on SBC Voices was a matched pair of articles on Calvinists in the SBC: What I like about Calvinists and Why I'm wary of Calvinists. Those were in the summer of 2011 and, as I recall, each had hundreds of comments. What made me wary then was (1) Calvinists can be, well, rather arrogant, (2) I’ve been around too many churches that have been wrecked by Calvinists, (3) Calvinists have been known to be less than forthcoming with search committees. It looks to me like Calvinists, having grown considerably in stature, acceptance, and influence in the SBC, have moved from … [Read more...] about In the span of 15 months implosions of both Traditionalists and Calvinists
“We don’t have a pastor, just a preacher”
With that succinct sentence a church member issued a severe indictment of the man who was their pastor and preacher. I'd heard it before. The line is a standard complaint of some church members who aren't enamored with their current pastor. I may signify something more serious, that members have arrived at the conclusion that their pastor is totally inadequate in performing pastoral duties. In the case at hand the member was expressing frustration that the pastor didn't relate well to most of the members, didn't make sufficient effort to build relationships, and, perhaps, performed minimal … [Read more...] about “We don’t have a pastor, just a preacher”
Finally, a formal statement about the Founder’s debacle
Tom Ascol has a statement, here. Here's a word not in the statement: "apologize" Here's another word not in the statement: "sorry" Here's a word, used once, in the statement: "regret" We regret the pain and confusion we caused by this unwise alignment of image and idea. Not exactly a profile in courage or confession to speak of an "unwise alignment." It was scurrilous. Glad he took responsibility for it. I find the whole thing a calamity in our cooperative SBC family and this statement is not all that satisfying to me. I can't ignore that one of Ascol's guys buttonholed at … [Read more...] about Finally, a formal statement about the Founder’s debacle
The supreme irony of the year: Tom Ascol calls on the SBC for “deep seated repentance”
You can't make this stuff up. I'm not going to link it. We had the Militant Trads, but they self-destructed. We've had the Rabid Cals for years, Ascol was a pretty decent spokesman for that segment of SBC life. Now, hopefully, the Rabid Cals have self-immolated. It's Wagnerian, brethren/sistren: Gotterdammerung. You might have to change a gender or two to get a good fit. Thank God for the sensible multitudes in our convention. Ignore the rest. _____________ Shortest article ever. Doesn't need to be explained. … [Read more...] about The supreme irony of the year: Tom Ascol calls on the SBC for “deep seated repentance”
My first sermon, being overpaid, and a peculiar racial church situation
I came to seminary from a secular job and volunteer positions in my large church with no preaching experience. Soon, I was offered an opportunity to preach in a small town in the Mississippi Delta, the 'Fust' Baptist church thereof. With some effort I cobbled together a sermon of a sort on Isaiah 40, I think, and headed down on the Lord's Day to the church. The church had a nice looking brick structure in the middle of town. A Sunday school class was in progress when I arrived, one of the men of the church teaching a couple of kids on the steps of the pulpit platform. Worship was for … [Read more...] about My first sermon, being overpaid, and a peculiar racial church situation
SBC entities should voluntarily, annually disclose CEO compensation
Morris Chapman, former SBC president and Executive Committee CEO, made a motion last month in Birmingham: A motion by Morris Chapman of Triune Baptist Church in Arrington, Tenn., to request that the Executive Committee amend the SBC's Business and Financial Plan where necessary to strengthen the fiscal accountability of the SBC's entities to the convention. I don't know what he had in mind, although I could make some guesses. No one would know more about the issue of the SBC Executive Committee's Business and Financial plan and the fiscal accountability of SBC entities, or lack thereof, than … [Read more...] about SBC entities should voluntarily, annually disclose CEO compensation
People change churches easily and often and I was totally unprepared for this
If Dave Miller can bare his soul by reflecting on his ministry I can at least empty my mind on one aspect of my own: I was totally uprepared for how folks move so easily and often among churches. It was my own fault, or at least a lack of preparation caused by never having been involved in an average sized SBC church until I was the pastor of the same. A church leader asked for a meeting with me within days of my arriving on the field at my new pastorate. He was a long time, faithful member of the church, a deacon, an energetic and committed worker in the congregation. He had been thinking … [Read more...] about People change churches easily and often and I was totally unprepared for this