Some things to keep in mind about this study: The study is about "sexual misconduct" a broad category that includes sexual harrassment, abuse, etc. Surveys did not ask respondents if they were victims "of child sexual abuse or sex assault because of mandatory reporting requirements." While the survey was of Protestant churchgoers, there are more Southern Baptist respondents than random sampling would yield. When weighted, the responses are sufficient (LR says) to be accurate in regard to Southern Baptists. Some interesting results: High percentages of churchgoers say … [Read more...] about LifeWay researches sexual misconduct
Sex abuse victim advocates and victims will rally in Birmingham #SBC19
I can't think of any topic that will dominate the SBC Annual Meeting in Birmingham moreso than sex abuse. While the SBC is meeting in Birmingham, sex abuse victim advocates and victims will hold a rally. This is the ForSuchATimeAsThisRally. It will be held outside the convention center on Tuesday, June 11, from 5 to 6:45 pm. Stated goals include: Women should be respected and honored within the SBC. The low view of women has contributed to an abuse-empowering church culture. A clergy abuse database must be established documenting confessed, convicted or credibly accused abusers. … [Read more...] about Sex abuse victim advocates and victims will rally in Birmingham #SBC19
Can we avoid an SBC Hobbesian nightmare on gender issues?
Contributors here at SBC Voices have a couple of articles this week on the SBC and gender. These looked to me to be among the most irenic and amicable approaches possible to an issue that is important to the SBC. Elsewhere, teeth have been set on edge with more vicious and forceful discussions. Brent Hobbs, for whom the title of this article is not written, wrote about Cooperation and Complexity on the Question of Women Preaching. His final paragraph: This is a big, complex question. And it deserves better than the simplistic treatment it’s received recently. As Southern Baptists we are … [Read more...] about Can we avoid an SBC Hobbesian nightmare on gender issues?
Alas, my closest LifeWay store is indeed closing
STORE CLOSING! EVERYTHING ON SALE! EVERYTHING MUST GO! I hate the street-walking placard-bearers but they must work because even my LifeWay store uses some. When I first moved back to Georgia in 1997, the closest LifeWay was inside the Atlanta perimeter. If I wanted to visit the store I'd have to have a plan for assaulting the gates of highway and traffic hell to get to the store. I'd just as soon stick a shard of glass in my eye as drive inside Atlanta. Then they opened a new store in the Atlanta exurbs, near the largest mall in the state. It was much easier to get to the store and I … [Read more...] about Alas, my closest LifeWay store is indeed closing
What will attendance be at the SBC Annual Meeting in beautiful, if messy, Birmingham?
It's less than a month to the convention in Birmingham. Southern Baptists will show up by the thousands and mix and mingle with all the construction crews tearing up downtown. One hopes that there is no reverend road rage. These guys are just working stiffs, doing their job. Here's a list of SBC meetings for the past 52 years, courtesy of the Baptist Courier (I added the 2018 figure). This is for registered messengers, not guests, press, or Secret Service personnel. 1967 Miami Beach – 14,794 1968 Houston – 15,071 1969 New Orleans – 16,678 1970 Denver – 13,692 1971 St. Louis – … [Read more...] about What will attendance be at the SBC Annual Meeting in beautiful, if messy, Birmingham?
Ye Olde Waffle House Tent Revival
A small church down the road from me had a tent revival (they called it a "crusade") this week. I intended to go but, well, missed it. The church that hosted it is a very small SBC church. I think the tent evangelist was an independent Baptist. The tent is bright yellow and screams 'Waffle House'. Advertisements said they would have 'concessions' every night which I took to mean that they were selling hot dogs and the like. Waffle House caters. That would have been a better fit, though expensive. The church next door (I didn't put it in the picture) is about as strong a contrast to the … [Read more...] about Ye Olde Waffle House Tent Revival
Our new Executive Committee leader and Great Commission Giving
Savvy Southern Baptists, and that includes all who read, comment, or post here at Voices, know about Great Commission Giving, the new metric created by the Great Commission Resurgence group nine years ago. GCG is supposed to be giving by a church "to any Baptist association, state convention, and to the causes of the Southern Baptist Convention." It should include Cooperative Program, Lottie and Annie, all state convention special offerings, whatever the church gives to their association, and anything else given to SBC entities and causes of the SBC. Offering for The Gideons, Samaritan's … [Read more...] about Our new Executive Committee leader and Great Commission Giving
The Oklahoma Baptist Foundation wants your money…and other interesting SBC news you may not have heard
I think all major state conventions have a foundation that does estate planning, manages funds, makes church loans and offers investment options. The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma would be happy to have your money even if you are not in Oklahoma. They've even launched a new brand, WatersEdge Ministry Services to be more appealing to folks outside Oklahoma. "Waters" and "Edge?" I have no idea about the name but they do use a baptism picture in their slick, full page ad in SBCLife. I'm all for competition but it's a brave, new Baptist world I suppose. Let's see what kind of swag they're giving … [Read more...] about The Oklahoma Baptist Foundation wants your money…and other interesting SBC news you may not have heard
888 hours to Birmingham
If I walked, that might be how long it would take me if I survived rural Alabama in the summer. But there are only 888 hours to the beloved and celebrated SBC Annual Meeting in Birmingham. Here are some things we're looking for: Re-election of J. D. Greear. Should be no problem and no opposition. He's done a good job with appointments and pre-meeting themes and the like. Bigger than JD will be the For Such A Time As This rally. Not sure of the exact plans or times. Last year there was a rally outside of the convention hall that I missed. The ERLC has positioned itself front and … [Read more...] about 888 hours to Birmingham
The Cooperative Program is in a long time funk
No surprise about that; nothing new, nothing different. Latest CP figures released by the Executive Committee have this as a headline: Nat'l CP 2.67% over YTD budget projection Savvy CP watchers will appreciate that the 2018-2019 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget was a conservative budget and that the Executive Committee has sufficient revenues to meet the budgetary expectations of the mission boards, seminaries, and other national CP recipients. The national CP is roughly 40% of all CP revenues. State conventions keep the bulk of it, always have, though less now than in earlier years. … [Read more...] about The Cooperative Program is in a long time funk