One hundred years ago last month the necessary number of states ratified the 18th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors. The Amendment went into effect the following year. Thus, next January, my fellow dry Southern Baptists may raise a toast to the time when our great republic gave a black eye to demon rum and the evil alcoholic beverage industry. Or, maybe not. I recall Prohibition being taught in history classes as a failed experiment. That it failed is manifestly true since the country, after a dozen years of … [Read more...] about A century after prohibition
Protecting children in your church
In regard to child protection in SBC churches and entities, whatever solutions are proposed or adopted in the various levels of Southern Baptist life if they prove ineffective in local churches the effort will have minimal value. Our convention has 50,000 or so individual churches that voluntarily cooperate on associational, state, and national levels. The country crossroads church needs to protect children just like the multi-campus megachurch franchise operation. In my church we have used MinistrySafe child protection system for about a year now. It is not a perfect system but works well … [Read more...] about Protecting children in your church
The ordination scandal in the SBC
Some Southern Baptist churches would ordain a ham sandwich. One pastor told me that his ordination was a joke. One ordination council in which I participated would have been a joke if I had not been present. No one seemed to know why they were there. Ordinations are quickly given but rarely revoked. Ordinations are not registered with any SBC body that I know of. Ordinations have no recognized requirements in the SBC. We Southern Baptists are not sacerdotalists but what are we? Ordinations require no particular education even though many laypeople think that a seminary … [Read more...] about The ordination scandal in the SBC
Search committee fundamentals, tawdry messes, and the bovine vote
Eleven day ago two former SBC presidents, megapastors both, and another prominent SBC pastor wrote the Search Committee for the SBC Executive Committee and asked if minority candidates were interviewed for the open position and if not, why not. The letter was leaked to one of the Baptist state papers. The SC issued a statement yesterday that while the question of a minority interview was not answered, attempted to reassure Southern Baptists of the Committee's committment to "ethnic diversity" in their work. Nothing happened in the ten days between except that conversation ripped and roared … [Read more...] about Search committee fundamentals, tawdry messes, and the bovine vote
About being their “favorite” pastor
Edith lived along the highway a few miles down from the church. With her in the modest frame house was her infirm husband who had been ill for some time. She was an authentic "shut in" in the ecclesiastical lingo of that rural church, confined to her home because of the condition of her husband who needed constant care. Would it be immodest if I said that I, the new pastor and latest in a string of short term ministers, was her favorite? My occasional visits would be brief but sprinkled with her effusive praise like, "We're so lucky to have you" and "You're the best pastor we've ever … [Read more...] about About being their “favorite” pastor
Keep in mind, no church has to give to the Cooperative Program
I think we are past all the hagiographic language about the Cooperative Program, how our primary channel is the stuff of genius, God-breathed, and without which the church of Christ would be irreparably handicapped. Although few among us would say that it is no longer relevant or valuable to Southern Baptists, as we are approch the CP centennial in 2025 a heaviness has settled on the CP discussions. We will almost assuredly enter whatever centennial celebrations planned for that year with over forty years of steady church percentage decline, decades in which churches said with their giving … [Read more...] about Keep in mind, no church has to give to the Cooperative Program
The Retail Baptist Pastor and his book of characters
My pastoral service was retail, not wholesale. That is, I related directly to everyone in my congregation rather than to staff or leadership only. This is retail on the scale of the median sized SBC congregation of seventy or so on Sunday morning or the average congregation of 125 or so. The vast majority of SBC clergy are retail pastors, most of these single fulltime staff clergy in their church. I have nothing against the megapastors who farm out their pastoral duties to a host of assistants, sub-pastors, associates, and specialists. I understand that the gravity and energy of … [Read more...] about The Retail Baptist Pastor and his book of characters
Meet the new Georgia state executive: “Call me Tommy.”
State convention CEOs usually stay for a long stretch, so in my 37 years as a pastor or semi-retired pastor I've only been around for three changeovers of state convention leadership. Yesterday I attended one of the "listening sessions" held by the new Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., former NAMB staffer, big church pastor, former prez of the GBMB, and trustee of a bunch of significant SBC and GBMB entities. "What do we call you," one attendee asked. "Call me Tommy," he said with an avuncular and casual air. I like him already. My state … [Read more...] about Meet the new Georgia state executive: “Call me Tommy.”
“Actually, I’d love to ruin the man’s ministry.”
The title is the response I'd give if I reported a case of clergy sex abuse and the church leaders cautioned me with, "You wouldn't want to ruin the man's ministry." I wouldn't? "Actually, I'd love to ruin the man's ministry." If you have abused a child I'd be happy if I could say the word and you would never serve as senior pastor or in any staff position ever again. I'd be pleased to do that deed. Unfortunately, and far too often, the response to a victim of sex abuse in a church is to caution the victim or his or her family that reporting might hurt the spiritual leader's ministry … [Read more...] about “Actually, I’d love to ruin the man’s ministry.”
How my church manages its membership roll is none of your business
In the SBC universe of churches: Some churches have a formal membership roll. Some churches don't maintain a formal roll. Some churches use a specific book in which membership and the changes to the same are meticulously maintained. This book is a historical, permanent church document. Some churches have dispensed with a written membership book and rely on software. Some churches have explicit rules on how one can join the church and strictly follow them. Some churches have explicit rules on joining but are soft on following them. Some churches have a membership roll … [Read more...] about How my church manages its membership roll is none of your business