Clearly, we have the most interesting, and contested, race for the SBC presidency in quite some time. While I think J. D. Greear is the clear best choice, he will not get my vote. I’m 597 miles away and I hear you have to be physically present in the convention hall to cast a ballot. […]
Before we get sidetracked, let’s celebrate Lottie Moon’s big year
Our International Mission Board is reporting a spectacular increase in the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. The total for the 2015 offering is $165.8 million, an increase of $12.8 million over last year. Here are the Lottie Moon totals for this century: Lottie Moon Offering Year Received […]
State conventions should add value, not guilt, to churches
…the value of a state convention will not be determined by the size of its staff, its building, its budget, or its programming. Value will be determined by one metric alone—investment in the local church. When we bring value to the church, we bring glory to God. The quote above is not mine, although I […]
Spectacular Lottie Moon increase; modest but encouraging Cooperative Program increase
The benchmark for the general financial health of the Southern Baptist Convention has always been Cooperative Program giving. It is certainly the measure of state convention financial health, not so much for the mission boards and seminaries. Regardless, the recent SBC Executive Committee report of giving through May, 2016, two-thirds of their fiscal year, […]
This election doesn’t need to be about Calvinism…and I hope it isn’t.
There are more important subjects to discuss. Seems to me that the discussion would flow to mission support methodologies for the 21st century. We are all in favor of spiritual renewal. All the candidates were asked about Calvinism by B21. Here is what they said. Crosby gave a short answer so his is complete below. […]
Questions for NAMB, IMB, and seminary leaders
One feature of the annual meeting of our beloved Southern Baptist Convention is a time for reports from entity heads. These leaders usually leave a short time for questions from the floor. While I’m not planning to be in muggy St. Louis next month, if I were and could stake out one of the floor […]
Confederate flag resolution may have real value
Most SBC resolutions are both forgotten and forgettable but indications are that the resolution to be submitted by Dwight McKissick, Resolution on the Elimination of the Confederate Flag from Public Life, will be much more notable than what the SBC is accustomed to. Atlanta Journal-Constitution political writer Jim Galloway has an article about the proposed resolution […]
Is the Cooperative Program the only measure of a church “in friendly cooperation” with the SBC?
No. It’s not. Not unless one wants to deny that there was any cooperation among Southern Baptist churches for the first fourscore years of the SBC when there was no Cooperative Program. Not if one checks the SBC constitution which does not require that a single CP dollar be given to the SBC Executive Committee in […]
J. D. Greear would be a great SBC president
I will likely not attend the SBC Annual meeting this year, since, strangely, no one gives retired pastors a convention allowance. I’ve been to St. Louis a few times already. It was hot. For one SBC meeting there I stayed at the Mormon hotel next to the Cardinals’ baseball field. The room had a Book […]
Cooperative Program Sunday: Straight talk on the CP
Cooperative Program Sunday on the beloved denominational calendar was April 10th, last Sunday. Some churches observed it. Some didn’t. It should have been observed. It still can be observed, since there is no denominational calendar enforcement squad afoot catching violators. Here are some straight talk observations about our primary denominational giving plan. CP revenues are […]
They’re back at it…renewed legal challenge to our clergy Housing Allowance
The Freedom From Religion Foundation lost their earlier challenge but is taking another shot. FFRF renews ‘David and Goliath’ IRS challenge Same song…just another verse. Interestingly, the FFRF press release includes a quote from your humble and plodding blogger: “The manner in which our housing allowance has been used borders on clergy malpractice,” William Thornton, […]
Add a Cooperative Program candidate to make three SBC prez nominees.
I suppose you saw the Maundy Thursday special by Baptist Press: David Crosby to be SBC presidential nominee. Crosby is pastor of a non-megachurch, one that is above the average Cooperative Program giving percentage: First Baptist New Orleans. One could almost sense that someone like him was sure to be offered as an alternative to […]