Absent a catastrophic convention, which seems likely, the SBC will have the Ministry Check database of abusers sometime soon. The SBC in annual session voted overwhelmingly to do this last year. It seems likely that our Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force will have it in place prior to June and no further votes are needed, best I can see. The Executive Committee has to execute a contract with the administrator, Faith-Based Solutions, a division of the familiar (and detested by some) Guidepost Solutions, LLC. Those who don't like the Ministry Check database, or don't want it, or think … [Read more...] about Ministry Check reality check
Is the Executive Committee or SBC in annual session capable of handling mass expulsions?
The SBC Executive Committee expelled six churches last month. Saddleback was the most, perhaps only, notable church in the group. Five of these (Saddleback included) were kicked out for women pastors and the sixth for mishandling sex abuse. This action was done in secrecy (in the SBC we euphemize that by calling it "executive session", without public discussion, and without individual votes made public.) This is a crappy way to do the convention's business, pardon my mild scatological expression. Let's assume that everyone meant well, that decent people were acting in good faith, that … [Read more...] about Is the Executive Committee or SBC in annual session capable of handling mass expulsions?
Lottie Moon, letter writer extraordinaire and giant among Southern Baptists. Would she be canceled or excluded today?
I love the news that a significant early letter of Lottie Moon was recently donated to Southeastern Seminary. Lottie Moon letter donated to SEBTS displays Moon's courage, influence WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) – Earlier this month, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) received the donation of an letter written by Lottie Moon, lifelong missionary to China in whose memory Southern Baptists receive their annual Christmas offering for international missions. Dated July 22, 1878, the letter is a remarkably preserved example of Moon’s correspondence and offers a glimpse into her early … [Read more...] about Lottie Moon, letter writer extraordinaire and giant among Southern Baptists. Would she be canceled or excluded today?
Historic low for clergy trust but you need not concern yourself about that
My colleagues and I are at an historic low in regard to being considered trustworthy by the public. Notable Ratings for Clergy, High School Teachers, Police The Gallup poll puts the beloved man-of-the-cloth above lawyers, bankers, and journalists but below nurses, doctors, and accountants. Alas, when I started out in the 1980s we were, as a group, ranked high in trust. Now, we're in the toilet and swirling downward. Gallup tracked the downward movement as beginning early in this century, around the time of the Roman Catholic clergy sex abuse scandals. Lifeway Research takes a look … [Read more...] about Historic low for clergy trust but you need not concern yourself about that
The SBC Voices astronomy report: The ‘spectacular’ Green Comet C/2022 E3
The Green Comet, C/2022 E3 Those intrepid Voices readers who rise early before the sun and who know where to look may easily find in the Green Comet these days. That is officially C/2022 E3 and your humble hacker and plodder blogger, being retired and a light sleeper, has stepped outside on my deck and has been observing this comet for several days. If you look high in the north sky near the Big and Little Dippers before dawn you can find it. its not visible to the naked eye (may be later) and you will need binoculars but if you scan around in that small area you will probably find it. I … [Read more...] about The SBC Voices astronomy report: The ‘spectacular’ Green Comet C/2022 E3
OK, so who are the SBC elites who sit at the cool kids table at lunch?
Pity the exalted, yet poor group of "SBC Elites." Seems the group is always in the bulls eye for one dissenting group or another. They get to sit at the cool kids table at lunch, and, if critics are correct these folks only deign to talk to each other. Communication with lesser SBCers is made by pronouncements, instructions on how to think and act, and by divine fiat. We aren't a convention of churches, as we've been told ad nauseum. We are a convention of pastors, and other clergy who are on the denominational payroll. An elite, self-selected group among these drives the SBC bus. Who … [Read more...] about OK, so who are the SBC elites who sit at the cool kids table at lunch?
Merry Christmas
The Winter Solstice Edition and why Miller and I are grouches and I’m a pagan
Today is the Winter Solstice, egad, 'the shortest day of the year' sayeth the pessimist. "Thank God! Days get longer from here on," sayeth the optimist. So, into the valley of death rides the intrepid old-school blogger tackling the hard issues with as little daylight as possible. I freely declare that I am a pagan, using the original sense etymologically of the word. I live in the country, a rustic. Proof positive is that I can see no neighbors from my house, not one, and none can see me. Hah! Amazon, UPS, and FedEx, of course, regularly invade my space and mess up my yard. … [Read more...] about The Winter Solstice Edition and why Miller and I are grouches and I’m a pagan
Pickleball, those old family life centers, and our declining birth rate
Among the things we Southern Baptists know as reality but seldom express is that churches will almost always be happy to undertake projects that expand their buildings. It makes us feel good about ourselves, as in 'we might not be growing but take a look at our facilities.' If one looks around there are scads of SBC churches who can count several successful building programs in their history. And don't call me a cynic (I prefer 'realist') when I write that the pastor who leads in building that new sanctuary, that new educational building, that new family life center is more likely to be … [Read more...] about Pickleball, those old family life centers, and our declining birth rate
‘Tis the season for seasons, ubiquitous seasons, generic seasons, euphemistic seasons, ridiculous seasons
Here in Georgia we have four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter. Spring is great unless it comes early and leaves quickly, then we have three seasons: summer, fall, winter. Summer is tolerable here, unlike New Orleans and Houston where the devil makes his seasonal residence with oppressive heat and humidity being constant and unpleasant companions. Fall is always super. Winter is OK if you take extra vitamin D to stave off the morose feelings for those long stretches of cold, rainy days with no sunshine. In the south there's really just two seasons: SEC football season and not … [Read more...] about ‘Tis the season for seasons, ubiquitous seasons, generic seasons, euphemistic seasons, ridiculous seasons