I wrote an article back in 2016, Before We Get Sidetracked, Let's Celebrate Lottie Moon's Big Year. The year was 2016 and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering reached $165 million and was up for the year by almost $13 million. That was pretty impressive. I referenced (on my old blog SBCPlodder) in that article Lottie Moon's Phenomenal Year. That year was 2003 and the offering was over $136 million. What was astonishing about that year was that Lottie was up over $21 million from the previous year, an impressive 18 percent increase. Those were the days of old when bold Southern Baptists … [Read more...] about Lottie Moon over $200 million
Destined for repeated disasters?
For the record: I'm solidly, consistently, permanently SBC with zero interest in departing our beloved convention of churches nor being a part of any church that is not SBC. I'd make an exception if I lived in some remote place in Nebraska, Maine, or Nevada that didn't have an SBC church (I'd have a house church but my wonderful wife might get tired of hearing my sermons). I'll be "SBC dead" in 14 years and 5 months although I recognize that the Almighty doesn't consult actuarial tables. In September of 2022 I like some things about the SBC: IMB, our true crown jewel and flagship … [Read more...] about Destined for repeated disasters?
Would this pastor be on the Ministry Check database?
Credit to the Tennessean and to the survivor for making this known. Tullahoma pastor resigns after abuse survivor shares story This may be behind a paywall. The salient facts are familiar, and depressing: a youth guy has sex with a teen in his group, 16 years old. The Tennessean quotes the former youth pastor as confessing to the act but the act was determined by law enforcement people in Kentucky where the abuse occurred to not be illegal. Would this non-illegal act have landed the guy on the SBC's database that is being put together? I'm not sure and will have to reread some of … [Read more...] about Would this pastor be on the Ministry Check database?
Average SBC Senior Pastor pay package approaches $100,000 or how inflation is the real pastor killer
LifeWay, Guidestone, and the state conventions do a compensation study of SBC pastors and staff. The numbers in it come from self-reporting by churches and church staff. Here's the way Baptist Press reported the 2022 results: SBC pastor pay stuck at same level since 2018 It's a good article. Read it. Here's another way to look at the pay of SBC Senior Pastors who are the largest respondents to the survey: Average SBC Senior Pastor pay package approaches $100,000 That's right, brethren (and there are no sistren who are SBC senior pastors) - The average pay for Senior Pastors is … [Read more...] about Average SBC Senior Pastor pay package approaches $100,000 or how inflation is the real pastor killer
Local church autonomy still the realty in the SBC, says EC counsel
[The headline is not a direct quote, lest anyone not read what is written beside the headline.] There are more than an dozen articles on this site that deal with our practice of local church autonomy. May I link just one of these by a distinguished member of the SBCV team: Autonomy is a reality, not an excuse. In that article are some quotes that might summarize the attitude of many in regard to this principle and practice that individual churches make their own decisions, Stop making autonomy an excuse for doing nothing about clergy sex abuse… The SBC needs to deal with the issue and … [Read more...] about Local church autonomy still the realty in the SBC, says EC counsel
The death of the church choir
There he or she stands, waving their arms at a bunch of people holding books and singing. Maybe they are all dressed alike. Maybe there's a solo part. Maybe there are musicians. Maybe the music is piped in. The congregation watches. Maybe they are thrilled. Maybe they are bored. Question for the ecclesiastical expoits: Is not having a choir a thing these days? The churches I pastored all had choirs. If I had attempted to replace the choir with any kind of alternative band, praise team, permanent ensemble, barbershop quartet or whatever, that would have gotten me a quick ticket to … [Read more...] about The death of the church choir
CP quiz answers, with predictable commentary
For the record, I've always supported and given to the CP in my churches. More than average in some, less in some. The SBC would be unrecognizable without it and it is here to stay. All churches in friendly cooperation with the SBC should support it. Didn't ask, but everyone knows CP giving is not required to be SBC, right? (Exceptions are those churches who are NAMB or state convention supported plants). ____________________ The Cooperative Program is our oldest giving program. FALSE. Both mission boards had their offerings well before the CP was established in 1925 and I'm sure there … [Read more...] about CP quiz answers, with predictable commentary
Take the CP quiz, if you’re up to it.
True/False questions, so that you have a 50/50 chance of getting in right. Use a coin if necessary: The Cooperative Program is our oldest giving program. The CP is our largest and wealthiest SBC giving program. Most CP receipts go to the mission boards and seminaries. SBC churches give around 10% of their undesignated offerings to the CP. The CP is as old as the ages of Bart Barber and Adam Greenway combined. The SBC portion of the CP was actually less than the two big mission offerings, Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong. Generally, churches are giving less to CP and more … [Read more...] about Take the CP quiz, if you’re up to it.
We’re embarking on implementation of the SATF. Questions for the ARITF
The job of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force seems difficult. SBC President Bart Barber appointed nine people, seven men and two women, to the group. In what looks like a wisely and carefully crafted statement, Barber said: “The purpose of this task force is to assist the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention in our efforts to shut the doors of our churches to those who would act as sexual predators and to wrap our arms around survivors and those who love them,” Barber said. Note the word "assist" in describing the job of this task force. No task force, no SBC entity, no SBC … [Read more...] about We’re embarking on implementation of the SATF. Questions for the ARITF
The strange journey of our venerable CP and mission offerings
Just the facts, brethren. These measures are up, considerably up. CP giving above budget by $10.4 million through July As of July 31, gifts received by the EC for distribution through the CP Allocation Budget total $168,760,690.32. This is $6,714,403.20 or 4.14 percent more than last year’s budget contribution of $162,046,287.12. The amount given is ahead of the $158,333,333.40 year-to-date budgeted projection to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America by $10,427,356.92 or 6.59 percent. The rump takeover group is officially supportive of the CP. It would be … [Read more...] about The strange journey of our venerable CP and mission offerings