"They" would be the Freedom From Religion Foundation which gained a victory in a federal court district ruling in 2013 which disallowed the cash housing allowance. Unfortunately for them, the ruling was overturned at the appeals level. The appeals court found a problem with a technical legal issue, standing, and made no determination about the constitutionality of the cash version of the minister's housing allowance. This problem with standing has been resolved and we should expect the FFRF's current lawsuit challenging the housing allowance to move forward without the problem that sank it … [Read more...] about They’re coming after your housing allowance…again
College football TOP TEN!
Here's the Top Ten in college football. Not my ranking but that found here. (1) Colorado (2) Georgia Notre Dame (4) Kentucky (5) Chattanooga (6) Alabama Florida (8) Hawai'i (9) Kansas Youngstown State _______________ Any questions? Four teams from the mighty SEC. This is the parody award, Fulmer Cup, that tracks the criminal achievements of various college football programs during the offseason and declares a "winner." Unfair? Perhaps. I think a swallow of bitter realism on life in America is good for perspective. College football is super … [Read more...] about College football TOP TEN!
You can’t spell “Cooperative Program” without “opera”
...so how about a little more "opera" in our Cooperative Program supporting and sustaining churches? Great composers have found the Holy Bible to be prime source material for that most outstanding of all art forms: the opera. Singers and musicians combining in a theatrical performance that tells a compelling story. My twenty and thirtysomething ministerial colleagues seem to be searching for the cutting edge in ecclesiastical life. Try working some of these in your contemporary worship concert/performance and climb to the top of the hip/hop church heap. Nabucco, Guiseppe … [Read more...] about You can’t spell “Cooperative Program” without “opera”
Should seminarians be required to work at ChicK-fil-A?
If I started a Baptist seminary and had carte blanche in designing and operating it, I think I would make it an admissions requirement that all students show evidence of having worked at a Chic-fil-A. Sounds like a goofball concept? It has nothing to do with chicken, the old Baptist bird but my ruminations after a recent experience in one of the restaurants. I was in a CFA restaurant on a recent Saturday morning for breakfast. While gnawing on one of their breakfast burritos I observed that there was a group being given some sort of tour or group interview, a dozen or so young people, … [Read more...] about Should seminarians be required to work at ChicK-fil-A?
Giving contribution credit and satisfying the IRS: Woe is us.
A small church had enlisted a new contributions clerk, an unpaid, volunteer position. The clerk's sole job was to take the offerings and keep up with individual giving so that a receipt for each member's giving could be issued, usually annually. The first Monday on the job, the new clerk dutifully stopped by the church office, picked up the empty offering envelopes from the previous Sunday's offerings, took them home, and began recording the names and amounts in her individual records. She was puzzled by one envelope which had a member's name on the outside and a copy of a personal check … [Read more...] about Giving contribution credit and satisfying the IRS: Woe is us.
Fun with obits
By now you've probably seen the "dueling obituaries" articles. They are all over the internet. NJ man's dueling obituaries separately list loving wife and longtime girlfriend How would you like to preside over this man's funeral? Yawn. I figured that it was only a matter of time before we had one of these. Newspapers are happy to expand their sources of revenue ("Obit special! Place two and get a discount!"). I presume that experienced funeral directors are prepared for both the wife and girlfriend showing up. I barely avoided a couple of funeral brawls over the years (when it looks … [Read more...] about Fun with obits
Ah, those pastoral ministry expectations
Brethren, we cannot all be large and megachurch pastors. You believe that God has called you to the Christian ministry so you leave the job you have and make a considerable investment in a seminary education in terms of finances, time, and family disruption. You rightly and properly understand that your new occupation, “calling” is the term you prefer, is sanctioned by God Himself and is a good work, an important work representing the Lord Himself in a local community, sharing the eternal Gospel and being a leader in Kingdom work. Then you take a church and struggle with congregational … [Read more...] about Ah, those pastoral ministry expectations
The strange world of SBC baptism statistics
How should the guy in the pew react when he sees a headline like "IMB Baptisms hit lowest level since 1969"? Overseas baptisms for 2015 dropped to 54,762 from the 190,957 reported for 2014, according to information submitted by the International Mission Board in response to a request by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. Likewise, the number of new churches fell from 13,824 to 3,842 over the same one-year period. The baptism figure represents the lowest level reported in 46 years. Or when we get the annual statistical report which most years includes the depressing … [Read more...] about The strange world of SBC baptism statistics
The pastor and elder fraud and abuse
The winsome lady moved to town, joined a small but established SBC church and immediately became active in church life, particularly a women's Bible study with a number of older ladies. She was a successful investor and realtor. After ingratiating herself with the group she offered to help some of them earn extra income by partnering with her in some real estate deals. She was an expert in flipping houses and had done quite a bit in a distant state and was happy to share her expertise. One could guess that this is a tale that ends badly, and it did. The nice lady was a habitual liar, was … [Read more...] about The pastor and elder fraud and abuse
Alcohol is still a deal breaker in SBC life
The church member was surprised to see her church staffer dining alone in a local restaurant. When she headed towards his table to offer a courteous "hello," she was even more surprised to see him make a quick attempt at hiding a glass of cold beer. Although her church did not have a highly detailed, written code of conduct that prohibited the pastor and staff from drinking beer, wine, or liquor, such was a longstanding, unquestioned expectation on the part of the membership of the staff. I share the predictable outcome of the incident below. The travails of celebrity megapastors … [Read more...] about Alcohol is still a deal breaker in SBC life