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 mics here's a question or two that I'd like to ask: For David Platt, International Mission Board leader: The locations of our overseas personnel has shifted over the past years to a greater proportion being in World A locations. I presume that these are more difficult and stressful places and would … [Read more...] about Questions for NAMB, IMB, and seminary leaders
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 in yesterday's AJC, Southern Baptists asked to endorse ban on public display of Confederate battle flag, in which he says, Passage of the resolution would be an important milestone in the Southern Baptist Convention’s long … [Read more...] about Confederate flag resolution may have real value
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 order to seat messengers. Our wonderful Cooperative Program, that program of giving that provides almost all state convention revenues and which provides a lesser proportion of the revenues of our seminaries and mission boards, is our primary denominational funding plan. I support … [Read more...] about Is the Cooperative Program the only measure of a church “in friendly cooperation” with the SBC?
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 of Mormon next to the Gideon's Bible. Hotel staff said I could take it, so I did. I got to see some of the Cardinal's game for free, 'some' meaning the center fielder and right fielder only, the rest of the field being blocked by the stadium. It was boring. If I were present in St. Louis this … [Read more...] about J. D. Greear would be a great SBC president
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 up this year. The SBC Executive Committee is six months, half-way, through the fiscal year and are able to report that CP receipts at the SBC level are 3.09% above the same period for last year. This is an indication … [Read more...] about Cooperative Program Sunday: Straight talk on the CP
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, a Georgia pastor and blogger, told Forbes magazine in 2013. "A growing subset of ministers who are very highly paid and who live in multimillion dollar mansions are able to exclude hundreds of thousands of dollars … [Read more...] about They’re back at it…renewed legal challenge to our clergy Housing Allowance
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 the two mega-pastors whose churches give below the average CP percentage. Crosby's church is at 7% which is above the SBC average of 5.5%. The BP story doesn't include any Great Commission Giving percentage for the church but says "total mission giving" (mission … [Read more...] about Add a Cooperative Program candidate to make three SBC prez nominees.
Why JD’s a shoo-in
[This is not a serious post, something that shouldn't need to be stated. I am so stating for the benefit of my discernment challenged friends.] ...because we've got a JD-for-SBC-prez rap. It's unauthorized and unofficial but rap stars don't need any stinkin' authority or approval. You will find a lot of SBC leaders doing cameos in the two-minute piece. Ther are already more views of the thing than than SBC annual meeting attendance...and, as we all know, the gray-hairs who go to the SBC annual meetings are all big rap fans. Steve Gaines has (yawn!) a traditional sit-down … [Read more...] about Why JD’s a shoo-in
The beloved minister and his non-beloved 1040
This is the time of year that Southern Baptist ministers are assailed with the usual emotions: depression over taxes, despair over paying those murderous SECA taxes (especially the brethren who skated on making their quarterly payments, as if April 15 wouldn't roll around anyway), general malaise over finances, and the annual cussin' session for those who do their own income taxes. Having long followed clergy tax matters, one area that I have found our state conventions and denominational entities doing well is in helping our beleaguered ministerial brethren understand and manage their tax … [Read more...] about The beloved minister and his non-beloved 1040
In favor of religious liberty…or against discrimination…or neither…or both.
Here we go again. My state, Georgia, is in the throes of another legislative season where various bills are proposed. These relate to gay marriage, protection of pastors, religious liberty, and the ability of Georgians to discriminate. How the issues are framed depend on which side you are on. Check a few quotes: Our Governor, Nathan Deal, a Southern Baptist, says he is not interested in any bill that "allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith..." Our paid Georgia Baptist lobbyist, Mike Griffin, a pastor, failed political candidate, and now employee of the … [Read more...] about In favor of religious liberty…or against discrimination…or neither…or both.