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.
Aha, finally, a nominee for SBC President
J. D. Greear to be SBC president nominee I don't think I have ever seen as much statistical information tossed out for an SBC presidential nominee. Church growth from 350 to 10,000 928 baptisms in 2014 149 SBC, IMB missionaries from his church currently on the field $390,000 budgeted in 2016 for the Cooperative Program (up from $150k the last reporting year; it's confusing) 26 church plants the last five years in conjunction with NAMB Great Commission Giving "around 10%" although ACP data has it at 13-15% Over $1 million to IMB, over $500k to NAMB, $500k destined for an … [Read more...] about Aha, finally, a nominee for SBC President
Crafting that delicate balance: the church and alcohol
Balance, schmalance..."beer is a gift to be enjoyed in moderation" sayeth my neighbor Georgian evangelical pastor...and brewer. Heavenly balance? A craft-beer-brewing, evangelical pastor Alas, the dilemma of today's newspaper editors. If an evangelical pastor founds a brewery, where should the story go? Better put it in the business, not religion, section of the paper, but be sure to include more than a little about the church angle; you know, details like the brewery founder has a degree from the venerable Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the concept that "beer brings people … [Read more...] about Crafting that delicate balance: the church and alcohol
IMB overseas personnel reduced by almost 1,000
OK, David Platt, one in five SBC overseas personnel have either retired or resigned and we have moved from about 4,800 such to around 3,800. Now that's a reset, recalibration, retrenchment of the first degree. IMB:1,132 missionaries, state staff accept VRI, HRO NASHVILLE (BP) -- The International Mission Board announced today (Feb. 24) that 983 missionaries and 149 stateside staff have transitioned outside the mission entity during the past six months as a result of its voluntary retirement and resignation programs. The number of missionaries on the field is now around 3,800, according … [Read more...] about IMB overseas personnel reduced by almost 1,000
2016 Pastor’s Conference
Live This: SBC Pastors Conference 2016, St.Louis Speakers: David Platt, Greg Laurie, Ed Stetzer, Jack Graham, James MacDonald, Byron McWilliams...and "more to come." __________________ Session sponsors: Southern Baptists of Texas, Harvest America Greg Laurie, Compassion In Jesus' Name Diamond sponsors: Our journey of Hope, NAMB, Midwestern Seminary, Maranatha Tours, Inc. Platinum sponsors: Auxano ________________________ Compassion in Jesus' Name is Compassion International, Inc., an enormous charity based in Colorado Springs, Colorado with revenues exceeding $700 … [Read more...] about 2016 Pastor’s Conference
Next week’s a big week at IMB
David Platt gave a little preview when meeting with state baptist paper editors, some of whom are critical of his recent actions. Platt asks state paper editors to encouage unity Gleaned from the address as BP reported it: 1. Numbers for the Hand Raising opportunity will be given next week at the IMB trustee meeting. We should have a good feel for total numbers in both the earlier VRI and now the HRO. 2. Platt explained the elimination of the Richmond communications department. Bluntly put, they were not needed. The function had not advanced with the digital mindset, etc etc. My … [Read more...] about Next week’s a big week at IMB
No, pastors are not quitting in droves
If I went by the conversations I have heard at associational pastors conferences, state and national conventions and conferences, and now various online sites, I would have concluded that my ministerial colleagues are not only under intense pressure and stress but that the brethren are leaving the ministry in great numbers. Not so according to a recent LifeWay study: Research finds few pastors give up on ministry Though pastors are stressed about money and overwhelming ministry demands, only one percent abandon the pulpit each year, LifeWay Research finds. This is the first … [Read more...] about No, pastors are not quitting in droves
The greatest show on earth
That would be American presidential campaigns and elections. There are others that have more drama, complete with blood in the streets, but short of that ours is quite a spectacle. And, at long last, we actually had some voting (caucusing in Iowa, to be accurate, complete with random winners selected by the tossing of coins). Here's where we are, according to one irreverent retired reverend: Donald Trump: How exactly are my evangelical friends, not a few from here, feeling about the frontrunner whose campaign included a public pronouncement that "they can go **** themselves"? What would … [Read more...] about The greatest show on earth
Time to try out the new paradigm for an SBC presidential election?
I would like to see a serious effort by Southern Baptists to elect someone other than a megachurch pastor as president of the convention. While I have no particular complaint about current president Ronnie Floyd, I think he has done a good job, my view is that we lose something valuable by relying on a parade of pastors whose environment is that of the two hundred or so megachurches in the SBC. There are no job demands, no responsibilities, no tasks of the president of the SBC that qualify only megachurch pastors for election. Although the SBC president has to have some level of visibility, … [Read more...] about Time to try out the new paradigm for an SBC presidential election?