I believe the brightest light in the SBC Conservative Resurgence was Adrian Rogers and it ought to be noted among us that it's been a decade since he left us for a better place. I'm highly prejudiced in this since I was a Bellevue member for the three years I lived in Memphis and attended Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Bellevue's old campus was adjacent to MABTS' old campus in midtown Memphis. The thirtysomething SBC site, B21 has a tribute including Bellevue's video retrospective. Check it out. I suppose there are other articles marking this anniversary but I haven't seen … [Read more...] about 10 years since Adrian Rogers died
These are complicated times for SBC international missions
Consider me to have a bit of a deficit in denominational nostalgia. I don't apologize for it. A lament heard often in our SBC circles is about the halcyon days of ten percent Cooperative Program giving, the fictional harmony among various groups that made up the SBC back then. That lament includes despair for the days of ever growing statistical measures, chiefly money, that gave state conventions and the other SBC entities the optimism and verve to engage on endless staff hiring sprees, build magnificent buildings, and dream of ever greater sums to fund denominational dreams. The ten … [Read more...] about These are complicated times for SBC international missions
Pastor disaster is always just around the corner…or is it?
A staple of the pastoral ministry is the ubiquity of doomsdayers, naysayers, and highly negative soothsayers. To wit: Epidemic of forced pastoral terminations! Thousands of pastors leaving ministry each month! Depression rampant among pastors! Pastors are overworked, underpaid, drowning in a sea of student debt! Average tenure of pastors is short, and unsweet! Toxic churches driving pastors to quit ministry, commit suicide! There is some truth in all of these but a steady diet of such things is unhealthy for those called to the pastoral ministry. From the get-go thirty-five … [Read more...] about Pastor disaster is always just around the corner…or is it?
Platt on mission funding “outside traditional cooperative funding channels”
David Platt had a live stream question and answer session earlier this week. Here are some subjects covered. I appreciate his efforts to be available and to communicate with Southern Baptists. The link is to the Baptist Press article reporting on it. -- "Has any thought been given to changing the funding model of IMB missionaries?" Platt said he hopes some IMB missionaries will be "totally self-funded," travelling overseas as students in international universities, business professionals employed by corporations and retirees funded by their own savings and U.S. government programs. He also … [Read more...] about Platt on mission funding “outside traditional cooperative funding channels”
Would you qualify under NAMB’s church planter Code of Conduct?
Our North American Mission Board is devoting about half of their $120 million budget to planting churches and is enlisting church planters to plop themselves down in locations, mainly cities, all over the nation to gather and plant a congregation. Needless to say, there are expectations and requirements for planters. Here's the NAMB web page that outlines planter expectations: Send Network: Planter Expectations Included in these expectations are such things as: Adherence to the Baptist Faith and Message An investment of a minimum of 25 hours per week in establishing the new … [Read more...] about Would you qualify under NAMB’s church planter Code of Conduct?
NAMB to give IMB $4 million? What’s the SBC coming to?
The North American Mission Board trustees also voted Oct. 7 to reduce NAMB's budget by $4 million and transfer the money to IMB. While the SBC Executive Committee must approve the proposal before funds are transferred to IMB, NAMB trustee chairman Chuck Herring called the unanimous decision by NAMB trustees a "Kingdom vote." Let me get this straight. Our North American Mission Board trustees voted to reduce their budget so that they can " send funds to assist International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries"? That's what I read. One SBC entity saying to another, "Here's $4 million. Hope … [Read more...] about NAMB to give IMB $4 million? What’s the SBC coming to?
SBC dinosaur sightings: Are these headed for extinction? (Part One)
The most amazing thing about Southern Baptist life is how we seem to keep so many entities, programs, and initiatives slogging along for decades and scores of years in spite of great changes in society, church life, and giving patterns and amounts. Consider my use of the word "extinction" to be an example of blogging license. I don't think I will live to see any of these actually go extinct but there are legitimate questions about their value and relevance for now and the future. The Annual Church Profile It's that time, brethren. Actually, past that time to gather up your data … [Read more...] about SBC dinosaur sightings: Are these headed for extinction? (Part One)
Cooperative Program shows a 1.39% increase over last year
The Executive Committee reports that Cooperative Program receipts for the fiscal year just ended are 1.39% above last fiscal year. In dollars, this is $2,592,620.78 more than last year. CP surpasses budget projection for fiscal year, Baptist Press reported yesterday. My SBC friends, UP is UP and a little up is not down. How about at least an "Amen" for this? Hold the "Hallelujah" for something else. We are living in a time of extended decline for our flagship denominational giving plan, the 90-year-old Cooperative Program, so an increase is a very good thing. It doesn't make a lot … [Read more...] about Cooperative Program shows a 1.39% increase over last year
Pastor appreciation is a good thing, this month or whenever
Because Dave Miller has a conflict of interest and I don't ((I am retired, stress-free, and can shoot from the blogging hip), I'll help him out on Pastor Appreciation Month. On our authoritative denominational calendar October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Here are some resources, annotated: 10 Ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month. OK, so LifeWay sells stuff; however, if you get your pastor a customized T-shirt (#2 on LifeWay's idea list) and it doesn't have a few hundred dollar bills tucked inside, you will not be my friend any more. T-shirt only is tacky, tacky, tacky. Pastor … [Read more...] about Pastor appreciation is a good thing, this month or whenever
Almost 10% of SBC churches upped CP percentage by at least one point
The Executive Committee has promoted a "1% Cooperative Program Challenge" over the past few years in which churches were challenged to increase their CP contributions by a percentage point (percentage of undesignated church offerings). A recent Baptist Press article reported that about ten percent of SBC churches had done so over the past two years. The SBC reported 46,499 churches for the latest statistical year, 2014, and 4,422 churches had met or exceeded the challenge of raising their CP percentage by at least one point. The 4,422 make up 9.5% of all SBC churches. The 1% Challenge … [Read more...] about Almost 10% of SBC churches upped CP percentage by at least one point