...that not too many of us are talking about: Cooperative Program 2.57% ahead of year-to-date projection NASHVILLE (BP) -- Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 2.57 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection and 2.09 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank S. Page. The year-to-date total represents money … [Read more...] about Pre-SBC good news…
What I wish for my hardworking pastor colleagues…
...is that after they have been at their present church for a stretch of years they would be given a sabbatical. Various SBC outlets regularly, though not frequently, promote the idea that pastors should take sabbaticals. The latest that I have seen came from Michael Lewis, NAMB's Executive Director of Pastoral Care and Development in an article: Why Sabbaticals Matter Only megapastors can "take" sabbatical. If the rest of us average guys want some extended amount of time away from the church we've generally had one voluntary route (resign) and one involuntary route (get fired). But we … [Read more...] about What I wish for my hardworking pastor colleagues…
“Our church has a marketing committee…”
...so I thought it would be interesting to speculate on the phrase that could have followed that statement: (a) "...can you believe that!" (b) "...for crying out loud!" (c) "...and I don't know what the church is coming to." (d) "...great God Almighty!" (e) "...our pastor is such a forward-looking man of wisdom and insight." All but the last would fit with the tone and expression of the speaker. The context was the general malaise of the church, lack of pastoral care, and seriously diffused focus. I'm curious if having a marketing committee (or team, and I'd speculate that calling … [Read more...] about “Our church has a marketing committee…”
Do you know much about Baptist Global Response?
One of the more recent creations connected with Southern Baptist life is Baptist Global Response. Although it was created in 2006 and has almost a decade of history, I never hear much about it but the reason for that might be that I don't get all the usual mailings that go to Southern Baptist churches. I've never given to it. When my church would take up offerings for the significant disasters (tsunami, earthquake, or other global catastrophes) I don't ever recall sending the money to BGR, which describes itself as a "global Southern Baptist Relief and Development organization." It also … [Read more...] about Do you know much about Baptist Global Response?
“Well, I sometimes get mad…”
...so the prospective pastor told the search committee in answer to the second of the pair of questions that every search committee asks. The first question was, "What is your strong point?" "Preaching, I suppose" answered the candidate. Fair enough. The man might indeed be Spurgeon or he might be unable to preach his way out of a flimsy paper bag but at least the search committee and eventually the church will get to listen and judge for themselves. The worst that could be said about this answer is that the brother seriously overestimates himself. Many a congregation has been patient … [Read more...] about “Well, I sometimes get mad…”
Divorce, teens, baptism, and tongues in the IMB’s new appointment policies
Count me as one who believes in our International Mission Board, trusts their judgment about personnel, and appreciates their work. There has not been a time that I have been a pastor (or semi-retired pastor) that I have not prayed for, participated in, and given to the work of the IMB. I can be considered a realist, though. The IMB is our largest entity and may be considered to have some institutional inertia and such. It has a budget above $300 million, employs over 4,200 missions personnel plus all the folks who work in other capacities. The cost of enlisting, vetting, appointing, … [Read more...] about Divorce, teens, baptism, and tongues in the IMB’s new appointment policies
Annual Meeting housekeeping, by-law changes
It's not looking like I will make the annual meeting in Columbus but a few housekeeping matters concerning SBC bylaws will be on the agenda anyway. 1. Electronic Voting...the SBC dragged into the 21st Century. The punch card ballots used all these years at the annual meetings ("Take out your ballots and tear off ballot number four and only ballot number four...punch out the little square...") is technology that is more than two centuries old ( Go to the Smithsonian and check out the Jacquard Loom for an early example, fascinating). The SBC has managed the counting of ballots this way for … [Read more...] about Annual Meeting housekeeping, by-law changes
Nazi Germany, Jim Crow and civil dialogue
I sometimes wonder if constructive dialogue is possible on the hot button issues of the day. It looks to me as if not but, perhaps, I am reading opinions and discussions in all the wrong places. Who would argue that the volatility index for discussion of white hot cultural and racial issues is not in the red zone and that thoughtful, considerate exchanges by reasonable people on opposing sides are as scarce as ivory-billed woodpeckers? Along those lines, observe that here in Georgia our legislature, solidly Republican, has failed to pass a Religious Freedom Restoration Act for two years … [Read more...] about Nazi Germany, Jim Crow and civil dialogue
Best retirement advice I ever received
I've always paid attention to the matter of retirement and retirement income. When GuideStone or the state convention sent a guy around to speak to the pastor's conference or to an associational meeting, I was present and paying attention. When I reached the age (I think it was 55) where I received an invitation to our state convention's pre-retirement conference, I registered and attended. In fact, I did so several times before I pulled the trigger and actually retired. There is no shortage of advice floating around about retirement. GuideStone has tips, calculators, and counsel about … [Read more...] about Best retirement advice I ever received
Lost in the blogging black hole: Cooperative Program is up
Lost, swamped, overwhelmed by white hot discussions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, by debate about whether or not elder rule practitioner and SBC Pastor's Conference invitee James MacDonald made a proper apology for calling congregational governance "satanic", and by other weighty matters is this little item that directly affects tens of thousands of Southern Baptists in ways other than triggering social media explosions: Our beloved Cooperative Program is up 2.49% for the current fiscal year. Baptist Press: CP 2.49% ahead of projection at mid-year point. Year-to-date … [Read more...] about Lost in the blogging black hole: Cooperative Program is up