Just prior to each year's annual meeting LifeWay releases the previous year's Annual Church Profile statistical summary. Baptist Press reported on it yesterday, ACP: Worship attendance rises, baptisms decline. Last year I had an article on the previous year's data: ACP 2016 Stats: Add a chapter to Lamentations. There's a pattern here and I have the freedom to be more creative in my titles than BP. Here are some highlights and lowlights from the 2017 data: 1. Baptisms are down, and by almost 10 percent. We in the SBC are highly spiritual and prefer not to talk about money. Baptisms are … [Read more...] about The Annual SBC Statistical Release Weepfest
SBC Institutions & Entities
What is next? Some ponderings for the SBC as we move forward
Well, in case you missed it, there has been a rather massive shift in the Southern Baptist Convention. I'll not rehash the waters gone by about the events at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. There's about four million blog posts, tweets, and Facebook streams about it (give or take a few million). Something I've been trying to think through is what happens next? Where do we go from here? I'd like to offer my musings on that, and you can do with them what you will. First, we need to pay attention to the fact there are very likely more victims who will come forward. And the instinct … [Read more...] about What is next? Some ponderings for the SBC as we move forward
On Theological Bigotries and Stumbling Blocks (Steven Newell)
Last night I heard the most remarkable story about how our theological bigotries (yes, I will call it that) put up stumbling blocks to the Gospel. A friend of mine and I are in the beginning stages of Appalachian Deaf outreach with the hope of eventually having a church plant. We have our planter but he is one of those “hates denominations” types. We were swapping horror stories so he could see it’s no different for anyone else, we just have better experiences and hope for the convention. My friend told us about his experience with their local association. Their association is very much … [Read more...] about On Theological Bigotries and Stumbling Blocks (Steven Newell)
A Loss. A Plea. A Prayer. (Jacki C. King)
1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope[a] at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.- Ephesians 4:1-6 This was my passage to read this morning thanks to my trusty YouVersion Bible App. I read as I started my day with … [Read more...] about A Loss. A Plea. A Prayer. (Jacki C. King)
Trouble Registering Messengers for #SBC18? Here’s Help
We are receiving reports of some churches, particularly church plants, having difficulty preregistering messengers for this year's convention in Dallas. We'll talk about some of the reasons for that later, but first, we want to provide a practical guide for those trying to navigate the process of making sure you'll be able to fully participate in #SBC18. Step 1: Contact the EC Church Relations Office If your church wants to be involved the 2018 SBC Annual Meeting and is having trouble preregistering on the SBC website, it would streamline the process to contact the Church Relations office at … [Read more...] about Trouble Registering Messengers for #SBC18? Here’s Help
My Vote for J.D. Greear as SBC President (Jimmy Meek)
I am a pastor of a medium size church in south Arkansas, where we probably have more deer than people. While many people have weighed in on the reasons why or why not to vote for J.D. Greear, I thought my perspective as a traditional SBC preacher, brought up in the non-reformed “whosoever will” camp, might be of value to others in my same camp. Cards on the table, I have moved from refusing to even listen to the “chosen before the foundation” side, to embracing the Biblical tension of God’s Word affirming both “chosen” and whosoever will”. I don’t have to understand it, or even explain it, … [Read more...] about My Vote for J.D. Greear as SBC President (Jimmy Meek)
What Does Al Mohler Mean by “Independent, Third-Party Investigation”?
A church, denomination, or Christian ministry must look outside of itself when confronted with a pattern of mishandling such responsibilities, or merely of being charged with such a pattern. We cannot vindicate ourselves. I believe that any public accusation concerning such a pattern requires an independent, third-party investigation. This was Al Mohler, our leading denominational spokesman and SBTS president, in his May 23rd commentary, The Wrath of God Poured Out - The Humiliation of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mohler covers a lot of ground in that piece about clergy abuse … [Read more...] about What Does Al Mohler Mean by “Independent, Third-Party Investigation”?
Resolution on the 100th Anniversary of Women as Messengers to the SBC (Kathy Litton & Susie Hawkins)
On The One Hundredth Anniversary Of Women as Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention 2018 – Dallas, TX WHEREAS, May 15, 2018, marked the one hundredth anniversary of the invitation for women to serve as messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention; and WHEREAS, women have served in a variety of ways throughout the history of the Southern Baptist Convention, including elected offices, service on committees and boards, missions education, ministry through entities and agencies, positions in higher education as well as within our local churches; and WHEREAS, the Scriptures (Mark … [Read more...] about Resolution on the 100th Anniversary of Women as Messengers to the SBC (Kathy Litton & Susie Hawkins)
Reflections the Day After Patterson’s Removal
Last night Southwestern Seminary released a statement that caught most of us completely off guard. The Executive Committee of the trustee board, a smaller group of the trustees, unanimously decided to terminate Dr. Paige Patterson effective immediately. Only a week ago the full trustee board had met in a long, likely contentious meeting that resulted in his removal from the role of president of the seminary, but with a visible continuing role on campus as President Emeritus, Theologian in Residence, living quarters, and continued salary. There was little focus on the executive board meeting … [Read more...] about Reflections the Day After Patterson’s Removal
Breaking: Paige Patterson Has Been Terminated Immediately from SWBTS
A statement has just been released by the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Seminary that Dr. Paige Patterson has been immediately terminated as a result of the information concerning the handling of the sexual abuse allegation at Southeastern. All of the previous benefits granted to Dr. Patterson have been revoked. The full statement can also be found on the SWBTS website. During the May 30, 2018, Executive Committee meeting of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) Board of Trustees, new information confirmed this morning was presented regarding the handling of an … [Read more...] about Breaking: Paige Patterson Has Been Terminated Immediately from SWBTS