Nathan Montgomery is the SWBTS seminary student & former employee who was fired this week for tweeting Ed Stetzer's article critical of Paige Patterson. According to media reports, Montgomery will lose $40,000 in salary and $7,000 in tuition benefits per year as a result of not longer being employed as catering manager. Sarah Pulliam Bailey at the Washington Post has the background and latest. One of the points of Stetzer's article was that the slightest expression of criticism of Patterson brings a huge backlash. Irony noted. Montgomery says he he plans to appeal his termination to … [Read more...] about GoFundMe Available for SWBTS Student Fired for Tweet
SBC Institutions & Entities
Harboring Conflicting Emotions Regarding Paige Patterson’s Counsel on Spousal Abuse and the Resulting Implications
The most loved and loathed personality in SBC history is, without a doubt, Dr. Paige Patterson, current President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. Dr. Patterson remains a figure held in the highest esteem by many SBC pastors, who find no fault with his controversial and now well-known remarks, spoken on the subject of spousal abuse in 2000 at The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Patterson is loathed by many in the SBC, not only for the spousal abuse comments, but for many miscues, missteps, mistakes and positions taken, that many find unacceptable. [Wade … [Read more...] about Harboring Conflicting Emotions Regarding Paige Patterson’s Counsel on Spousal Abuse and the Resulting Implications
Some Quick Comments on the Paige Patterson Ordeal
You may be aware that Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson has come under fire over the past few days for comments he made in 2000 during a Q&A time at a meeting sponsored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Here are the comments that are drawing criticism. The church will never be a refuge for abused women so long as prominent leaders like Southern Baptist Paige Patterson are making dangerous statements like this... https://t.co/mOrukbKvjD pic.twitter.com/xeH2lfXe9z — Jonathan Merritt (@JonathanMerritt) April 28, 2018 More vile … [Read more...] about Some Quick Comments on the Paige Patterson Ordeal
Seeking David: On Filling our Entity Leadership Positions
Talk about a blow to your self-esteem. The prophet Samuel showed up to Jesse's home to anoint the man who would be the next king of Israel since God had rejected disobedient Saul. Jesse paraded his seven oldest sons before Samuel, bursting with pride that one of the young men before him would be king. But as Samuel reviewed each one, the Lord told him no. "This is not the one." Finally, Samuel asked Jesse if this was all his sons and Jesse finally remembered little Davey out with the sheep. Can you imagine that? David was so insignificant that his own father did not consider him worth … [Read more...] about Seeking David: On Filling our Entity Leadership Positions
The Looming Civil War in the SBC? A Response to Lorine Spratt and Others
The recent MLK50 Celebration in Memphis was a phenomenal success: Almost 4000 in attendance; over a million have listened online; 25% of the live audience were minorities, predominately African American; incredibly powerful, persuasive prophetic, biblical and redemptive preaching, teaching, panel discussions, fellowship and networking across racial lines. The most diverse gathering in my 40 years of observing SBC Life, with approximately 1000 Blacks in attendance. The Annual Convention of the SBC has nowhere near that kind of Black attendance. Obviously, with a million listeners online, it has … [Read more...] about The Looming Civil War in the SBC? A Response to Lorine Spratt and Others
Why We Can’t Wait: The SBC’s Continual Need to Pursue Racial/Ethnic Diversity In Leadership
As the MLK50 Conference sponsored by the ERLC and TGC came to an end last night, I was both encouraged and discouraged. I was incredibly encouraged with what was said, the amazing people I met, the hard truths expressed, and the desire of 4000 people to bring racial healing to the church under the blood of Jesus and the Cross of Christ. But, upon reflection I was also a bit discouraged that it has taken so long to get here, and I left concerned that we would easily fall back into our centuries old pattern of “going slow” when it came to all of us coming together in sacrificial love and unity … [Read more...] about Why We Can’t Wait: The SBC’s Continual Need to Pursue Racial/Ethnic Diversity In Leadership
CP is up by millions: Can we live with prosperity or mess it all up?
Our venerable Cooperative Program is doing well this fiscal year. Baptist Press reports from the SBC Executive Committee that National CP 4.9% ahead of mid-year projection. The $100,706,826.63 received by the Executive Committee for the first six months of the fiscal year, Oct. 1 through March 31, for distribution through the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget represents 104.90 percent of the $96,000,000.00 year-to-date budgeted projection to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. The total is $2,358,588.29 or 2.40 percent more than the $98,348,238.34 … [Read more...] about CP is up by millions: Can we live with prosperity or mess it all up?
Who are the heirs of the Conservative Resurgence? (Luke Holmes)
I eagerly attended my first SBC Meeting in Houston in 2013. It was the closest it had ever been to me and the church had the money to help me. I signed up for every breakout and meeting I could find, and I sat through much of the business sessions and reports. I wanted to soak it all in. I finally got to see and listen to in person many of the names and faces I had only seen from a distance over the years. At one breakout, I don’t remember which one, Danny Akin, president of SEBTS referred to himself as a “child” of the Conservative Resurgence. By this, I took him to mean that he … [Read more...] about Who are the heirs of the Conservative Resurgence? (Luke Holmes)
Steve Gaines Committee On Resolutions Most Diverse in History
It was reported by Baptist Press yesterday that SBC President, Dr. Steve Gaines, named the 2018 Resolutions Committee. From BP: Jason Duesing of Missouri was named as the committee's chairman by Gaines. Duesing is provost and associate professor of historical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and a member of Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo. The members are: -- Ken Alford, pastor, Crossroads Baptist Church, Valdosta, Ga. -- Byron Day, pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Laurel, Md. -- Candi Finch, assistant professor of theology in … [Read more...] about Steve Gaines Committee On Resolutions Most Diverse in History
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Much of the SBC world is still reeling this morning from the news that Executive Committee President Frank Page resigned yesterday due to moral failure. I won't rehash the details here, but you can read Dave Miller's post from yesterday here. It includes a link to the Baptist Press story. I love the great hymn Come Thou Fount. The whole song is great, but I have some favorite lines. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above Those are the words in my mind and on my heart today. If Frank Page can … [Read more...] about Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it