Word came across social media this morning that Dr. Page is retiring. No details have yet come down as to when it will be official. I love this man. He has been a peacemaker and truly embodied the role he carved out for himself, "Chief Encouragement Officer." I first met him the day he was elected as President of the Executive Committee. I was having lunch with David Rogers and a couple of others and we saw him at the same restaurant. I knew the EC was voting and, being the blustery big-mouth I am, I went over and congratulated him on his election. He smiled weakly and thanked me. I … [Read more...] about Frank Page Has Announced His Retirement
SBC Institutions & Entities
Who “fully supports” the Cooperative Program?
Since no Southern Baptist church is forced to give to our wonderful, common, funding mechanism the Cooperative Program, how helpful is it to classify any church's percentage CP giving as fully cooperative or less than fully cooperative and more of an indicator of societal giving? My view is that in isolation, using a church's CP percentage as a measure of their cooperativeness or of their Southernbaptistness is ultimately harmful. Randy Adams, the Executive Director of the SBC state convention known as the Northwest Baptist Convention, an area covering Oregon, Washington, and northern … [Read more...] about Who “fully supports” the Cooperative Program?
The Cooperative Program: A Testimony (Steven Newell)
With all the negative press surrounding the Cooperative Program (CP) in recent days with this nonsense about campaigning, let me offer some positive words about the Southern Baptist Convention’s flagship program. First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Stephen Newell. Some of you may be familiar with me from social media, for which I am profoundly sorry! I am a graduate of Baptist institutions, a B.A. from Carson-Newman College (now University) in 1999 and an M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2006. I was born and raised in SBC churches and have never been a … [Read more...] about The Cooperative Program: A Testimony (Steven Newell)
Felix Cabrera to Be Nominated for SBC Second Vice President
Felix Cabrera, Pastor of Iglesia Bautista Central in Oklahoma City, will be nominated for SBC Second Vice President. The initial announcement came Friday afternoon through Baptist Press. Pastor Ed Litton (Redemption Church, Mobile, Alabama) will nominate Cabrera at the Annual Meeting in Dallas, June 12-13. Cabrera's list of accomplishments and service are impressive. You can see all the details in the BP article, but I wanted to pull a few highlights here. Iglesia Bautista Central was planted in 2015 and has grown to over 200 in weekly attendance. They've been recognized twice for their high … [Read more...] about Felix Cabrera to Be Nominated for SBC Second Vice President
Most SBC mission support is still Cooperative Program, not societal
Fears that the SBC may be returning to a societal method of mission support are unfounded if one looks at dollars given by the churches. While it is impossible to compile and categorize all mission giving by the 47,232 SBC churches, the data that is available seems sufficient to conclude that in spite of all the handwringing over the demise of the Cooperative Program, most church support for SBC causes is still through our venerable and wonderful Cooperative Program. Here are a few factoids: The total CP for 2015-2016 was $475.2 million. The total for the designated major offerings … [Read more...] about Most SBC mission support is still Cooperative Program, not societal
Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion
Is it okay for a candidate for president of the SBC to campaign for office? If so, what is allowed and what is not? Let's agree to something from the outset. We are Baptists, so autonomy is going to make it impossible to set universal rules. Each candidate, each entity, each entity head is going to have to set boundaries according to the dictates of conscience. But autonomy does not preclude us from attempting to establish some parameters and coming to some kind of agreement as to what is acceptable and what is not. There was a time, during the CR, when entity leaders of the SBC got … [Read more...] about Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion
What is this “neo-societal method of giving” that Ken Hemphill writes about?
Churches have reduced their level of giving, and, many have moved to a method of giving that is neo-societal: They give a small percentage through the traditional Cooperative Program option and then give the remainder of their mission dollars through designated giving, some to Southern Baptist entities and some through other mission agencies. – Ken Hemphill, in an article on his Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted campaign website. Money is an issue in SBC life, particularly the systems of giving and allocation of SBC churches denominational gifts. I don't object to anyone raising … [Read more...] about What is this “neo-societal method of giving” that Ken Hemphill writes about?
More Inappropriate LBC Campaigning – Calling Up Disaster Relief Workers for Hemphill “Rallies”
Friends, Today, I was forwarded, by a number of people, an email that apparently went to all SBC ‘Blue Hats’ in Louisiana. I’ve actually served as a Blue Hat as well as a White Hat during Katrina (this is all Disaster Relief speak for those of you who wouldn’t know) but I didn’t personally receive this email from the LBC building. I’m not sure how to even process what I’m seeing. I think that someone at the Baptist Building in Alexandria either actually thinks we are all stupid or truly doesn't care what we think at all. Coming off the heels of the story about the inappropriateness of … [Read more...] about More Inappropriate LBC Campaigning – Calling Up Disaster Relief Workers for Hemphill “Rallies”
Serving on the Committee on Nominations (Dean Stewart)
I currently have the privilege of serving on the Committee on Nominations of the Southern Baptist Convention. I have had the responsibility of representing Mississippi Baptists on this committee three times now. This year I had the honor of serving with a layman from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A couple weeks ago I emailed our finished product to the Executive Committee of the SBC. We finished our work ahead of the deadline. Our recommendations await approval of the entire Committee on Nominations which will meet in Nashville in a this week. I would like to share some misconceptions that a … [Read more...] about Serving on the Committee on Nominations (Dean Stewart)
Southern Baptists: Time to Help Louisiana Flood Victims
HOW TO HELP: LOUISIANA BAPTISTS HAVE A CONTACT PAGE Tens of thousands of people displaced. Whole towns submerged under water. Livingston Parish has seen most of its homes destroyed. The town of Denham Springs was 90% under water. The Louisiana Floods caused by a low pressure system dumped over SIX TRILLION gallons of water on Louisiana. 2 feet of rain. Homes flooded. People have lost all of their possessions. Shelters have filled up with thousands of people. The Red Cross and FEMA are saying that this is the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. The cost of damage … [Read more...] about Southern Baptists: Time to Help Louisiana Flood Victims