It's not the time of year we would normally talk about resolutions. But I don't think I ever posted this two years ago when our state convention passed it. Unanimously, by the way. This was months after the 2017 SBC when we ultimately passed a resolution condemning the Alt-right. Between the SBC's actions in Phoenix (June 2017) and the November annual meeting of the SBC of Virginia, the "Unite the Right" rally was held in Charlottesville. This resolution deals with the intersection of those events. Dwight McKissic's call for the SBC to speak against the Alt-right and White Supremacist … [Read more...] about A Resolution from Two Years Ago that Speaks to Our Present Reality
SBC Institutions & Entities
#SBC19: Recording secretary election – two good choices for the SBC
Yesterday I wrote about the two elections for First and Second Vice President – Marshal Ausberry and Noe Garcia, respectively. Both nominees the only announced for those roles. The election for recording secretary is a different story. Two nominees have been announced so far. John Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention will be nominated again for a role he’s held for over 20 years. The SBC recording secretary is responsible for the record of the proceedings of the Southern Baptist Convention, training volunteers for convention business sessions and the final … [Read more...] about #SBC19: Recording secretary election – two good choices for the SBC
Birmingham Bound #SBC19
I. I seriously internally and externally debated about attending SBC ’19 Birmingham because SBC entities repeatedly refuse to hire minorities as president of one of the entities, even when they are highly qualified. There have been five entity head vacancies in the SBC over the past 18 months. Four of the five have been filled. No minorities have been hired to date. To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. II. The ten entity heads of the SBC assemble at least biannually, in a meeting known as the Great Commission Council. In a Convention comprised of 20% minorities—Asians, African … [Read more...] about Birmingham Bound #SBC19
BREAKING: Dr. James K. Dew Elected NOBTS President (announcement with commentary)
I was surprised and appreciative to receive an invitation from the PR department of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for today’s official Press Conference announcing the election of the new President (specific thanks to Gary Myers, NOBTS Director of Communications). I attended as a correspondent from SBC Voices and as such, I decided to not only report the event itself but also share my personal feelings about this new era in the life of the SBC’s first seminary founded by the direct action of the Southern Baptist Convention. So here’s the news, this morning the trustees voted … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Dr. James K. Dew Elected NOBTS President (announcement with commentary)
BREAKING: Dr. Jamie Dew to be Nominated as NOBTS President
NOBTS Search Team Chairman, Dr. Frank Cox, has announced that Dr. James Dew of North Carolina will be presented to the full Board of Trustees as the candidate to serve as the next President of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. A special called meeting will take place Wednesday, June 5th on the campus of NOBTS at 9 am for a vote on the candidate. Dr. Dew currently serves as the Associate Professor of History of Ideas and Philosophy at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He is also the Dean of the undergraduate College at Southeastern … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Dr. Jamie Dew to be Nominated as NOBTS President
SBC Leadership Diversity Initiative – One Year In
One year ago today Alan Cross and I announced the launch of the SBC Leadership Diversity Initiative. I wanted to celebrate the progress we’ve made this year and update our readers on some of what we’ve seen. The LDI was designed as a networking tool for us to be able to discover and identify Southern Baptists for potential leadership roles who we might otherwise be unaware of, particularly ethnic minorities, women, and lay persons. We want to open the floodgates and remove as many barriers as possible to achieve our goal: A convention where ethnic minority leaders and members, as well as … [Read more...] about SBC Leadership Diversity Initiative – One Year In
SBC Deep State Has Been Discovered … Join Now!
There's a whole thing going on with stained glass windows and Liberty University and Jerry Falwell and SWBTS and Jerry Vines that isn't of too much interest to me, but in the midst of all of that, Jerry Falwell, Jr., President of Liberty University and spiritual advisor to the President revealed "shocking" news. Apparently, there is an "SBC deep state regime" involving Russell Moore of the ERLC. I'm not sure if Dr. Moore is leading this effort, but yes, it does exist. And, I'm happy to admit that I'm a part of it. You might be too! By God’s Grace, there’s a large group of pastors, leaders, … [Read more...] about SBC Deep State Has Been Discovered … Join Now!
Dr. Walter Strickland of SEBTS Details His Academic & Theological Interaction with James Cone
Today Dr. Walter Strickland posted an article giving context to statements reported by the New York Times last week. Dr. Strickland was elected First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention two years ago and has served at Southeastern Seminary for 6 years, currently as Associate Vice President for Kingdom Diversity and Assistant Professor of Systematic and Contextual Theology. Dr. Strickland's statement includes some key quotes as follows: Cone, however, represents a theological shift away from that longstanding tradition despite being dubbed the “Father of Black Theology.” … [Read more...] about Dr. Walter Strickland of SEBTS Details His Academic & Theological Interaction with James Cone
Doctrinal Concerns of Southwest Baptist University Alumni
Having observed the recent controversies at our alma mater, Southwest Baptist University (SBU), a number of like-minded alumni have corresponded and determined it would be beneficial to provide alumni testimony and express our concerns regarding SBU. All of us had amicable relationships with our professors. Some of our professors welcomed us into their homes and treated us with genuine kindness and respect. These positive experiences notwithstanding, we are compelled by recent events to bring to light doctrinal concerns related to some of the Redford faculty and their teaching. We have read … [Read more...] about Doctrinal Concerns of Southwest Baptist University Alumni
Five Questions I Respectfully Ask Five Southern Baptist Convention Entities To Answer
Five Entities: Southern Baptist Executive Committee (EC), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS), International Mission Board (IMB), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), and Lifeway. There are five questions that I plan to forward to five SBC entities (listed above), who have hired, or will be hiring a President for each entity, in the months ahead. If I get actual, specific answers to these questions in writing before the Annual Session of the Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, in June, I will not find it necessary to ask these questions during each of these … [Read more...] about Five Questions I Respectfully Ask Five Southern Baptist Convention Entities To Answer