I am a Southern Baptist woman. As a baby I toddled up and down the aisle of my parents’ little SBC church in central Texas, squealing with laughter as one church member after another held my chubby hands to steady me. I grew up there. I knew all of the best hide and seek spots in the building. I slept on the floor of the fellowship hall during G.A. sleepovers, and Jesus found me in that same room, when a traveling evangelist asked me if I could hear my shepherd’s voice. How many sweet people had poured God’s word into my hungry little soul by the time I was eight years old? Eventually, … [Read more...] about SBC Women: Next Steps (Melissa Edgington)
SBC Annual Meeting
Mike Pence & the SBC – It’s a Mixed Bag (Dave “Tarheel” Cline)
I want to say from the outset that I would strongly prefer that no elected politician, candidate, or official speak at the Southern Baptist Convention. I would even go so far as to suggest that the host city send a tourism or chamber of commerce representative to welcome us to their fair city instead of a mayor or councilperson. I hope the SBC exec committee will, as a result of the referred motions regarding this, propose a formal nix going forward of our historic practice of inviting and granting space on the platform and/or on the schedule to elected politicians or candidates for secular … [Read more...] about Mike Pence & the SBC – It’s a Mixed Bag (Dave “Tarheel” Cline)
American Family Radio Picking the Wrong Fight (Jimmy Meek)
As I come home from Dallas, I am refreshed at the Gospel unity shown at the Southern Baptist convention. I was however disappointed by what I heard on a Dallas AFR station. American Family Radio has a combination of broadcast sermons and political commentary shows, with a conservative Christian bent. One of their commentators on Tuesday, hours prior to the election for SBC President between JD Greear and Ken Hemphill, was making an obvious push for listeners to side with Ken Hemphill. The reasons given seemed to be this commentator’s perception that the younger JD Greear was a liberal … [Read more...] about American Family Radio Picking the Wrong Fight (Jimmy Meek)
#SBC18 Winners
OK, so I wished we could have had all winners and no losers for #SBC18 but, alas, didn't happen. There were many winners though. Here they are: J.D. Greear: The election wasn't close. The Convention coalesced around a next-generation candidate with a stellar church growth and mission support record. OK, so he talks so fast I have to try and understand what he's saying while catching only every third or fourth word. I'll manage. Ken Hemphill: Quality and integrity from crown to cowboy boots. Women in general and not just in the context of abuse. SWBTS trustees. The … [Read more...] about #SBC18 Winners
Pensive on Pence (Fabian Portunato)
Let me begin by saying I was appalled and confused when I found out about the V.P.'s speaking at the convention. With all the rah-rah on unity, to put such a polarizing figure on stage seemed to be a blatant slap in the face. Though, and no one is more surprised about this than me, I walked away from the speech strangely encouraged. Here's the play by play: First, this professing brother started well and ended well in regards to really driving home a message appropriate for our convention. It was the middle/body of his speech where it got awkward with what was basically a re-election … [Read more...] about Pensive on Pence (Fabian Portunato)
#SBC18 Losers
Don't take it personally, but... The AC system. The messengers from the North Pole were quite comfortable. Wise pastors know you can never win the thermostat wars. Just shut up and suffer whether it's too hot or too cold. Paige Patterson. We didn't have to go through all this. I suspect it's not over. Committee on Order of Business. Sure, I get that they were put in an impossible position by Steve Gaines shuffling the VP's self-invitation off to them but when a motion was made that might have uninvited him, the chair had to belt out a sermonette on why it was biblical for the SBC to … [Read more...] about #SBC18 Losers
The SBC Has Not Gone Liberal
In the aftermath of our Annual Meeting and the decisive victories on so many issues facing our Convention, I heard more than one person lament to me that the SBC has gone liberal. I thought about that statement and wanted to offer my thoughts to the contrary. I do so in the hope that these brothers and sisters will join me in the hope for a bright future for our Convention and a change in their thinking about the obvious shift in our approach to politics and what that really means for the SBC. The SBC has not gone liberal. Yes, our approach to politics and to political engagement has … [Read more...] about The SBC Has Not Gone Liberal
Why I’m glad JD Greear was elected SBC President
I did not vote for JD Greear on the first ballot in 2016. I did vote for him the second time around. I was prepared to do so again on the third ballot, but I was glad when he graciously stepped aside for Steve Gaines to become SBC President. While he was not obligated to do so, I believe it was the right thing for him to do under the circumstances. But the 2016 election has very little to do with why I enthusiastically supported JD in this year's election. I do not believe he was owed the presidency. I am always happy for any candidate who wants to serve in an elected office in the SBC to … [Read more...] about Why I’m glad JD Greear was elected SBC President
SBC 2018–Thankful
This post was originally posted at hiswordhisglory.wordpress.com I am a proud Southern Baptist and have spent the last 3 days at our annual meeting. There's been plenty of negativity surrounding our annual meeting, but I'm going to stick those aspects of the annual meeting for which I am thankful. Here are my top ten reasons to be thankful for SBC2018 We continue our belief in the inerrancy of scripture--There was no debate over Biblical interpretation, and there was nothing done that moved us towards a more liberal theology. while other denominations continue their liberal slide, … [Read more...] about SBC 2018–Thankful
Bart Barber’s Powerful Statement
Bart Barber had a tough day. Pray for him. He is a man who would have jumped in a fire for Dr. Paige Patterson and not only voted with the Executive Committee to fire him but stood to defend the action. If you had told Bart a year ago that he would do such a thing he would have declared it impossible. His integrity drove him to do what his heart would never have desired or dreamed. Here is Bart's statement: I am Bart Barber, messenger from First Baptist Church of Farmersville, TX. I am also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Baptist … [Read more...] about Bart Barber’s Powerful Statement