Editor: This article was originally posted at Mike’s website, Borrowed Light, on Friday, May 11. I really don’t want to write this. It is going to be seen as dog piling or as harboring bitterness and unforgiveness. I pray if those charges are leveled that they don’t have truth in them. I pray that my motives here are completely pure. Yesterday Paige Patterson issued an apology to God’s people. And it’s not sitting well with me. And, honestly, I feel it puts into a precarious position the women who signed the letter to trustees and have expressed concerns about Patterson. Allow me to … [Read more...] about A Concern with Paige Patterson’s Apology
SBC Annual Meeting
God Save the SBC – a Plea to Fervent Prayer
My heart has been heavy since I read something Ed Stetzer tweeted. Having been in a plethora of denominations he observed that (I paraphrase) the dysfunction in the SBC is not normal. Our anger and in-fighting is more than just a family fracas. A sense of call, a burden has been growing within me to do what I do today. I realize that many will call me a fool. Many willl dismiss it. Some will even be angered. But I believe this is what I must do. Anyone who has been around a while has to realize that what we are seeing this year is not normal. It not a harmless internal battle or a blip … [Read more...] about God Save the SBC – a Plea to Fervent Prayer
When Apologies Don’t Mean Much… And When They Do
Because of the grace of Jesus, we are invited to forgive over and over again. 70 times 7. We are invited and enabled to forgive even before someone apologizes. We can even forgive if they never apologize. We can forgive not because of who the other person is or what they have done, but because of who Jesus is and what He has done in forgiving us. When we do wrong, we are to apologize and we are to apologize when we have caused pain, hurt, and loss. We are to try to make amends and to make things right. An apology doesn't take away what happened, but it does show that we agree that offense has … [Read more...] about When Apologies Don’t Mean Much… And When They Do
The Mess We Are In: Can We Say “Enough Is Enough”?
A few days ago, Dave Miller shared his thoughts on the “Patterson brouhaha” in this post: A Few Words about the Patterson Saga. In my opinion, it was balanced, honest, and gracious. As I reflected on Dave's post, I started to wonder: How exactly did we get in this mess? Make no mistake, it is a mess, and all Southern Baptists are in it – together. People are debating whether Dr. Paige Patterson should preach the convention sermon or whether he should remain president of Southwestern Seminary. Those questions are important. I'm not taking away from those discussions, but that's not my … [Read more...] about The Mess We Are In: Can We Say “Enough Is Enough”?
Answering Some Objections Regarding Paige Patterson
The trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have a difficult meeting ahead of them on May 22. Their President, Dr. Paige Patterson, has come under fire recently for comments made at a 2000 CBMW event regarding abuse and a 2015 conference where he referred to a 16 year old's appearance as "nice." I won't rehash the details of his comments here, but you can read about them elsewhere if you've just slid out from under a rock somewhere and have no idea what I'm talking about. Google will surely help you out. This must not be swept under the rug. It must be dealt with … [Read more...] about Answering Some Objections Regarding Paige Patterson
On Racial Unity Among Southern Baptists – Submitted Resolution for #SBC18
This Resolution “On Racial Unity Among Southern Baptists” will be submitted to the SBC Resolutions Committee to be considered for the June 2018 Convention in Dallas, TX, by: Danny Akin, Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church Cameron Triggs, Grace Alive Church Mike Turner, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Dwight McKissic, Cornerstone Baptist Church WHEREAS, the first president of the Southern Baptist Convention, William B. Johnson indicated in his inaugural address that Southern Baptists were “free to promote slavery” arguing that slavery was a legal and civil matter, not a church matter; … [Read more...] about On Racial Unity Among Southern Baptists – Submitted Resolution for #SBC18
SBC FAQs answers your questions
The First Question asked and answered is: What is the Southern Baptist Convention? I suspect that many Southern Baptists would be unable to give a good answer. But Keith Harper and Amy Whitfield of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary answer this and others in their new book "SBC FAQs, A Ready Reference." It's $13.99 at LifeWay. I'm guessing you can pick one up at the Annual Meeting if you dare sneak out of one of the contentious sessions and visit the bookstore. In several decades of talking inside baseball SBC stuff and attending annual meetings the lack of understanding about the … [Read more...] about SBC FAQs answers your questions
A Few Words about the Patterson Saga
A good friend suggested that my surgery and hospitalization was suspiciously well-timed to avoid having to take any kind of position on the Patterson brouhaha that has raged this week. While that is not true, I can admit that I appreciated the excuse not to opine. I am waiting on the final orders to be released from the hospital and am feeling much better, so I thought I would commit the utter folly of entering that fray. I have friends who are supporters of Dr. Patterson and friends who are not and anything I say risks offending someone...or everyone. My first word would build on something … [Read more...] about A Few Words about the Patterson Saga
GoFundMe Available for SWBTS Student Fired for Tweet
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
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