We’re only a few days away from the SBC Presidential Election. It’s the time of year when people who aren’t paying much attention the rest of the year begin to consider the choices they’ll make at the Annual Meeting. I know many people have already made up their minds about who they’ll be voting for in Nashville. But there may be some who are still considering which nominee is the best choice. I’d like to offer some thoughts on the vote for SBC President, especially knowing that Al Mohler has the highest name recognition among those being nominated. I’m someone who should be a likely … [Read more...] about Nashville, We Have a Problem. Al Mohler Is Not the Answer.
SBC Annual Meeting
Boto, Page, Pressler, Patterson, and Mike Stone: The Thread of Resistance to Abuse Response (by Colton Strother)
Yesterday I tweeted a thread on several pieces of Southern Baptist controversy and what the implications are for this year's SBC Annual Meeting that meets in Nashville next week, June 15-16. What follows is largely the content of that thread. The original thread can be found here. To begin, the purpose of this article is not to address the brewing controversy surrounding CRT/I nor the punches being thrown left and right regarding the ever-resurfacing debate about the nature of the convention’s complementarianism. This article cannot consider every issue that needs to be addressed in … [Read more...] about Boto, Page, Pressler, Patterson, and Mike Stone: The Thread of Resistance to Abuse Response (by Colton Strother)
Friendly Fire in the SBC (by Kevin Blackwell)
There were many tragic events during the years of the Second World War, but perhaps one of the most troubling occurred on July 25, 1944. As the Normandy campaign began with the historic beach landings of D-Day, massive allied bombing campaigns ensued clearing the way for Operation Overlord. Around 3,000 allied planes took flight that morning in a plan known as Codename Cobra and as they approached their target the pilots experienced low clouds making visibility almost impossible. The pilots intended to fly east to west along the enemies lines unloading their payloads, instead they approached … [Read more...] about Friendly Fire in the SBC (by Kevin Blackwell)
Why I Am Being Nominated for SBC Recording Secretary
Let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Adam Blosser. My wife, Ashley, and I have been married for ten years. We have four children. I am the lead pastor of Goshen Baptist Church in Spotsylvania, Virginia where I have served for almost five years. And Dave Miller is nominating me for recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention. There are three primary reasons why: 1. I want to serve Southern Baptists. My entire life has been spent in Southern Baptist churches. As a child, my Southern Baptist parents took me to our Southern Baptist church every time the doors were open. … [Read more...] about Why I Am Being Nominated for SBC Recording Secretary
Why I Will Leave the SBC if they Rescind Resolution 9, Affirming Limited Beneficial Aspects of Critical Race Theory
When one reflects on the history and current reality of systemic injustice in America, there are some tenets that have been handed down to us that are beneficial in discussing and assessing structural racism in America. Structural racism in America today is not as potent and prevalent, or as visible and vicious as it was in previous generations, but it still exists. Therefore, it must be prophetically, educationally, and legally addressed and readdressed. We see it present in real estate appraisal differences based on color, prison sentencing differences based on color, job hiring … [Read more...] about Why I Will Leave the SBC if they Rescind Resolution 9, Affirming Limited Beneficial Aspects of Critical Race Theory
SBC Survivor Stories: Will the Church Be a Haven or a Hunting Ground? (by Dave Pittman)
To say that the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is having some difficulties is like saying an oncoming hurricane will have showers and a breeze. It doesn’t fully capture the detail of what the damage will be, or the tragedy left in its wake. Vitriolic disputes over theology. Christian Nationalism and racial injustice. The continued coverup of sexual abuse crimes. And members leaving in droves. At the heart of it all, is a power grab for its core. So, what on earth is going on with the SBC? For me to answer that, I can only explain in this way… What is most personal is most … [Read more...] about SBC Survivor Stories: Will the Church Be a Haven or a Hunting Ground? (by Dave Pittman)
Paige Patterson vs SWBTS: Implications for the SBC Presidential Election
I've been reading the recent resurgence of wrangling regarding Dr. Paige Patterson and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS). The question of guilt involves not only these two parties, but by extension also impacts the coming SBC presidential election. Pastor Mike Stone bears the public perception of being Dr. Patterson's man by way of their mutual involvement in the organization Mr. Stone and Dr. Patterson helped to found, the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN). Should Dr. Patterson be (in this matter) the rascal many claim, the resulting guilty-by-voluntary-assocation scars both … [Read more...] about Paige Patterson vs SWBTS: Implications for the SBC Presidential Election
Russell Moore Letter to SBC President on the Current Crisis in the SBC [Full Text]
May 31, 2021 J.D. Greear President Southern Baptist Convention The Summit Church Durham, North Carolina Dear J.D., As I said to you the other night, you have my prayers as you go into your last Southern Baptist Convention meeting as president in a historically long—and even more historically accomplished—presidency. One of the great joys of the last eight years has been working alongside you on issues of monumental importance for the witness of the church. Some of the letter below is almost verbatim what I said to my own board officers last February. … [Read more...] about Russell Moore Letter to SBC President on the Current Crisis in the SBC [Full Text]
Significant Concerns about the New SBC Business & Finance Plan (Part 2) by Jon Canler
See part 1 here, where Canler discusses the first two areas of concern. There he said: My concerns revolve around three aspects of the plan, two of which I’ll highlight in this post, and the third I’ll discuss in part two: Reservations Regarding Escrowing Cooperative Program (CP) Funds and Entity Reporting Reservations Regarding Trustee and EC Nominations Reservations Related to Sole Membership, Ascending Liability, and Seminary Accreditation What is Sole Membership and Why is it Good for Southern Baptists? Sole membership is the legal way the Southern Baptist … [Read more...] about Significant Concerns about the New SBC Business & Finance Plan (Part 2) by Jon Canler
Significant Concerns about the New SBC Business & Finance Plan (Part 1) by Jon Canler
Consider my two posts an open letter to the Executive Committee (EC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and to SBC legal counsel where feedback and clarity are welcomed concerning the current text of the revised and updated SBC Business & Finance Plan (BFP) being brought before the messengers of the 2021 SBC annual meeting in Nashville, TN. For reference, you can find the current BFP on pg. 25 here and the proposed plan to be voted on in Nashville here. First, know that I am certainly for business and financial stewardship, accountability, and transparency among the SBC and its … [Read more...] about Significant Concerns about the New SBC Business & Finance Plan (Part 1) by Jon Canler