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 Institutions & Entities
The Case of the Missing Missionaries and the Local Church
I've already written about how to get an IMB missionary to come to your church; basically it boils down to requesting someone to come. Today, I'd like to examine what might possibly have led churches to stop requesting missionaries and why missionaries, for their part, don't seem to aggressively pursue venues in which to speak. A disclaimer: please, no blame-game discussions. We can seek causes without vilifying those attached to them. The goal behind a search for causes should always be to ameliorate the effects. As well, I'm painting with broad strokes here and as such there will be … [Read more...] about The Case of the Missing Missionaries and the Local Church
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
Breaking News: Patterson Issues Another Statement, “An Apology to God’s People”
This afternoon Southwestern Seminary released another statement from Dr. Paige Patterson. This follows an April 29 statement from him and a May 1 Statement on Abuse from Patterson and the Board of Trustees' Executive Committee. It also follows a widely-circulated open letter to SWBTS trustees from SBC women and a more recent, similar letter from SBC men. The full text of today's statement is copied below. An Apology to God's People Pastoral ministry that occurred 54 years ago, repeated as an illustration in sermons on more than one occasion, as well as another sermon illustration used to … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Patterson Issues Another Statement, “An Apology to God’s People”
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”?
Why Don’t IMB Missionaries Ever Visit My Church?
I've come across an increasing number of comments in recent years regarding the absence of IMB missionaries from average churches across the SBC. Of course, this might be simply because I'm old and I've had more time to note these items; as well, this perspective might flow from chronological myopia. To review, IMB missionaries live internationally for at least 22 months and up to 5 years before returning the US for what they now call stateside assignment (see also "furlough"). How long they remain in the States depends both on personal preference and the length of their most recent term. … [Read more...] about Why Don’t IMB Missionaries Ever Visit My Church?
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
The Demise of the SBC? Not According to our Seminaries
Our SBC seminaries as a whole have increased in their student enrollment by 8-10% in the past 10 years! SBC Seminaries FULL TIME Student Enrollment 2017-18 vs. 2007-08 SBTS: 1,702 vs. 1,411 = 21% Increase SWBTS: 1,393 vs. 1,847 SEBTS: 1,602 vs. 863 = 86% Increase MBTS: 1,120 vs. 398 = 181% Increase NOBTS: 909 vs. 1,579 Gateway Seminary: 634 vs. 699 TOTAL = 7,360 vs. 6,797 = 8% increase! SBC Seminaries TOTAL Student Enrollment 2017-18 vs. 2007-08 SBTS: 3,157 vs. 2,562 = 23% increase SWBTS: 2,767 vs. 2,693 = 3% increase SEBTS: 2,187 vs. 1,542 = 42% … [Read more...] about The Demise of the SBC? Not According to our Seminaries
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
How IMB’s overseas workers could double in number
David Platt, who has announced his resignation but is still CEO of the IMB, had a plan to greatly expand the Board's overseas workforce. The plan was to meld unpaid overseas secular workers into the IMB's work. Not a few questions were raised about this but it was a plan to get IMB's numbers back up. I know of no SBC entity or institution that is planning for significant expansion based on projected increases in Cooperative Program revenues. IMB receives less than one-third of their budget from CP revenues, much more from Lottie Moon offering and direct gifts. I don't see much going on in … [Read more...] about How IMB’s overseas workers could double in number