I made the assertion in a previous post, based on solid information that has been given to me, that there have been no minority interviews in the hiring processes at our entities. I asked, even begged for information to correct that. If one of the search teams has interviewed a minority, I would love to be corrected and will publicly and loudly publish that correction. To this point, I have received no such corrections. So, assuming that there have been minority applicants (there have - qualified ones) and that these minority applicants have not gotten through the vetting process to the … [Read more...] about Is Racism the Reason We’ve Had NO Minority Interviews?
SBC Issues
About being their “favorite” pastor
Edith lived along the highway a few miles down from the church. With her in the modest frame house was her infirm husband who had been ill for some time. She was an authentic "shut in" in the ecclesiastical lingo of that rural church, confined to her home because of the condition of her husband who needed constant care. Would it be immodest if I said that I, the new pastor and latest in a string of short term ministers, was her favorite? My occasional visits would be brief but sprinkled with her effusive praise like, "We're so lucky to have you" and "You're the best pastor we've ever … [Read more...] about About being their “favorite” pastor
In Praise of Sermon Series
Editor's Note: I feel some level of smug satisfaction that for the first time in a while, I remembered to change the author to Mark Terry and properly credit him for his post! In my preaching ministry, I’ve mainly preached series of sermons. Of course, I’m not alone in this. Many pastors do, I’m sure. I once asked Mark Dever if he preached sermon series, and he replied, “I only preach sermon series.” It’s clear that the big name preachers do this because their sermon series become published books. What are the advantages of sermon series? First, the preacher does not experience Saturday … [Read more...] about In Praise of Sermon Series
The Man We Need in New Orleans
Recently, our esteemed Grand Poobah and Chief Pontificator around here offered a thorough and sound argument for the type of person we need serving our convention of churches in Nashville as our Executive Committee CEO. I’d like to unashamedly steal his title and repurpose it for a similar musing about the type of person I believe we need here in my home of New Orleans to serve our convention as the next President of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). Those of you who regularly read our posts at Voices might know that I am the number one fan of the work the SBC does here in … [Read more...] about The Man We Need in New Orleans
Growing Concern over Search Committees and Minorities
The Biblical Recorder has an article that was just published concerning a letter by pastors James Merritt, Vance Pitman, and Bryant Wright, written to the Search Committee for the EC, expressing concerns about the perceived lack of minority involvement in the hiring process. The article is entitled Diversity in focus as Baptists await EC announcement. The article says that many expect an announcement of the candidate for president of the EC at the February 18-19 EC meeting. The three pastors are asking whether any minorities have been interviewed. Perspectives 1. We do not have to … [Read more...] about Growing Concern over Search Committees and Minorities
Do You Have a Life Verse?
When I started to college at John Brown University, it was a “thing” on campus to have a life verse (a Bible verse that guides your life). I had never heard the phrase, “life verse,” and I did not have one. The first time a student asked, “What’s your life verse?” I replied, “What’s a life verse?” I didn’t have one, and I wasn’t sure how to get one. Still, my fellow students continued to ask, so I decided to fight back. I did pick one—“O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! For your love is better than wine” (Song of Solomon 1:2, RSV). Then, when the next student inquired, I … [Read more...] about Do You Have a Life Verse?
Todd Lafferty to Become IMB Executive VP
The IMB is announcing that Todd Lafferty will be recommended to the IMB Board of Trustees at their February 6-7 meeting to become the Executive Vice President, working with Dr. Paul Chitwood. Here is a press release from IMB where you can read about him. This has been expected since before Dr Chitwood was announced. We were told by multiple knowledgeable sources that Lafferty would be appointed with Dr. Chitwood and our initial post announcing Dr. Chitwood's candidacy for the IMB presidency carried Todd Lafferty's name as well. We removed it quickly, and have no idea what the process … [Read more...] about Todd Lafferty to Become IMB Executive VP
Keep in mind, no church has to give to the Cooperative Program
I think we are past all the hagiographic language about the Cooperative Program, how our primary channel is the stuff of genius, God-breathed, and without which the church of Christ would be irreparably handicapped. Although few among us would say that it is no longer relevant or valuable to Southern Baptists, as we are approch the CP centennial in 2025 a heaviness has settled on the CP discussions. We will almost assuredly enter whatever centennial celebrations planned for that year with over forty years of steady church percentage decline, decades in which churches said with their giving … [Read more...] about Keep in mind, no church has to give to the Cooperative Program
The Retail Baptist Pastor and his book of characters
My pastoral service was retail, not wholesale. That is, I related directly to everyone in my congregation rather than to staff or leadership only. This is retail on the scale of the median sized SBC congregation of seventy or so on Sunday morning or the average congregation of 125 or so. The vast majority of SBC clergy are retail pastors, most of these single fulltime staff clergy in their church. I have nothing against the megapastors who farm out their pastoral duties to a host of assistants, sub-pastors, associates, and specialists. I understand that the gravity and energy of … [Read more...] about The Retail Baptist Pastor and his book of characters
Meet the new Georgia state executive: “Call me Tommy.”
State convention CEOs usually stay for a long stretch, so in my 37 years as a pastor or semi-retired pastor I've only been around for three changeovers of state convention leadership. Yesterday I attended one of the "listening sessions" held by the new Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., former NAMB staffer, big church pastor, former prez of the GBMB, and trustee of a bunch of significant SBC and GBMB entities. "What do we call you," one attendee asked. "Call me Tommy," he said with an avuncular and casual air. I like him already. My state … [Read more...] about Meet the new Georgia state executive: “Call me Tommy.”