SBC Issues

  NOTE: I just read the third installment, and to be honest, I may be sick. It is hard to read. Wow. Demented men. NOTE: the second installment is out and is more specific, more maddening, and more saddening than the first. I will turn your stomach. I appreciate the research of the journalists at the Chronicle. They have done an excellent job of showing the problem. I read the first installment of the Houston Chronicle's "Abuse of Faith" story with much fear and trembling. The fact is that for those of us who have been following this story, there was little new there. The details … [Read more...] about Responding to “Abuse of Faith” and the #Metoo Movement

Update: Since the posting of this blog on Saturday, the Houston Chronicle report has now been released. You may access the article here. ______ Tomorrow, an investigative article will be released in the Houston Chronicle that will tell the story of hundreds of persons who have been sexually abused in SBC churches. Even before I know the content of the article, I have a few suggestions about how we as Baptist pastors and members should respond to it.   1. Listen. Hear the voices of the persons in this report and let the story have it’s effect. Digest it, listen to the stories, … [Read more...] about “Abuse of Faith” – A report on Sexual Abuse in SBC churches: How should we Baptists (and we Christians) respond to this report?

Eleven day ago two former SBC presidents, megapastors both, and another prominent SBC pastor wrote the Search Committee for the SBC Executive Committee and asked if minority candidates were interviewed for the open position and if not, why not. The letter was leaked to one of the Baptist state papers. The SC issued a statement yesterday that while the question of a minority interview was not answered, attempted to reassure Southern Baptists of the Committee's committment to "ethnic diversity" in their work. Nothing happened in the ten days between except that conversation ripped and roared … [Read more...] about Search committee fundamentals, tawdry messes, and the bovine vote

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?

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

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 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

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