In the six years since the SBC adopted the Great Commission Resurgence report, "Penetrating the Lostness," we've not seen a dramatic turnaround in our statistical decline and because of that, the effort has been written off as a failure, a waste of time. It is my intention to review the work of the GCR and ask the question, did it really do anything? Was it a failure and a waste of time as so many have assumed, or has there been some good that came of it? My intent in the weeks leading up to the SBC Annual Meeting is to look at each of the seven recommendations the report included and see if … [Read more...] about Whatever Happened to the GCR? The Heart of the Problem
SBC Issues
Sample Employee Misconduct Policies
With some fear and trepidation, I present our church's policies as a template for others to use. Please understand, these are over 2 years old now, and recent Supreme Court decisions already have us in a process of rewriting them (especially Obergefell). Also, each state's laws are a little different, so what works in Iowa might not be precisely right in your state. We culled these from various documents - some denominational, some available on the internet, some from our insurance company. On some policies (not included here) precise wording is crucial, often for reasons that escape … [Read more...] about Sample Employee Misconduct Policies
Grace, Sexual Predation, and Dealing with the Past
I will never forget an email I received one Sunday morning. I sat down at my desk after our first service and read a note from one of our members. It was one of those! The sin she'd uncovered and was reporting was bad - really bad (did not take place at church). It took my breath away, but I knew how to proceed. We had written a set of policies that told me exactly what I was supposed to do and I worked the plan. Those policies had been written with expert input from insurance companies and other sources that have done extensive work to advise us on how to react. If I'd gotten that email in … [Read more...] about Grace, Sexual Predation, and Dealing with the Past
Cooperative Program Sunday: Straight talk on the CP
Cooperative Program Sunday on the beloved denominational calendar was April 10th, last Sunday. Some churches observed it. Some didn't. It should have been observed. It still can be observed, since there is no denominational calendar enforcement squad afoot catching violators. Here are some straight talk observations about our primary denominational giving plan. CP revenues are up this year. The SBC Executive Committee is six months, half-way, through the fiscal year and are able to report that CP receipts at the SBC level are 3.09% above the same period for last year. This is an indication … [Read more...] about Cooperative Program Sunday: Straight talk on the CP
On Sexual Predation in the Southern Baptist Family
Whereas any act of sexual predation is a sin and an abomination, and many acts of sexual predation constitute crimes; and, Whereas all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands have laws requiring certain professionals to report suspected sexual abuse of children, and twenty-seven states specifically require clergy to report suspected sexual abuse of children; and, Whereas God has commanded us to “submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in … [Read more...] about On Sexual Predation in the Southern Baptist Family
Reflections on our Unity in the Gospel — Will We Be Together?
God’s people gathered across denominations bound by a common theology, multiple sermons over a few days that are relevant and theologically robust, glorious music saturated with expressions of the sovereignty of God, great times of fellowship with other pastors over good food, being together in a room filled with a sense of the very presence of God... No, I’m not talking about #T4G2016, I’m talking about the 56th Annual Simultaneous Revival of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Gary and Vicinity. That’s how I spent last week – a wonderful event that God used in my life in a way every bit as … [Read more...] about Reflections on our Unity in the Gospel — Will We Be Together?
Pranks and the Christian: How Far Is Too Far?
I have to admit, it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Millicent Phillips got pranked by her brothers recently after having her wisdom teeth pulled. While still on anesthesia, they convince her that a zombie apocalypse had taken place and they drove her around asking her questions. It is comic gold. Honestly, her reactions are priceless. Here's my response: 1) If she murders her brothers and I'm on the jury she gets off paying a small fine. 2) These guys probably better sleep with one eye open. 3) My impression of Millicent Phillips is that she is a really nice … [Read more...] about Pranks and the Christian: How Far Is Too Far?
SBC This Week – Interview with JD Greear (Gaines and Crosby Coming)
SBC This Week's podcast from Friday had an interview with JD Greear, the first of the presidential candidates for the SBC to announce. It is worth your time to listen. Keep an eye on that site. Future podcasts will include interviews with Steve Gaines and David Crosby as well. (from their "about" section) SBC This Week is a weekly news roundup from around the Southern Baptist Convention as well as guest interviews from today’s top church leaders. The podcast is hosted by Amy Whitfield and Jonathan Howe. … [Read more...] about SBC This Week – Interview with JD Greear (Gaines and Crosby Coming)
Whatever Happened to the Great Commission Resurgence?
The GCR was a failure. The GCR was a waste of time. The GCR was a backroom deal proven by the sealing of their documents. It has become almost a truism in certain circles of Southern Baptist life that the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, the Report they produced, and that which has resulted from that, was a tremendous failure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is effectiveness. Some, disdainful of the direction and priorities of current convention leaders, have little choice but to see the initiatives of those leaders as failures. Others, more balanced in their perspective … [Read more...] about Whatever Happened to the Great Commission Resurgence?
They’re back at it…renewed legal challenge to our clergy Housing Allowance
The Freedom From Religion Foundation lost their earlier challenge but is taking another shot. FFRF renews 'David and Goliath' IRS challenge Same song...just another verse. Interestingly, the FFRF press release includes a quote from your humble and plodding blogger: "The manner in which our housing allowance has been used borders on clergy malpractice," William Thornton, a Georgia pastor and blogger, told Forbes magazine in 2013. "A growing subset of ministers who are very highly paid and who live in multimillion dollar mansions are able to exclude hundreds of thousands of dollars … [Read more...] about They’re back at it…renewed legal challenge to our clergy Housing Allowance