SBC Issues

First of all, let me be clear - it isn't because I agree with him about everything. If you delve back into the history of SBC blogging, you will find that I got to know Bart by DISAGREEING with him on almost every issue that mattered in the early "Baptist Identity" days. I'm not sure either of us changed our minds on those issues, but we forged a friendship anyway. Folks, when I was a candidate for Second VP a decade ago, Bart endorsed my opponent! (Still haven't fully forgiven you, Bart!) It is not just my friendship with him that is the basis of my recommendation. Yes, I consider him a … [Read more...] about Why I Believe the SBC Needs Bart Barber as President

After over 100 pounds of weight loss, I had to leave my lime green suit home, much to my wife's pleasure. She always hated that thing. However, I found a new eBay treasure a couple of weeks ago, a pair of lime green suede shoes to wear to this year's convention! My guess is, I will be the only person wearing lime green suede shoes at this year's Pastors' Conference or Annual Meeting. If you see me, come up and say hi. I plan to be hanging out quite a bit with Todd tonight at the SBC Voices booth. Drop by. Compliment me on my sartorial splendor. The socks add a nice touch too, don't you … [Read more...] about Bringing Back the Lime Green!

Though I’ve heard it asserted a hundred times, I do not think the SBC needs a “New Conservative Resurgence.” Liberalism is not making a comeback in our convention. It just isn’t so. We are a convention of men and women who believe the Bible. We have some varying viewpoints on issues, but we share a belief that the Bible is free of errors and is the absolute standard of truth. We are complementarians who believe the pastoral role is reserved for men. Yes, there are differences of opinion on the fine points of that stance. May a woman ever ascend the pulpit? Does the restriction include all … [Read more...] about We Need a NEW BIBLICAL RESURGENCE

The Southern Baptist Convention is in, as my pastor described it, a season of sifting. After the Houston Chronicle broke the news of hundreds of sex abuse cases involving clergy and ministry workers of various kinds, the messengers of the SBC sent a clear message: we want truth. Soon sex abuse cover-up (and abuse in general) was a key battleground in the social conflict engulfing evangelicalism and the SBC. After several skirmishes and the SBC skipping a year due to the pandemic, the messengers once again sent a clear message in 2021 with the establishment of the Sex Abuse Task Force. We want … [Read more...] about A More Trauma-Informed Ministry [Guest Author: David Hughes]