Back in 2009, an era ago, the Lottie Moon goal was set at $175 million. The receipts fell short by $26 million, $29 million, $30 million, $28 million...years on end proving that it was an unrealistic goal. Even in the post voluntary retirement year where 1,100 missionaries left the field, the receipts were far under $175 million. Witness the just-released LMCO receipts for 2019-2020: $177.6 million. Last year the total was $159.5 million. The increase to this year was over $18 million. There is no way to describe this short of "spectacular!" LMCO total exceeds goal, reflects committment … [Read more...] about Take in the good news that Lottie Moon hit a record $177.6 million for 2019-2020
SBC Issues
The inevitable resort to weaponizing money in church and denominational conflict
Happens every time. It's in our DNA as Southern Baptists. In those periodic times when there is dissension and conflict in our Grand Denomination the cry goes out, "Don't send them your money!" That's seldom appropriate and seldom effective. I daresay that every pastor of an SBC church has been in the place where individuals or groups have declared their intent to withhold their giving to the church in objection to church staff or direction. The beleaguered and formerly beloved pastor is usually the focus of the giving boycott. Sometimes this is the kind of pressure that works. More … [Read more...] about The inevitable resort to weaponizing money in church and denominational conflict
Third time’s the charm? (by Dave Pittman)
“Third time’s the charm”, that’s what we’re told, right? On their third attempt to honor the wishes of Messengers, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee voted 44 to 31 to waive attorney-client privilege (albeit in a VERY limited manner) and agree to the contract with Guidepost to begin the investigation on sexual abuse. But let’s be honest, this is not an investigation on all cases of sexual abuse within the SBC. It’s only about the last 20 years and only within the SBC EC. Is there already a documented case of libel regarding a case of sexual abuse? Yes. And will there be … [Read more...] about Third time’s the charm? (by Dave Pittman)
In any SBC drama and conflict the Cooperative Program takes a hit
...and these last weeks have been more drama since the hot years of the Conservative Resurgence. I have observations and opinions but perhaps the investigation will prove beneficial in the long haul. No one knows. One might note this significant change in the Baptist Press policy on reporting abuse: Baptist Press will continue to report every instance of abuse related to Southern Baptist churches or leaders of which we are made aware. BP made this change earlier, not as a result of the past weeks of turmoil. Some of us were attuned to clergy sex abuse when BP would never carry and news … [Read more...] about In any SBC drama and conflict the Cooperative Program takes a hit
Trauma Comes to Church: A Licensed Counselor’s Perspective (by David Hughes)
“I was sexually assaulted as a child and I want to work through it with you”. I had been punched in the gut. I knew when I went to grad school to become a counselor that I wanted to be a trauma therapist. Like most trauma therapists, I have a trauma history of my own. For some reason, some survivors are compelled to turn around, walk back into the wound, and help others. Call it part of the healing process. Still, this was my very first client. Counselors need hundreds of hours of counseling just to graduate so we can take our board exam and be provisionally licensed while we accrue … [Read more...] about Trauma Comes to Church: A Licensed Counselor’s Perspective (by David Hughes)
A Suggestion: Email Ronnie Floyd and Tell Him What You Think
The Executive Committee has an email for its president that is published and is available to Southern Baptists to use. It is my understanding that in this maelstrom, Ronnie Floyd is isolating himself from social media and tends to only listen to his supporters, those who tell him he's doing a great job. There have been statements by seminary presidents and several from state conventions and state pastors organizations, but we have no idea if they are getting through. Here's my suggestion. Tell Ronnie Floyd directly how you feel. Send those letters directly to him. PLEASE - if you do, … [Read more...] about A Suggestion: Email Ronnie Floyd and Tell Him What You Think
Privilege, Master Process, and More: Details from the SA Task Force you may have missed
This document was released on Tuesday, but if you're like me, you may have missed it or not read it fully because of the Executive Committee meeting taking place that day. I think it's worth reposting here because it contains a lot of helpful details as well as answering a lot of the common objections we keep hearing over and over again. This is the report of the Task Force related to the contract negotiations requested by the Executive Committee regarding the engagement of a third-party firm to conduct an independent investigation of the Executive Committee. Available at the Sexual Abuse … [Read more...] about Privilege, Master Process, and More: Details from the SA Task Force you may have missed
State Conventions Speaking Out about Executive Committee Failure
Various state conventions and groups in states have taken unprecedented action to state their displeasure with the Executive Committee's action to thumb their nose at the messengers of the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting and refuse to take appropriate action to deal with sexual abuse. I would guess that my list here is not complete, but here are the ones I have seen. To my knowledge, Michigan Baptists got the ball rolling with this stunning resolution. Tommy Green, the top-notch exec from Florida, sent this letter to his pastors, acknowledging the problem but maintaining that the CP was … [Read more...] about State Conventions Speaking Out about Executive Committee Failure
A tale of two motions: How the messengers and two entities respond to the call for independent investigations
With all the Convention focused on the Executive Committee and the Gaines/Parrott motion that formed an independent task force, I think it might be helpful to highlight a similar motion and its disposition by the messengers and the body to which it was referred. The motion I am referring to is the one made by former Baptist, and then Founders leader, Jared Longshore. The motion, it seems, was meant to be a parallel opposing motion to the one made by Grant Gaines and adopted similar language as that motion. The motion was as follows: Jared Longshore (FL) Motion: That the … [Read more...] about A tale of two motions: How the messengers and two entities respond to the call for independent investigations
The Real Failure at the Executive Committee Meeting
I promise the article on my motion and its response is coming soon. I just wanted to take a moment to offer up a word from myself and a few of my friends regarding our take on last week's Executive Committee meeting. When I say a few of my friends, I am not speaking about my co-writers here at SBC Voices. I am speaking about a couple of friends who took some time with me to express some of our thoughts regarding our current problem and from whence the real failure has come over the last 9 or-so days of life in the Southern Baptist Convention. I have chosen not to name the other co-writers … [Read more...] about The Real Failure at the Executive Committee Meeting