On May 7th 2019 Steve Horn was elected as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Since that time I cannot recount how often I have been asked by friends from within and without Louisiana what I think about the new hire and when I would share my thoughts here on Voices. However, I did not think it was fair to do such a thing until I had an opportunity to sit down with him to ask questions and express concerns I have regarding the LBC, its culture and the need for some significant changes. Unfortunately, his schedule has not yet allowed for us to meet but I am happy to … [Read more...] about An Encouraging Report from Louisiana
SBC Issues
What does the future look like for state conventions?
What does it say about the future of Southern Baptist state conventions that the movement among them is to voluntarily reduce their revenues by cutting the percentage of Cooperative Program offerings that are kept and spent within a particular state's borders thereby reducing their ability to hire staff and do ministry? What it says is that the work done within a state (and I'd add to that especially within the legacy southern states where most Southern Baptists live and which receive the great majority of CP revenues) is less important than that which is done through our two mission boards … [Read more...] about What does the future look like for state conventions?
The 15 SBC leaders you never heard of who control most of the CP
Here they are: Thomas "Call me Tommy" Hammond, Georgia Baptist Mission Board Rick Lance; Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions Jim Futral; Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Tommy Green; Florida Baptist Convention Gary Hollingsworth; South Carolina Baptist Convention Milton Hollifield; Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Brian Autry; Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia Todd Gray; Kentucky Baptist Convention Randy Davis; Tennessee Baptist Mission Board David Hardage; Baptist General Convention of Texas Jim Richards; Southern Baptists … [Read more...] about The 15 SBC leaders you never heard of who control most of the CP
Is Dealing with Abuse in the SBC a Distraction from Our Mission? (Casey Hough)
Within the Southern Baptist Convention, some have implied that the current focus on addressing abuse in our churches and entities is a distraction from our mission, which has historically been assumed to be evangelism and missions. However, to view efforts to deal with the sin of abuse in SBC churches and entities as a distraction from their mission is to misunderstand the relationship between mission and corporate holiness. Dealing with abuse in our churches and entities is more than just biblically warranted, it is divinely commanded and crucial for the fulfillment of our mission, which … [Read more...] about Is Dealing with Abuse in the SBC a Distraction from Our Mission? (Casey Hough)
Expanded Statement by Baptist Press about the Jennifer Lyell Story
Since the publication a couple of weeks ago of the admission by Jonathan Howe that the story published by Baptist Press on Jennifer Lyell was not accurate, I've been dealing privately with a man (I won't give any information on him, other than he holds a responsible job at a non-SBC parachurch organization) who constantly wanted to find fault with Ms. Lyell and continue to besmirch her reputation. I finally cut him off, because I was getting so frustrated with his ignorant insinuations. It is hard to imagine the damage done by the Baptist Press's irresponsibility in March when they first … [Read more...] about Expanded Statement by Baptist Press about the Jennifer Lyell Story
Revoking Ordination
In recent weeks we’ve commented extensively on the need to revoke the ordination of pastors who have been convicted of child/sexual abuse. I’m confident our Voices writers and readers agree on that. We have not discussed how that can be done. That thought prompted me to do some research on revoking ordination. I checked the Broadman Minister’s Manual by Franklin Segler, a longtime professor of practical theology at SWBTS. His chapter on ordination is detailed and helpful, but he does not mention revocation. I also consulted W. A. Criswell’s Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors. His chapter … [Read more...] about Revoking Ordination
This Little Light – A reflection on Christa Brown’s Story
At the #CaringWell conference last week, Rachael Denhollander recommended that Southern Baptists read Christa Brown’s book, This Little Light: Beyond a Baptist Preacher Predator and His Gang.[i] I read the book after receiving a copy at the For Such a Time as This rally at the SBC Annual Meeting in Birmingham at the recommendation of a friend. I too commend the book to you. This Little Light was released 10 years ago, a year after the SBC Executive Committee declined to create a database of credibly accused sex offenders (considering a motion originally made by Wade Burleson). In the book, … [Read more...] about This Little Light – A reflection on Christa Brown’s Story
Should women in churches distrust and be wary of all male staff members?
Forget the Billy Graham Rule. You know, the one that classifies all women as potential, shameless seductresses. I can think of a few pieces of advice and counsel I was given early and often as a young seminarian and pastor. One of these is that you have to watch out for women in the church because some of them are looking to seduce the pastor, that shining example of male rectitude and exemplary spiritual maturity. Yeah, all oslost, ministry ruined, when some shameless hussy enchantress sets her sight on him. Call me ugly, obtuse, tone deaf, super spiritual, lucky or unlucky but I never … [Read more...] about Should women in churches distrust and be wary of all male staff members?
Assumptions, Filters, and Eisegesis: A Study of David and Bathsheba
Social media currents today flow with a discussion over sexual assault, consent, and the story of David's encounter with Bathsheba, as recorded in 2 Samuel 11. I've discussed the matter with students in some of my classes at a small Christian university. As well, I've spent hours debating it with myself while I'm at my night job; a more challenging debate partner would probably serve me better. And so I'm wading into the matter, but not in order to answer the question of whether King David raped or sexually assaulted one of his subjects, the woman Bathsheba. Instead, I want to use this … [Read more...] about Assumptions, Filters, and Eisegesis: A Study of David and Bathsheba
Only Heretics Disagree with Me about David and Bathsheba
A debate has raged on Twitter in recent days that strains credulity - not that the topic is being debated but the force with which it is being argued. The question is whether David's sin with Bathsheba was adultery or did it constitute rape. Did David rape Bathsheba? That is a valid discussion, but as is often the case, social media has turned it into a free-for-all. If you do not share my opinion on the topic your biblical bona fides are called into question. If you believe that David raped, you are putting your emotion ahead of biblical exegesis and don't really love God's word. If you don't … [Read more...] about Only Heretics Disagree with Me about David and Bathsheba