Southern Seminary is now "Trusted for Truth". Leaving Southeastern and others to be trusted for, what, something less than truth? Well, Al has that alliteration going for him. Southeastern is the original Great Commission Seminary, probably the better branding. I do hope seminaries stay as "seminaries," seed beds for ministers, pastors, and religious leaders. Or, maybe they've already moved beyond that to being seed beds for consultants, coaches, and impressive titles and degrees. No level of SBC life has had to be more creative and aggressive with titles and labels than associations. I … [Read more...] about No one is better than Southern Baptists at slogans, titles, and labels
SBC Issues
Late Summer Musings
Here are some things I’ve mused about this summer. Chris Babbler is an announcer on KRLD radio in Dallas. Every time I hear him I think he should have become a preacher. Mid-America Baptist Seminary in Memphis (alma mater of William Thornton) has named Dr. Lee Brand, an African-American, to serve as academic dean. Certainly, I applaud this action. I know many were disappointed that none of the recent institutional presidencies went to a minority person. It seems to me that naming minority persons to positions such as vice president and dean will lead to their promotions to CEO … [Read more...] about Late Summer Musings
Politics is such fun: The Great Democratic Debate, Count ’em…10.
Who's to say that we can't have some fun every now and again? Politics is a spectator sport and this is the political Cirque du la Comedie. _________________ Biden: Ol' bloody side-eye himself. Can he run the long race without stumbling? Well, not so far. He's going to overshadow Gerald Ford's reputation for bumbling and stumbling. Booker: I'm not votin' for anyone who's always angry. That went for Ted Cruz and goes the same for Booker. Buttigeg: Dude, stay away from the Bible. It cannot help you. Castro: Pretty smooth guy. VP. Harris: So far a nothingburger. Can't make a … [Read more...] about Politics is such fun: The Great Democratic Debate, Count ’em…10.
What’s in a Name?
About twenty years ago, Dr. Ed Stetzer and I worked on a church plant on the east side of Louisville, Kentucky. As the planning progressed, Ed asked me what we should name the church. I suggested Eastside Baptist Tabernacle. He rejected that immediately, and I believe he settled on River Oaks Community Church. The church plant failed because the church planter left after six months. When we evaluated the project, I told Ed it failed because he rejected the name I suggested. From time to time the discussion arises about whether a Southern Baptist church should include Baptist in its name. In … [Read more...] about What’s in a Name?
Loneliness, Despair, Fear: So You Wanted to Be a Pastor?
Next summer will mark the 40th anniversary of my first paid ministry job and I consider it an honor to have been called to the service of the Savior, to have drawn my income from ministry for nearly four decades. I wouldn't do anything else. The privilege of proclaiming God's word to people, of telling lost people of the hope there is in Christ, of being a part of people's lives - that is an honor and blessing for which I am eternally grateful. Ministry has also worn me out. I have known the betrayal of close friends, have experienced lies, false accusations, and gossip from the sheep I was … [Read more...] about Loneliness, Despair, Fear: So You Wanted to Be a Pastor?
Oops, I did it again…
My buddies here sometimes ridicule me for my technological prowess...or lack thereof. I just did it again. I was scheduling a post by Mark Terry for Friday and I hit publish by accident. If you get our notifications, you got one, then the post disappeared. It will reappear ON SCHEDULE Friday morning. I did the same thing yesterday when I was scheduling my post on alcohol - no, I hadn't been drinking. William had just posted an article and I was scheduling mine for 1:30 Central (or so) and may have sent out the notifications early then, as well. I reset it for its normal time. People … [Read more...] about Oops, I did it again…
I Hate Alcohol
Permit me to state some facts before I begin my rant. I am a lifelong teetotaler. My only experiences with alcohol have been medicinal or accidental. I have never purposely taken a drink. I was raised that way and I have no desire to live any other way. I am not a prohibitionist. I believe that efforts to classify wine in the Bible as grape juice border on the silly. People drank alcoholic beverages and the Bible does not call that sin. There are warnings in the Bible about choosing what is wise, about avoiding the consequences of alcohol abuse, and strict prohibitions against … [Read more...] about I Hate Alcohol
In both the SEC and the SBC the rich get richer…
...and the poorer schools get no top level recruits; the smaller churches lose solid members. And ain't we got fun, so the song goes. Well, no we ain't got much fun if our team has little chance to win against one of the SEC rich powerhouses and, worse, it's no fun at all for the vast majority of SBC pastors who's average 100-or-so SBC church loses not just prospects but good members to the nearby megachurch. A friend told me with some concern that one of their church's best families were leaving and joining another nearby larger church. It's a conversation I have had repeatedly over the … [Read more...] about In both the SEC and the SBC the rich get richer…
Houston Chronicle’s long article on SBC autonomy: Can the SBC maintain it’s non-liability in abuse cases?
In their latest article on abuse in the SBC the Houston Chronicle and their reporters John Tedesco and Robert Downen do a good job drilling down into details that are seldom touched on by secular reporters. Southern Baptist Convention claims no control over local churches. But new rules, lawsuit may test that argument [You might have to have an account to read the entire article or access it from a different computer. It's worth reading.] A few quotes and observations: For decades, Southern Baptist lawyers have argued the convention has no oversight over any of the churches that … [Read more...] about Houston Chronicle’s long article on SBC autonomy: Can the SBC maintain it’s non-liability in abuse cases?
CP slightly up, IMB funding probably down, and what’s all this about immediate baptism?
With one month to go on the Executive Committee's fiscal year, it's good to see that the national CP receipts are running about one million ahead of the same period last year. That's only about one half of one percent but up is up. This is the national portion of the CP. It remains to be seen if the total CP, including the bulk of revenues which stay with state conventions, will be up for 2019. The same Executive Committee report shows designated giving for the period as being $2.67 million behind last year which means that Lottie and Annie didn't do quite as well this year as in 2018. … [Read more...] about CP slightly up, IMB funding probably down, and what’s all this about immediate baptism?