I think there's a union somewhere - the Difficult Deacons Association. They send out one or two to almost every Baptist church (hopefully only one or two). When one member of the DDA moves on, another one is appointed to take his place. I also have had a trickle of folks from the Cantankerous Members Union at my churches. We get upset about the Difficult Deacons (or Exasperating Elders) or the Cantankerous Members and try to figure out ways to silence them. I've actually known of pastors who sought to put such people on church discipline because of their lack of support for his "vision" for … [Read more...] about How to Destroy Good Men
Seminaries
Breaking: Statement from SEBTS Administration on Internal Investigation & Patterson Documents
Southeastern Seminary has released a statement tonight responding to a letter from Paige Patterson's lawyer. The full text is below. Noteworthy: SEBTS asserts "there has been no evidence discovered that disputes or discredits our former student’s account" An internal review is still ongoing, awaiting the return of documents SEBTS believes are owned by the seminary. SEBTS still seeks the return of documents they believe should be under the SEBTS possession. No request for arbitration has yet been received by SEBTS, thus there's been no opportunity to accept the request. SEBTS … [Read more...] about Breaking: Statement from SEBTS Administration on Internal Investigation & Patterson Documents
One Question for Each Entity Head at #SBC18
The Q&A time after the reports by each entity head at the SBC Annual Meeting can get interesting. There is usually at least one question and answer each year that is worth witnessing. Unfortunately, Wiley Drake will not be present in Dallas to question the salvation of any of our entity heads. The Q&A time is not the best forum for fruitful discussion, but it is a time when messengers can be sure that their question will be heard. The clarity and thoroughness of the answer you receive is, however, at the discretion of the entity head being questioned. When the entity heads are … [Read more...] about One Question for Each Entity Head at #SBC18
The Handwriting on the Wall: What We Can All Learn From the Paige Patterson Scandal
In many ways, I am a son of Paige Patterson. Some would describe me as a son of the Conservative Resurgence, the movement he helped spearhead. Over the course of my fifteen-year ministry, I’ve been able to serve in conservative churches and on conservative boards because of a conservative convention, and I have Paige Patterson to thank for it. Not personally. It’s not like he pulled any strings for me. We don’t have that kind of relationship. But he did spearhead a movement from which I’ve benefitted. However, like many, I’ve been disheartened and demoralized by the recent scandal … [Read more...] about The Handwriting on the Wall: What We Can All Learn From the Paige Patterson Scandal
What is next? Some ponderings for the SBC as we move forward
Well, in case you missed it, there has been a rather massive shift in the Southern Baptist Convention. I'll not rehash the waters gone by about the events at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. There's about four million blog posts, tweets, and Facebook streams about it (give or take a few million). Something I've been trying to think through is what happens next? Where do we go from here? I'd like to offer my musings on that, and you can do with them what you will. First, we need to pay attention to the fact there are very likely more victims who will come forward. And the instinct … [Read more...] about What is next? Some ponderings for the SBC as we move forward
A Loss. A Plea. A Prayer. (Jacki C. King)
1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope[a] at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.- Ephesians 4:1-6 This was my passage to read this morning thanks to my trusty YouVersion Bible App. I read as I started my day with … [Read more...] about A Loss. A Plea. A Prayer. (Jacki C. King)
What Does Al Mohler Mean by “Independent, Third-Party Investigation”?
A church, denomination, or Christian ministry must look outside of itself when confronted with a pattern of mishandling such responsibilities, or merely of being charged with such a pattern. We cannot vindicate ourselves. I believe that any public accusation concerning such a pattern requires an independent, third-party investigation. This was Al Mohler, our leading denominational spokesman and SBTS president, in his May 23rd commentary, The Wrath of God Poured Out - The Humiliation of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mohler covers a lot of ground in that piece about clergy abuse … [Read more...] about What Does Al Mohler Mean by “Independent, Third-Party Investigation”?
Reflections the Day After Patterson’s Removal
Last night Southwestern Seminary released a statement that caught most of us completely off guard. The Executive Committee of the trustee board, a smaller group of the trustees, unanimously decided to terminate Dr. Paige Patterson effective immediately. Only a week ago the full trustee board had met in a long, likely contentious meeting that resulted in his removal from the role of president of the seminary, but with a visible continuing role on campus as President Emeritus, Theologian in Residence, living quarters, and continued salary. There was little focus on the executive board meeting … [Read more...] about Reflections the Day After Patterson’s Removal
Dr. Jason Allen’s Resolution on “On Affirming the Dignity of Women and the Holiness of Ministers”
Dr. Jason K. Allen, President of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has released a resolution which he has submitted for consideration at the SBC Annual Meeting. It is signed by entity heads, by President Steve Gaines, by both presidential candidates, by past SBC presidents, many of our state executives (I did not check to see how many did or did not sign), and by many mega metro pastors. The resolution is printed below in full. Dr. Allen's commentary on the resolution can be found at his website and is well worth reading. This resolution is well-written and much-needed. As the … [Read more...] about Dr. Jason Allen’s Resolution on “On Affirming the Dignity of Women and the Holiness of Ministers”
2018 may be the SBC’s annus horribilis
My apologies to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, from whose 1992 speech I borrowed the Latin phrase. The royal family had a number of personal difficulties that year...and Windsor Castle caught fire. Sometimes royalty, even in the SBC, has difficulty. In the Grand Old Southern Baptist Convention we'd like to catch a different kind of fire but it looks like we will have to deal with extensive damage first. To Americanize annus horribilis, try Judith Viorst's 1972 children's book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. All of those descriptors work well. Some of the … [Read more...] about 2018 may be the SBC’s annus horribilis