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 primed and ready for the question they receive, the answers can come across as a bit snarky.
I do not intend to ask any questions during the Q&A time at the annual meeting, but I have been thinking about some questions that I might ask if I were to ask a question. Thus, I sat down and came up with one question for each entity head. I am providing the questions below without additional comment. They are in no particular order.
O.S. Hawkins, President of Guidestone Financial Resources
Insurance premiums continue to sky rocket without an apparent end in sight. How can churches navigate these ever increasing costs in a way that is fiscally responsible and meets the needs of church staff and their families? What is Guidestone doing to help?
Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
How has your work at the ERLC changed under the Donald Trump presidency as opposed to the Barack Obama presidency?
Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board
We are far enough into the SEND North America strategy of church planting for its effectiveness to be fairly evaluated. How is NAMB measuring its effectiveness and what have you discovered from those evaluations?
David Platt, President of the International Mission Board
You’ve made a lot of changes at the IMB during your presidency. Do you believe those changes have staying power after a new president is hired? If so, why?
Augie Boto, Interim President and CEO of the Executive Committee
In your estimation, having worked at the EC for quite a while, what do you believe is the particular skill set that would make a person an effective leader of the EC?
Thom Rainer, President of Lifeway Christian Resources
LifeWay’s mission is “to assist churches and believers to evangelize the world to Christ, develop believers, and grow churches by being the best provider of relevant, high quality, high value Christian products and services.” Will you explain your process for determining what you will and will not carry in LifeWay stores based on this mission?
Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Do you believe that the recent revelations concerning a rape at SEBTS in 2003 will have a negative impact on the seminary with reference to enrollment? What has the seminary done since to ensure that all allegations of abuse are handled appropriately?
Chuck Kelly, President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
What steps is the seminary currently taking to ensure a smooth transition of leadership when the time comes?
Jeff Iorg, President of Gateway Seminary
The move to Southern California is now complete. What have been some of the unexpected challenges and advantages of the move?
Jeffrey Bingham, Interim President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
How do you view the role of interim president? What can be done at Southwestern during the interim to ensure that the school is poised for a bright future when the new president arrives?
Al Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
I appreciated your article on the judgment of God coming to the house of the SBC. However, there are still a lot of questions related to your connection to Sovereign Grace and CJ Mahaney. What is your current position regarding SGM? Are there any areas where you believe you’ve made mistakes in your handling of that situation?
Jason Allen, President of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Midwestern Seminary has seen a tremendous turn around under your leadership. What can other seminaries seeking to make a similar turn around learn from what God has done at MBTS?
While I will not be asking these questions at the annual meeting, you are certainly welcome to take one of them and claim it as your own. Use the comments section below to list questions you would like to have answered by one or more of our entity heads.
