SBC Voices

The administrative assistant in charge of financial matters was a long term employee and completely trusted. She was also a brazen thief and by the time the organization started paying attention to her spending she had stolen at least $1.3 million over a period of years. The theft finally came to light when a check was needed to pay an obligation and there were no funds in the account. After the matter was investigated it was found that the trusted employee would ask one or the other of her supervisors to sign blank checks. Sometimes the requests were verbal, other times she left sticky … [Read more...] about A simple way to bankrupt your church and lose your job in the process

Al Mohler is a tried and trusted leader among Southern Baptists. His election as President of the SBC in June 2020 is probably inevitable. The timing of his announcement, I find unusual and unprecedented. I believe there is an agenda—a specific agenda—associated with his nomination. I just don’t know what all it might include. As with all nominations, for the SBC President, H.B. Charles’ nominating Al Mohler is a strategic move. H.B. is lending his enormous credibility and influence to Mohler, and that will bode well in Mohler’s favor with a wide variety of people. I applaud and … [Read more...] about Response to Albert Mohler’s Nomination for SBC President

I was in conversation with a search committee about being their pastor. We did the usual tapdance of questioning each other. I asked what their procedure was for voting to extend a call to a new pastor. One committee member jumped the question and answered, "We require an 80% congregational vote but I moved that we add one additional point for the Father, one for the Son, and one for the Holy Spirit." I'm pretty good at math and that makes an 83% vote necessary. I think the size of that church was such that they might have 60 or 70 voting members present for a pastor-call vote. The 83% … [Read more...] about The strange world of autonomous Southern Baptist churches

The great majority of these are full time, career overseas personnel, mostly couples but some singles. We all know that IMB counts spouses as missionaries; thus, a couple is two. Not rocket science for most SBCers but the counting policy should be understood. Some of the 3,681 (the number reported on IMB's site) are not career but mid-term people, a few years commitment and some are IMB team members overseas who are filling jobs for the mission but not funded by IMB. Paul Chitwood, IMB CEO, in his recent address to trustees said there were currently 3,700 overseas personnel (I'm assuming a … [Read more...] about IMB has 3,681 total field personnel headed toward 4,200

The days are shorter, skies are grayer, birds aren't singing, and flowers aren't blooming as much these days. So how about my adding a depressing thought. Paul Chitwood, CEO of the IMB said: A look back over the last decade of LMCO receipts reveals that 10 percent fewer churches contributed in the past five years than in the five years prior.                                                                                                                                                  Paul Chitwood, September 26, 2019. I understand that our oldest and most valued entity, The International … [Read more...] about Dear SBC churches: Give something, anything to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions

The internet blew up last week with responses to John McArthur’s comment that Beth Moore should “go home.” He meant that she should focus her energies on home life rather than Bible conferences. He made this comment at a pastors’ conference at his church in California in response to a question about women who preach and teach. It is fair to say that he maintains a very narrow view on women teaching and preaching. Of course, after his comments became known both sides on the issue came out swinging, and strong comments ruled the day. John McArthur’s comment caused me to ask myself—Should Beth … [Read more...] about Should Beth Moore “GO HOME”? [By Mark Terry]