My pastoral service was retail, not wholesale. That is, I related directly to everyone in my congregation rather than to staff or leadership only. This is retail on the scale of the median sized SBC congregation of seventy or so on Sunday morning or the average congregation of 125 or so. The vast majority of SBC clergy are retail pastors, most of these single fulltime staff clergy in their church. I have nothing against the megapastors who farm out their pastoral duties to a host of assistants, sub-pastors, associates, and specialists. I understand that the gravity and energy of … [Read more...] about The Retail Baptist Pastor and his book of characters
Meet the new Georgia state executive: “Call me Tommy.”
State convention CEOs usually stay for a long stretch, so in my 37 years as a pastor or semi-retired pastor I've only been around for three changeovers of state convention leadership. Yesterday I attended one of the "listening sessions" held by the new Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., former NAMB staffer, big church pastor, former prez of the GBMB, and trustee of a bunch of significant SBC and GBMB entities. "What do we call you," one attendee asked. "Call me Tommy," he said with an avuncular and casual air. I like him already. My state … [Read more...] about Meet the new Georgia state executive: “Call me Tommy.”
“Actually, I’d love to ruin the man’s ministry.”
The title is the response I'd give if I reported a case of clergy sex abuse and the church leaders cautioned me with, "You wouldn't want to ruin the man's ministry." I wouldn't? "Actually, I'd love to ruin the man's ministry." If you have abused a child I'd be happy if I could say the word and you would never serve as senior pastor or in any staff position ever again. I'd be pleased to do that deed. Unfortunately, and far too often, the response to a victim of sex abuse in a church is to caution the victim or his or her family that reporting might hurt the spiritual leader's ministry … [Read more...] about “Actually, I’d love to ruin the man’s ministry.”
JD Greear names Curtis Woods as Chair of Resolutions Committee
Curtis Woods, co-interim executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention since November, has been named by SBC President J.D. Greear as the chair of the Resolutions Committee. Keith Whitfield, a vice-president as Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has been named the vice chairman. The rest of the committee will be named at a later date. The Baptist Press article can be seen here. A few relevant passages from the article, written by David Roach. Woods, who served on the 2018 SBC Resolutions Committee, will be only the second African American to chair the committee, according … [Read more...] about JD Greear names Curtis Woods as Chair of Resolutions Committee
A Plea to the Trustees of Southwestern
There are things I believe I know something about and things I know I know nothing about. Running a seminary is one thing I know that I know nothing about. I know a little something from my years on the Executive Board of the BCI, and on its Admin Team, about accounting for a non-profit, just enough to know that the ins and outs of the use of temporarily restricted funds at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is beyond my ability to understand and opine. I have largely stayed out of those discussions. I have also advocated "trusting the trustees" because we don't have a lot of … [Read more...] about A Plea to the Trustees of Southwestern
Letter from a Birmingham Jail on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
A few years ago I remember coming across the recommendation on social media that Christians would do well to (re-)read Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail each year on the holiday set aside to honor MLK. I've taken that recommendation each of the last several years, and am happy to recommend you do the same. You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling, for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and … [Read more...] about Letter from a Birmingham Jail on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
A Few Comments about SWBTS’s Finances
I'm not supposed to speak about matters presently before the board of trustees, so I'm going to limit my remarks to a few observations about how being a trustee works and the nuts and bolts of how we relate to the Southern Baptists who have placed us into office. Some trustees are blabbermouths and some trustees are very tight-lipped and most trustees are somewhere in the middle. Me? I'm a blabbermouth by nature. When I get myself into trouble, it is usually for saying too much. Not everyone is like that. Trust me when I tell you that my natural inclination is to tell you a lot more. Doing … [Read more...] about A Few Comments about SWBTS’s Finances
How my church manages its membership roll is none of your business
In the SBC universe of churches: Some churches have a formal membership roll. Some churches don't maintain a formal roll. Some churches use a specific book in which membership and the changes to the same are meticulously maintained. This book is a historical, permanent church document. Some churches have dispensed with a written membership book and rely on software. Some churches have explicit rules on how one can join the church and strictly follow them. Some churches have explicit rules on joining but are soft on following them. Some churches have a membership roll … [Read more...] about How my church manages its membership roll is none of your business
Miscellaneous Tidbits from this Week
I'm trying to write at least one post per week. I know it's not required, but it's a habit I want to cultivate, and I'm appreciative of the group here at voices for allowing me to post some of my miscellaneous ramblings. I started writing this post earlier this week and was finding myself bereft of material. It was a slow week, but as good 'ol JR would say when a wrestler would interrupt the match of his pay-per-view opponent, "business has picked up." James McDonald has taken an indefinite leave of absence. You can find more particulars here. This is the third pastor, in recent … [Read more...] about Miscellaneous Tidbits from this Week
Love God Supremely; Love Others Deeply (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 5)
In this series, I’m considering some things that I’ve learned while pastoring over the last 15 years. You can check out the previous posts and a series introduction here: Part 1: Not everybody will like you, and that’s okay. Part 2: Pray for people and let them know that you’re praying for them. Part 3: Discipleship is easy, yet hard. Part 4: Encourage your wife to serve where she feels led In this post, we’ll consider Lesson #5: Make your vision, purpose, and mission to lead people to love God and love others. Your church needs a vision statement, mission statement, and purpose … [Read more...] about Love God Supremely; Love Others Deeply (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 5)