I'm not running for anything so it doesn't trouble me to write that my default posture on all things SBC is cold eyed, astringent skepticism. Maybe that is unfair to the hundreds, thousands of highly committed, loyal, servants who are employed by our entities or who serve as trustees of them. Still, I think I come by it honestly. When artist Graham Sutherland was engaged to paint a portrait of the aged Winston Churchill for his eightieth borthday, the former Prime Minister asked him how he would approach his task. Sutherland said he would paint what Churchill gave him. When it was finished, … [Read more...] about Ice sculptures, chefs, sychophants, sinecures, and secrecy
So…what happened?
I am on the wait list for the Westin Hotel in Downtown Birmingham for this year's Southern Baptist Convention. It is one of the convention hotels that is connected to the convention center. Hotel registration opened on Friday at 9am (EST). I was turning my computer on at that time to register. By the time I got my computer on just a few minutes after registration opened, the only option I had at either convention hotel was the wait list at the Westin. By the time I filled out my info for the wait list, there were no more rooms available within a mile of the convention center. I realize … [Read more...] about So…what happened?
My DNA is better than your DNA
Many thanks to Elizabeth Warren for the recent attention drawn to DNA testing. While I have no interest in the political debate over all that, my interest in genealogy led me to explore this some years ago. If Senator Warren is between 1/64 and 1/1024 Native American good for her. That's anywhere from a third great-grandparent to an eighth great-grandparent. I have old photographs of relatives whose appearance (very dark hair, high cheekbones) made family highly suspect Native American blood. Sorry, though, DNA says no. So, no special treatment for my crowd at Harvard or anywhere … [Read more...] about My DNA is better than your DNA
Plagiarism for a New Day
My sermon prep and sermon delivery professor, a former large church pastor, would tell the young Spurgeons on the first day of class that any outline or sermon submitted if found to be copied would result in immediate failure of the class. While that was to be expected (and who should expect graduate academic credit given for stolen work?), it still put fear in the hearts of students because those who already had a body of sermonic work seldom were certain that their material was original. It is probably more accurate to say that the brethren absolutely knew that many of them were, ahem, … [Read more...] about Plagiarism for a New Day
Preferential Hiring of a Minority Candidate for IMB President?
Dave Miller recently committed to cyberspace his view of minority hiring in light of the five entity leadership roles which are or shortly will be vacant: IMB, Lifeway, Executive Committee of the SBC, Southwestern Seminary, and New Orleans Seminary. To summarize, Dave believes it would be a shameful turn of events if the SBC failed to appoint at least one minority leader to fill one of the five empty slots. Perusing the 165+ comments (yes, I read them all) leads one to believe there are four major schools of thought. Yes, please it is about time. Prioritize hiring of a qualified … [Read more...] about Preferential Hiring of a Minority Candidate for IMB President?
A Call to Prioritism
I’ve followed with interest the debate about social justice. We seem to struggle with a definition of what it is, much less agree on what to do to achieve it. The Lord Jesus issued two primary commandments to His followers: The Great Commission and The Great Commandment. Of course, the Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:18-20— “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe … [Read more...] about A Call to Prioritism
Can We Avoid Hiring Based on Race?
I'm asking this question because I used to be one of the "just hire the right man for the job" crowd. Then, I had lunch with a millennial. I asked him how I could reach millennials with the gospel. His answer was blunt, to the point, and surprising. He said, "Get a millennial to reach them." I expected him to tell me to be more active on social media, or tell me where millennials hang out these days. The quickest way to reach millennials is to get a millennial to reach them. How does this relate to the current SBC conversation on minorities in leadership? The quickest way to reach … [Read more...] about Can We Avoid Hiring Based on Race?
A Forum for the Opposition on Race
We are burdened about race relations in America and in the church. We advocate actively seeking justice and reconciliation through greater inclusion, through minority hiring, through social justice initiatives from a biblical foundation. Some of you oppose everything we suggest. You quibble with our terminology and accuse us of racism, of reverse discrimination, or you trumpet colorblindness. I am giving you this forum to propose solutions. Everything we have suggested is wrong. I don't think so but fine. The floor is yours. How would YOU solve racism and bring greater racial … [Read more...] about A Forum for the Opposition on Race
Five Vacancies. Why the SBC Should Hire Its First Minority Entity President
We are in a unique time in SBC life. Have there ever been five entities in transition? We have been talking about minority leadership at an entity over the last few years. With nearly half of our entity leadership positions open, it is inevitable that this is a key moment in SBC history. Our trustees need to act wisely at this crucial juncture in denominational history. Here are the facts: The SBC has a shameful racial history - support of slavery, defense of segregation, racism - it hasn't been good. We have been making progress in recent years and heart-attitudes have been … [Read more...] about Five Vacancies. Why the SBC Should Hire Its First Minority Entity President
How bright is the future for our beloved Cooperative Program?
October is Cooperative Program month. While serving as a pastor, I didn't often have a special CP Sunday or emphasis although I regularly attempted to educate the congregation on our main channel of mission support. Of all our denominational efforts and enterprises, the CP is the one that needs the most explanation, education, and promotion. After all, the title "Cooperative Program" doesn't convey anything concrete about how the money is spent. Cooperation is, needless to day, fundamental for the SBC but exactly how we cooperate financially is complicated and not easily conveyed. We have … [Read more...] about How bright is the future for our beloved Cooperative Program?