A PLEA TO THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO TREAT DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD WITH FAIRNESS, DECENCY AND RESPECT By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. How Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is treated by the Senate as a woman who confesses that she was victimized by Brett Kavanaugh during their high school years is not a matter of politics, from my perspective. It is a moral, justice, ethical, due process, and gender-fair treatment matter. I am equally as concerned that Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, receives the same equal and fair treatment by the Senate and the process, related to Dr. … [Read more...] about A Plea to Treat Senate Judiciary Committee (William Dwight McKissic, Sr)
Women Can Speak in Church–1 Corinthians 14:34-36
I wrote an article earlier this week exhorting women to speak up in their churches and local association meetings. My post generated a fair amount of comments, accusing me of, among other things, being a leftist, feminist infiltrator, and not knowing God’s word. The scripture used to support a position in opposition to my post was 1 Corinthians 14, Paul’s instructions for orderly worship. I’d like to explore Paul’s instructions in this post, and specifically, Paul’s instructions for women to be silent in church. Paul writes, beginning in verse 33 of 1 Corinthians 14, “Since God is not … [Read more...] about Women Can Speak in Church–1 Corinthians 14:34-36
Implementing MinistrySafe child protection system in my local church
Churches I pastored, starting around 1997 or so, had written child protection policies. Before that, there were unwritted rules and expectations of those who served the church in positions that involved preschoolers, children, and students. I'm not a part of a church staff at my present church unless you count some volunteer responsibilities that get me invited to weekly church staff meetings with the pastor and other paid staff. Our church is a medium-sized congregation with 350 or so average weekly worship attendance. The number of volunteers with preschool, children, and student … [Read more...] about Implementing MinistrySafe child protection system in my local church
J. D. sez…no evening sessions in Birmingham at the 2019 annual meeting.
He tweeted that bit of news. Nightlife in Birmingham: Have a leisurely, gluttonous, triple-bypass BBQ meal (need recommendations from the Birminghamians for the best spot). Find a nice park and sweat profusely while watching grass grow. For Cals...pass the evening at the Good People Brewing Company. Cals are good people, right? Most likely, attend one of the ancillary SBC org meetings who now have time for more bragging and blustering than they did when they had to squeeze in a luncheon between SBC sessions. Sit in some overpriced coffee lounge and gossip about stuff with … [Read more...] about J. D. sez…no evening sessions in Birmingham at the 2019 annual meeting.
EC not going to waste missions money on remote SBC voting…and other news
The SBC Executive Committee met this week and did a few things. Here's a secondhand report of the highlights. Quotes are from BP: Declined a request to study further the feasibility of remote participation in the SBC annual meeting. Among the reasons cited: "Diverting missions' offerings to pioneer the use of such technology (there being no known model for web-based constituent participation in any similarly-sized, deliberative body, nor even in any state Baptist convention) would be an inappropriate prioritization" and "The simplicity of conducting business at a single site is preferable … [Read more...] about EC not going to waste missions money on remote SBC voting…and other news
The Word that Changed Our Lives (by Ashley Blosser)
This article originally appeared at Bearing His Image and is crossposted here with permission. Autism. The word reverberated off of the pale yellow walls of the pediatrician’s office and settled on my stomach like bad Chinese. I knew Hudson’s development was atypical. I was aware of the impending result of the 23-point questionnaire I had completed because I had marked the wrong answer more times than not. Deep down, I knew. But nothing could have prepared me to hear that word out loud at that moment and in that room. I hated how much weight the suggestion carried coming out of the mouth … [Read more...] about The Word that Changed Our Lives (by Ashley Blosser)
Social Justice Is No “Newfound Obsession” for Christians (Mike Miller)
An influential Evangelical recently lamented that contemporary Evangelicals are displaying a “newfound obsession” with social justice. I think this man needs to study church history (which I am teaching on Sunday nights, by the way). 4th century Emperor Julian (a pagan) wrote, "Atheism [his term for Christianity, since Christians rejected all the pagan gods] has been specially advanced through the loving service rendered to strangers, and through their care for the burial of the dead. It is a scandal that there is not a single Jew [he did not distinguish between Jews and Christians] who is a … [Read more...] about Social Justice Is No “Newfound Obsession” for Christians (Mike Miller)
Ladies, We Need Your Voice
I was moderating our association meeting when a resolution was brought to the floor. We almost never have resolutions submitted except for the obligatory thank you resolution to the host church. This resolution was heavy, and I knew the discussion would be emotional. The resolution was about abolishing abortion.. I moderated the discussion fairly. There were two amendments proposed; one passed and one failed, and after 10 minutes of discussion, the resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority. I brought my seven year old daughter to the meeting (I always try to bring one of the … [Read more...] about Ladies, We Need Your Voice
Stuff not taught in seminary that might get you fired
The big three firing issues for pastors are, and I'm opining here sans data because it fits what I think: women, money, laziness. LifeWay has a series on the top five reasons but, trust me, they aren't as deep in the SBC local church hinterlands as I am. Here are some things not taught on-high by seminary gurus and sages. Your church has a cemetery and you are dumb enough to mess with it. My first two churches were rural and had attached cemeteries. They had people to handle it and policies, mostly unwritten, about who can be buried there and at what price, etc. The Lord graciously … [Read more...] about Stuff not taught in seminary that might get you fired
Are We Really Smarter Than Our Forefathers? (Greg Davidson)
Eighth grade is a great time for teenagers. They still have that love and loyalty to their parents, their God, and their country. We wanted to cultivate that moment in our fourteen-year-old’s life by taking him to Washington D.C. to revisit the great purposes and foundation of our country. We arrived in the city, checked into our hotel, and the adventure began. We visited the U.S. Capital and found that there is a Private prayer chapel off the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. The focal point of the chapel is a stained glass with George Washington kneeling in the snow. Surrounding Washington is the … [Read more...] about Are We Really Smarter Than Our Forefathers? (Greg Davidson)