Statistical data among churches is on an up-swing. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. There are many key statistics that should encourage beleaguered churches and pastors. The focus of this post is a summary of Dr. Thom Rainer's podcast interview with Tony Morgan, head of The Unstuck Church Group. You can find The Unstuck Group here, and you can listen to Dr. Rainer's interview here: NINE KEY STATISTICAL INSIGHTS FROM CHURCHES IN 2018. Without giving away the entire podcast, here are 10 encouraging statistics for pastors and churches: CP giving: … [Read more...] about Encouragement for Churches?
Law profs: Cash clergy housing allowance is unconstitutional
A federal district judge has already ruled that the cash housing allowance paid to ministers is unconstitutional (the HA that includes a parsonage is a separate section of the tax code and was not challenged). This is the case brough by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The case is on appeal with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and some law profs have weighed in on the matter, on the side of the FFRF. Those who want to read the law prof's lugubrious amicus can go find it. A little bird told me that not a single one of the tens of thousands of SBC clergy want to spend time with … [Read more...] about Law profs: Cash clergy housing allowance is unconstitutional
The Cooperative Program will almost certainly be up for the fiscal year
After ten months of this fiscal year the CP is looking like there will be a slight increase for the year. Last year the Florida Baptist Convention sold their building and made a $3.1 million gift to the CP allocation budget. Because of that the yearly total may be slightly under last year. National CP 3.06% ahead of projection Designated giving to the Executive Committee, almost all of that Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong contributions, is up about $2.8 million from the same period last year. It's easy to gripe about SBC matters, decisions, snafus, and other things. Somehow, though, … [Read more...] about The Cooperative Program will almost certainly be up for the fiscal year
Georgia Baptists have a nominee for our state convention CEO
The Georgia Baptist Mission Board is one of the largest state conventions ranking second or third by several measures. The GBMB will likely be the second largest contributor to the SBC Cooperative Program allocation budget this year. Our CEO is retiring after 25 years and a new one has been nominated. Thomas Hammond to be nominated as Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board Oddly, the news reports omit ages, not that such is the most critical factor but it is a factor in these changes. The retiring CEO is in his early 70s. Hammond is 56 or so. It's not quite a generation … [Read more...] about Georgia Baptists have a nominee for our state convention CEO
The SBC needs vigorous Traditionalist voices
So, what's up with the Trads these days? The loose SBC political sub-group generally labeled "Traditionalists" has manifestly been in disarray since the late May SBC Today meltdown and severe losses at the mid-June SBC. Please, don't throw any hymnals at me for saying it. The Facebook discussion page was jettisoned and has been replaced by another and is a definite improvement. Admin seems to recognize that there are both Cals and Trads who are poison to sensible exchanges among SBCers of differing theological and ecclesio-political perspectives. In years past I had numerous public … [Read more...] about The SBC needs vigorous Traditionalist voices
Evangelism or Compassion?
I'm excited about the recent upswing in public words of affirmation for local baptist associations. I love hearing about the good things happening all around our convention related to the very important (I'd even say pivotal) role that the association can play in permeating the larger local area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My heart aches for my pastor friends serving areas in which the association does not have the support and strength it could (and should) have. Let me just remind you, pastors, YOU have the power to make the association be what it can be. The New Orleans Baptist … [Read more...] about Evangelism or Compassion?
Should entity trustees consider younger CEO retirement ages?
Perhaps some of our entities already have this but I think a good case could be made for not having leaders continue well into their 70s before leaving. It would force planned transitions, avoid messy situations, and help retain talented, younger leaders. I recognize that we have a general distaste for an arbitrary age at which a pastor or leader is told that their work is done but staying too long can be a problem. State conventions and local associations are slogging along. New, fresh ideas and leadership couldn't hurt but we have an aversion to talking openly about these things. What … [Read more...] about Should entity trustees consider younger CEO retirement ages?
From the ERLC: A note about a recent video
Concern has been expressed across social media about a video published yesterday on the ERLC website. The ERLC has clarified that the video was published by mistake. Please take note of the just released statement below: Yesterday, the team I lead at the ERLC posted a video on our website about the way humans should think about animals. Bottom line up front: this video does not reflect our views on the subject. It was an accident and an honest mistake but an embarrassing one nonetheless, and I’d like to apologize for allowing this video to post and for the understandable confusion it … [Read more...] about From the ERLC: A note about a recent video
Signs of a Healthy Church? Lessons from Multiplying Churches in Asia (Don Dent)
In the summer of 2018, I joined five other Southern Baptist theological educators visiting IMB work in a specific segment of Asia. For 9 days we studied and assessed networks of reproducing churches organized in networks - 20,000 new churches in 8 years. One motivation for this assessment was to see whether such movements are producing healthy churches. Frankly, many critics in America simply do not believe healthy churches can develop so quickly. Here are vignettes I witnessed that raise the question of what really is a healthy church. 1. These churches multiply, i.e. churches plant … [Read more...] about Signs of a Healthy Church? Lessons from Multiplying Churches in Asia (Don Dent)
A Plea to Our Predecessors (Scott M. Douglas)
Last night my heart was grieved yet again as I read (yet again) another essay from an older SBC statesman lamenting that things "ain't what they used to be." With more straw men and mischaracterizations and a healthy dose of fear mongering, I was grieved not because of how the Convention is portrayed or how its trajectory is mislabeled. I was grieved because again I found myself saying "Is this really how you want to go out?" Several years ago during our national meeting, one of the architects of what can only be described as the miraculous Conservative Resurgence took his final address and … [Read more...] about A Plea to Our Predecessors (Scott M. Douglas)