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)
The Best of Enemies
Do you know the names Ann Atwater, CP Ellis, and Howard Fuller? I didn't until I read the book "The Best of Enemies," by Osha Gray Davidson. The book chronicles racial relations in Durham, North Carolina in the 1960's. I heard about the story of CP Ellis and Ann Atwater during this year's pastors' conference when Dr. Tony Evans used their story as a sermon illustration. I decided to research the story and found Davidson's book. I'll give a summary and then three strengths and three weaknesses of Davidson's work. Summary During the first half of the 20th century, Durham, North … [Read more...] about The Best of Enemies
Will new tax on churches force thousands of congregations to file tax returns?
How about my putting the probably answer at the first here? "NO." But scare headlines are always with us these days. Here's a couple of articles I've run across on the subject: New tax levied in GOP overhaul draws laments from churches, other nonprofits Churches and other nonprofit groups are struggling to make sense of a new levy imposed on their traditionally tax-exempt operations by the sweeping tax overhaul that Republicans in Congress passed last year. Those outfits in Texas and beyond now must pay a 21 percent tax on some fringe benefits, such as parking or mass transit passes, … [Read more...] about Will new tax on churches force thousands of congregations to file tax returns?
We Can Do Something – Thoughts on Protecting our Churches from Sexual Predators
When I was 16 years old, our church hired a new pastor. I was excited and intrigued because this was the first time I could remember our church hiring a new pastor. (Turns out there was a good reason for that, as the previous pastor had been there for 19 years.) The new pastor was awesome. He was young and full of energy. He preached outstanding sermons, and he even counseled me when I wanted to surrender my life to the ministry. Then came the phone call. My father is a deacon and one night he was summoned to church for an emergency deacons meeting. The new pastor had been caught … [Read more...] about We Can Do Something – Thoughts on Protecting our Churches from Sexual Predators
Be On Guard: Thoughts on Electing a Woman as SBC President
A few years ago I went to a panel discussion at a large SBC missions conference. It was supposed to be about setting women free to be whatever they can be in the church. I know that the hosts of this discussion had noble intentions from the outset. They could see that women are sadly underrepresented on most of the committees and trustee boards in our convention, and they seemed keen on starting a discussion about how to change that. I was amazed by how many hundreds of women (and a few brave men) packed themselves into the room, eager to get any biblical wisdom about what women should and … [Read more...] about Be On Guard: Thoughts on Electing a Woman as SBC President
Greear to Form Presidential Study Group
SBC President J.D. Greear has announced that he will form a Sexual Abuse Presidential Study Group in partnership with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He has not yet announced those who will comprise the group and indicated that that membership may be fluid. Baptist Press has an article on the study group. It is informational and has quotes from several entity leaders. The press release which announced the formation of the study group carried this explanatory paragraph. The group's purpose will be to consider how Southern Baptists at every level can take discernable action … [Read more...] about Greear to Form Presidential Study Group
Your Pastor Needs Specific Encouragement
I've recently started reading a little book called Reaching People under 30 While Keeping People over 60. I haven't gotten far, yet, so don't read that as a blanket endorsement. But so far it's been good and helpful. In the first part of the book the author talks a bit about "pastor-bashing". He notes that one of his coaching clients said "pastor-bashing is my church's focus". He then, helpfully, defined pastor-bashing. Here are the experiences which characterize pastor-bashing: Accusations, and sometimes threats, that 'the church is not growing because of you!' Spreading of rumors … [Read more...] about Your Pastor Needs Specific Encouragement
David Platt & IMB Issue Statement Apologizing to Anne Miller
Late Wednesday night, IMB President David Platt issued the statement reproduced below. You can find the original statement here along with the story in Baptist Press here. Platt apologizes to Anne Miller and announces an investigation of this and any similar situations, as well as an examination of current policies. You may contribute to Anne Miller's Trauma Fund at GoFundMe to help with costs of treatment she's undergoing. Full IMB Statement Printed Below. Link Statement from IMB President David Platt I just returned from the last couple of weeks in sub-Saharan … [Read more...] about David Platt & IMB Issue Statement Apologizing to Anne Miller
What’s the reason for the Ridgecrest renaissance?
Ridgecrest Conference Center (and note the lack of the word "Baptist" in the name, we will certainly take non-Baptist dollars), LifeWay's venerable Smoky Mountains location for retreats, conferences and the like seems to be doing just fine. So fine that more free labor is needed. Baptist Press reports on it: Volunteers needed as Ridgecrest attendance climbs. Yeah, I've give a week to menial labor at Ridgecrest for room and board. I was at Ridgecrest last July for a night and was surprised at how things had improved. Now, the executive director of Ridgecrest says, "It was the most people … [Read more...] about What’s the reason for the Ridgecrest renaissance?
10 Predictions for the 2019 Annual Meeting
Dr. Rainer likes to devote a podcast episode or two at the end of the year to predicting current trends and their impact on churches in the coming year. He’s usually correct, and those episodes are some of my favorites. I’d like to take a page out of Dr. Rainer’s book and offer ten predictions for the SBC Annual meeting in Birmingham. 1. The Bailey amendment—I thought about calling this the Osceola amendment, but that’s unfair to the good people of Osceola Arkansas, so it shall henceforth be known as the Bailey amendment. My prediction is that Steve Bailey of Calvary Baptist Church in … [Read more...] about 10 Predictions for the 2019 Annual Meeting