I think there's a union somewhere - the Difficult Deacons Association. They send out one or two to almost every Baptist church (hopefully only one or two). When one member of the DDA moves on, another one is appointed to take his place. I also have had a trickle of folks from the Cantankerous Members Union at my churches. We get upset about the Difficult Deacons (or Exasperating Elders) or the Cantankerous Members and try to figure out ways to silence them. I've actually known of pastors who sought to put such people on church discipline because of their lack of support for his "vision" for … [Read more...] about How to Destroy Good Men
Brothers, We Need You (Jacki C. King)
Misogyny. Power Hungry. Abuse. Women's roles. Over the last month as I have watched a scrolling screen filled with twitter comments, news articles, and the tennis match of words, opinions, charges, and accusations all around the place of women in the church, I have had to remind myself that I'm not the ball. No matter what is said 'out there' that it's not the final definition of who I am or the work I get to take part in. In spite of all the jargon, there is a real and needed discussion happening within the church, both brothers and sisters, and it would do us all well to make sure we … [Read more...] about Brothers, We Need You (Jacki C. King)
The Time is Now: Why I Will be Voting for J.D. Greear (James Merritt)
I have been attending the SBC for over 35 years and was a buck private in the army that fought the battle for the Conservative Resurgence. I have been humbled and honored to be around some of the finest men of God who have ever lived who served as SBC president. Adrian Rogers, the greatest preacher of my generation, Jimmy Draper the quintessential statesman, Bailey Smith, the fearless evangelist, and the list goes on of men who led us to believe that this mighty evangelical battleship could be turned from running aground into the shallow waters of theological liberalism to the warm waters of … [Read more...] about The Time is Now: Why I Will be Voting for J.D. Greear (James Merritt)
Try Something Different at #SBC18: 10 Suggestions for Dallas
Go to the Messenger Orientation. It's Monday, June 11 in the Convention Center - Level 2 , Room D221, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Augie Boto, SBC Executive Committee Interim President, led it last year and it was helpful and informative. Since he has additional responsibilities as interim leader of the EC, I don't know if he will do so this year. I have a report on it in which I mislabeled the event as "New" messenger orientation. Even seasoned old salts who have been to a couple of dozen annual meetings will learn something. Don't greet folks this way...with a firm handshake, a 'great to see you … [Read more...] about Try Something Different at #SBC18: 10 Suggestions for Dallas
In Light of All This Mess – My Hopes for the SBC
We are a few days away from another SBC Annual Meeting. Usually, I await this annual pilgrimage with eager anticipation. I love the fellowship, networking, reunion with old friends, meeting of new people, learning about the work of our entities and auxiliaries, politicking, tweeting, free books, preaching, prayer, testimonies and general camaraderie of gathering with messengers from across the nation. This year, however, I have a healthy dose of dread to go along with it. These past few weeks and months have been draining and disheartening to say the least. There are still major questions up … [Read more...] about In Light of All This Mess – My Hopes for the SBC
Voting Greear, Could As Easily Vote Hemphill, Tempted To Nominate Beth Moore, For SBC Presidency
When Trayvon Martin was shot and killed because he simply looked “suspicious,” initiated by the fact that Zimmerman viewed him as “suspicious” and chose to pursue him against the order of the police department, it was a personal, powerful, picturesque and emotional moment for me to hear Dr. Fred Luter address this matter as President of the SBC. I never thought I would live long enough to hear a SBC President redemptively, righteously and prophetically address a matter when a young Black man was needlessly shot because the idea was stimulated by unfounded suspicion and his killer not following … [Read more...] about Voting Greear, Could As Easily Vote Hemphill, Tempted To Nominate Beth Moore, For SBC Presidency
Breaking: Statement from SEBTS Administration on Internal Investigation & Patterson Documents
Southeastern Seminary has released a statement tonight responding to a letter from Paige Patterson's lawyer. The full text is below. Noteworthy: SEBTS asserts "there has been no evidence discovered that disputes or discredits our former student’s account" An internal review is still ongoing, awaiting the return of documents SEBTS believes are owned by the seminary. SEBTS still seeks the return of documents they believe should be under the SEBTS possession. No request for arbitration has yet been received by SEBTS, thus there's been no opportunity to accept the request. SEBTS … [Read more...] about Breaking: Statement from SEBTS Administration on Internal Investigation & Patterson Documents
One Question for Each Entity Head at #SBC18
The Q&A time after the reports by each entity head at the SBC Annual Meeting can get interesting. There is usually at least one question and answer each year that is worth witnessing. Unfortunately, Wiley Drake will not be present in Dallas to question the salvation of any of our entity heads. The Q&A time is not the best forum for fruitful discussion, but it is a time when messengers can be sure that their question will be heard. The clarity and thoroughness of the answer you receive is, however, at the discretion of the entity head being questioned. When the entity heads are … [Read more...] about One Question for Each Entity Head at #SBC18
The Handwriting on the Wall: What We Can All Learn From the Paige Patterson Scandal
In many ways, I am a son of Paige Patterson. Some would describe me as a son of the Conservative Resurgence, the movement he helped spearhead. Over the course of my fifteen-year ministry, I’ve been able to serve in conservative churches and on conservative boards because of a conservative convention, and I have Paige Patterson to thank for it. Not personally. It’s not like he pulled any strings for me. We don’t have that kind of relationship. But he did spearhead a movement from which I’ve benefitted. However, like many, I’ve been disheartened and demoralized by the recent scandal … [Read more...] about The Handwriting on the Wall: What We Can All Learn From the Paige Patterson Scandal
The Annual SBC Statistical Release Weepfest
Just prior to each year's annual meeting LifeWay releases the previous year's Annual Church Profile statistical summary. Baptist Press reported on it yesterday, ACP: Worship attendance rises, baptisms decline. Last year I had an article on the previous year's data: ACP 2016 Stats: Add a chapter to Lamentations. There's a pattern here and I have the freedom to be more creative in my titles than BP. Here are some highlights and lowlights from the 2017 data: 1. Baptisms are down, and by almost 10 percent. We in the SBC are highly spiritual and prefer not to talk about money. Baptisms are … [Read more...] about The Annual SBC Statistical Release Weepfest