I found myself frustrated and disappointed as I read through my Twitter feed Sunday night. As I scrolled through, I saw high profile SBC leaders taking swipes at one another over social media. Some of the swipes were quite direct. Some of them were a bit more passive aggressive. None of it edified the church or glorified the Lord Jesus Christ. I recognize the irony inherent in a blog post "calling out" others for their attacks on one another over social media. But I think this needs to be said, even if those I witnessed attacking one another never read this post. The reality is that … [Read more...] about James 3 and Social Media Feuding
The Monday Morning Prayer (by Dr. Mark Tolbert)
Monday has been given a bad rap! Perhaps the least favorite day of the week, Monday has a negative reputation. Pastors joke about how many times they have almost resigned, usually on a Monday morning. A popular song from the seventies described it like this: “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” But Monday has become one of my favorite and most strategic days of the week, since I began praying “The Monday Morning Prayer.” The Monday Morning Prayer launches me into each new week and serves as a catalyst for stimulating gospel conversations. In five decades of following Jesus, I have … [Read more...] about The Monday Morning Prayer (by Dr. Mark Tolbert)
SBC Seminary enrollment wars and other interesting data points
Think being the biggest, richest, hottest, coolest SBC seminary doesn't matter? It does to a lot of people although I wouldn't have any hesitation in recommending any of the SBC's six plus that outstanding Seventh, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. No numbers on the latter in the SBC Book of Reports but plenty of the six. Enrollment (Full-Time Equivalent, funded and unfunded; total credit hours divided by 24) SBTS 2,294 NOBTS 1,309 SEBTS 1,278 SWBTS 1,249 MWBTS 931 GS … [Read more...] about SBC Seminary enrollment wars and other interesting data points
Underpaid SBC seminary faculty and other interesting data points
Ten years ago, Bart Barber made a motion for an ad hoc committee to study SBC seminary salaries. The motion was ruled out of order. There was a discussion of it on SBC Voices but I cannot find it. My view was that the seminaries should structure their compensation on market factors, supply and demand. Bart, as I recall and he can correct me, thought the pay was low and should be upgraded (or at least examined) on some other more comprehensive basis. I have no idea how seminaries make decisions on faculty pay but suspect that it involves multiple internal and external factors. Individual … [Read more...] about Underpaid SBC seminary faculty and other interesting data points
PC Reflections from a PC Preacher (Spencer Plumlee)
The 2017 Pastors' Conference of the SBC was led by Dave Miller and his team who unapologetically structured this conference around twelve expositional preachers from average-sized churches. I had the privilege of being one of these twelve preachers. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget. To stand and preach where many of my heroes have stood and where much of the theology I believe was contended for was, in my estimation, a once in a lifetime opportunity. A few weeks removed from this experience, here are five reflections. The model for the 2017 Pastors' … [Read more...] about PC Reflections from a PC Preacher (Spencer Plumlee)
To the Minions, My Mighty Men, the Deplorable Bad Hombres
When we decided to run for the Pastors’ Conference, it wasn’t even clear who the candidate would be. We had an idea that we liked, discussed, and agreed to, but it was only after several long discussions that we arrived at the decision that my name would be at the top. As they continually pointed out to me, that meant that I would get a lot of the credit if things went well, but that if things went bad, it would be my name attached to the stink (and they'd make sure everyone knew I'd been in charge)! I want to publicly thank the guys who helped out a couple of weeks ago in Phoenix. I sat up … [Read more...] about To the Minions, My Mighty Men, the Deplorable Bad Hombres
We Still Celebrate Independence Day at Church (by Dean Stewart)
Dean is a pastor at LaBelle Haven Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi. There are a few attitudes and actions that take place in the SBC that kind of make me feel like a dinosaur. I am comfortable with being a dinosaur and do not feel the need to fight to keep things the way I prefer them. I have developed a ministry philosophy and carved out my niche so I put my head down and attempt to remain faithful. One of the attitudes that make me feel outmoded will be on display this week. It has become fashionable to ridicule Independence Day celebrations that take place in churches. One … [Read more...] about We Still Celebrate Independence Day at Church (by Dean Stewart)
#SBC17 and the Cooperative Program
The Cooperative Program is the SBC's primary giving plan, described by the Great Commission Task Force Final Report as "the central and preferred conduit of Great Commission funding." It may still be described as "central" although for a number of years designated gifts to the Executive Committee have been greater than Cooperative Program giving. It is still the "preferred conduit" although slightly less preferred on average by local churches than last year. A few things relative to the Cooperative Program from the Annual Meeting: 1. The benchmark figure for assessing Cooperative … [Read more...] about #SBC17 and the Cooperative Program
Bruce Ashford series on the alt-right
Bruce Ashford has written an incredibly helpful 4-part series on the alt-right movement and how evangelicals should respond to it. Not only is this worth your time for reading and your own understanding, but many church members will likely have questions about Resolution 10 and what the SBC meant when it passed a resolution condemning the alt-right movement. This is don't-miss material. The Anti-Gospel of the Alt-Right Overview: An Evangelical Conservative’s Guide to the Alt-Right Part 1: An Introduction to Alt-Right Ideology Part 2: A Profile of 5 Alt-Right Leaders Part 3: A Response to … [Read more...] about Bruce Ashford series on the alt-right
My Reflections on #SBC17 (Kyle James Howard)
This article was posted at Kyle Howard's website and is cross posted here with permission. This article is also featured on my Coram Deo Podcast. The audio is available there if you would like to listen to me read it, rather than read it yourself. Context This past week has been very eventful for me. It was the annual Southern Baptist Convention, and I was attending this year, not as a messenger as in the year prior but as a student. I am currently doing graduate studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) in Historical Theology. I came to the convention this year as a … [Read more...] about My Reflections on #SBC17 (Kyle James Howard)