SBC Voices

Joel Rainey is the lead pastor of Covenant Church in Shepherdstown, WV. For more than 4 decades, I’ve been in denial. It’s not as though the signs weren’t there for me to heed.  My mother has been on blood pressure meds for three of those decades.  My grandmother died of a sudden heart attack due to a blood clot.  My grandfather passed from hardening of the arteries—a complication of his diabetes.  He was 64. But not me.  No way!  Wasn’t going to happen.  I was a former athelete who had convinced himself that my metabolism in my 40s at *#@ pounds was identical to when I was 19.  I was … [Read more...] about Learning from Our Family History: Race Relations and the Southern Baptist Convention (Dr. Joel Rainey)

We're done for another year. Let's try some winners and losers for the week. Winners Steve Gaines. He did a very good job presiding and conveyed confidence and humility in the job. The Pastor's Conference. Dave Miller and team conducted the first genuinely grassroots, average church and pastor driven event in my memory. Some said it would be a bomb but they pulled it off with aplomb. Frank Page. Our CEO comes across well and the Executive Committee report was as painless as could be. Southeastern seminary. The two SBC Vice Presidents (Walter Strickland and Jose Abella) and the first … [Read more...] about Winners and losers, #SBC2017

This has been an interesting convention. Yesterday's events during the Resolutions Committee's report were a black eye on the Southern Baptist Convention. The resolution that the committee brought out today was an attempt to make things right. The resolution passed with very little opposition (maybe 3 or 4 voting no).  Praise God for that.  I will hopefully have some further reflections later, but wanted to give a brief update here. … [Read more...] about Resolution Condemning Alt-Right Racism Passes Overwhelmingly

A late-night session, calls and tweets to get back in the hall, through creative procedural maneuvers we are able to schedule a vote against the “anti-gospel, alt-right, white supremacy” movement – the hall was packed to overflowing and the vote was made – unanimous! Not a NO-vote to be seen anywhere in the hall. We will assuredly pass the resolution this afternoon to another unanimous vote and cheers. All is right with the world – we got it right, right? Not so fast. I awoke this morning tired and frustrated that we didn’t, in fact, get it right. The world is watching. Our brothers and … [Read more...] about The Alt-Right resolution – Did we get it right?

You've read about the Resolutions Committtee's decision not to bring a resolution on the alt-right and white supremacy to the floor.  You've read about a messenger's attempts to bring the resolution out of committee.  You've read about some of the ensuing conflict.  And you've read about the announcement last night that a resolution was being crafted on this issue.  The full text of the proposed resolution is printed below.  The resolution is scheduled to be voted on at 2:45pm today. WHEREAS, Scripture teaches, “From one man [God] has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and … [Read more...] about PROPOSED RESOLUTION #10 ON THE ANTI-GOSPEL OF ALT-RIGHT WHITE SUPREMACY

Dwight McKissic was at our Voices pizza dinner today (wonderful time, thanks Adam) and he was a bit stirred up. Oh, he was his normal self, but wounded by battle with the Resolutions Committee. He tried to bring his resolution on the alt-right out of the trash bin and was told in front of everyone all its faults. Dwight's motion failed(majority, but not 2/3). We talked about making a new effort next year to tell the world clearly that racism, white supremacy, and alt-right politics have no place in SBC life. Then we found out that we wouldn't have to wait. A motion to resurrect Dwight's … [Read more...] about An Historic Moment Surprises Us at the SBC

I'm a little early, big mistake, since eager exhibit workers have pent up ferocity to inflict on unsuspecting browsers. One church growth type ministry has smiling workers in lab coats, very clinical. "Are you a pastor?" I'm asked. "Sorry," I reply while putting some distance between us, "I'm not dealing with anyone in a lab coat because nothing good can come out of it and a lot of things not so good like needles, pain, bad news, and straight jackets." They weren't giving anything away anyhow. Look, there's a former SBC entity head without an entourage. My how the mighty have … [Read more...] about Fear and loathing, fun and freebies at the exhibit hall