On Monday the Executive Committee of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and its President Russell Moore released a statement entitled "Seeking Unity in the Southern Baptist Convention." Brent Hobbs wrote a post here at SBC Voices extracting some of the most notable quotes from the statement. Baptist Press has now released an article with quotes from SBC President Steve Gaines in response to the ERLC statement. I was encouraged by his comments, and wanted to pass them along here. Quotes from Steve Gaines (emphasis mine): "I am grateful for the statement from Dr. Russell … [Read more...] about Steve Gaines Comments on ERLC/Moore Unity Statement
Tips for a Great 2017 Pastors’ Conference Experience
We’re about 80 days out from the 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference. This year's conference is designed to highlight expository preaching from 12 pastors of average-sized SBC churches. This hasn't been tried before, but as plans have come together I'm even more optimistic than ever this format is going to be a huge blessing. Since I've seen some of the details of what's planned, I wanted to pass along my thoughts on how to have the best possible experience at this year’s Pastors’ Conference. 1. Attend all four sessions. Our unique format means you'll want to be there for the beginning of the … [Read more...] about Tips for a Great 2017 Pastors’ Conference Experience
SBC PC: Brent Hobbs Answers Some Questions about Jose Abella
Editor’s Note: Each of the speakers for this year’s SBC Pastor’s Conference in Phoenix, AZ was nominated by someone. I have asked each speaker’s nominator to answer a few questions about the person they nominated. Jose Abella of Providence Road Church in Miami, FL was nominated by Brent Hobbs. Below are Brent's responses to the questions I sent him. How did you know José and why did you nominate him? I had never met José Abella before the Pastors’ Conference nomination process. Someone about a year or two ago had mentioned José’s name to me — that he was a pastor in Miami doing a … [Read more...] about SBC PC: Brent Hobbs Answers Some Questions about Jose Abella
ERLC Executive Committee & Russell Moore Release Public Statement
This afternoon the ERLC posted an article called Seeking Unity in the Southern Baptist Convention which includes separate statements from the ERLC Executive Committee and Russell Moore. I recommend reading the entire article here, even as I've tried to pull some of the more notable sections. Notable quotes from the ERLC Executive Committee: ... It is in this difficult context that Dr. Russell Moore has exercised leadership with integrity and with boldness. We affirm Dr. Moore in his leadership of the ERLC... ... Over the last few months, Dr. Moore has engaged in numerous private … [Read more...] about ERLC Executive Committee & Russell Moore Release Public Statement
Last Week in SBC Tweets
I am testing a new thing here at SBC Voices. At the beginning of each week, we will publish a post containing some interesting or notable tweets from the previous week. I tried to find tweets from each of our entities with a few extras added in. What kind of tweets would you like to see in this space? Edifying? Informative? Other? What are some of your favorite SBC related tweets from last week? Are there Twitter accounts that I should be sure to look at each week for this feature? Bellevue is first Tenn. convention church to give $1M to the Cooperative Program in 12-month period. … [Read more...] about Last Week in SBC Tweets
Unity – The Joyful Choice of Being Southern Baptist
Being a Southern Baptist is a joy in my ministry. I am thankful to be a part of this diverse group of Christians that have chosen to partner with one another to do together what we could not do alone. I understand that sometimes we will have differences in the ways we see theological issues, differing ministry philosophies, and different ideas on what we should do together and how we should do it. Add to that, that we all have sin natures and sometimes act in ways that are sinful or respond to the offenses of others in less than gracious ways. Sometimes those differences and conflicts … [Read more...] about Unity – The Joyful Choice of Being Southern Baptist
The Great Things About Being a Pastor
It happened again several weeks ago, and it made me want to punch a hole in my computer screen. Thankfully, I had the restraint not to do so. Computers aren’t cheap. I was perusing my Facebook feed, and there it was—that link staring me in the face: An article at some blog talking about how pastoring is the most difficult thing you can do. Let me just state now to all you nurses, farmers, overnight factory workers, underpaid school teachers, etc., I apologize that such blogs exist. (I’m married to a nurse, I’ve pastored farmers and heard their stories, I know overnight blue-collar … [Read more...] about The Great Things About Being a Pastor
More vocabulary notables
I love the way Doug Hibbard labels the roofing materials needed for a church replant, stout, and he's not talking about how sturdy or durable they are. He means the cost. Tippling Calvinists probably drool when running across this word but there's nothing about beer in this one. Doug's use is so thoroughly southern here that it's not in many of the dictionaries. Nothing new there. The rest of the country is always trying to catch up with southern-speak. Dave Miller, taking a break from planning a splendid pastor's conference, blogs that "The detritus of a forced Moore termination would be … [Read more...] about More vocabulary notables
SBC PC: A Video Interview with John Onwuchekwa
This year’s SBC Pastor’s Conference is June 11-12 in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference will feature 12 preachers who all come from average-size SBC churches. They will be preaching through the book of Philippians over the course of the two day conference. As you know, the speakers for the conference met at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for a colloquium back in February. The speakers gathered to get to know one another and study Philippians with Dr. David Allen and other preaching faculty members from SWBTS and NOBTS. I had the privilege of attending the colloquium, and one … [Read more...] about SBC PC: A Video Interview with John Onwuchekwa
The Sufficiency of Scripture & Practical Bible Doctrine by Darin Smith
The backdrop of opinions on the Bible vary from contempt to celebration. Some are bothered by passages they don’t understand; others are troubled by the ones they do. Scripture is seen by some as a stumbling block in the path of progress, while others see its meaning widen and deepen over the years. Either the Bible is right or it is wrong; it is either an ordinary book or a divinely-inspired text. This is why many today will say, “What is right for you is right for you. But what is right for me is right for me.” According to this worldview, all universal moral absolutes lose all … [Read more...] about The Sufficiency of Scripture & Practical Bible Doctrine by Darin Smith