SBC Voices

Jay’s Top 10 (and thank-yous) from New Orleans #SBC23

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This is gonna be a long one. For the last few years I have posted a list of things I would identify as my top 10 takeaways, favorite things or memorable events from the annual meeting. This year’s list will be different than my normal post-convention review for 2 main reasons. First, I have had a peek behind the curtain into the making of the convention and it has been an eye-opener for me. I wish everyone in the convention could see what I’ve seen over the last 16+ months. Second, I had the privilege of being involved with the planning of this meeting and it has been personally satisfying … [Read more...] about Jay’s Top 10 (and thank-yous) from New Orleans #SBC23

Understanding Adult Sexual Abuse: A breakout session at the #SBC23 Annual Meeting (Video)

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On Tuesday night during the SBC Annual Meeting, a breakout session sponsored by SBC Voices took place, focusing on the dynamics of adult sexual abuse. Dr. Heather Evans, an expert in the subject matter, joined forces with Chellee Taylor, a survivor of clergy abuse, and pastor and SBC Voices member, Dr. Todd Benkert, to lead the session. As part of the program, Chellee and her husband Peter were interviewed and shared their own experience of the impact of adult clergy sexual abuse. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of our speakers for their valuable contributions. We would also like … [Read more...] about Understanding Adult Sexual Abuse: A breakout session at the #SBC23 Annual Meeting (Video)

We CANNOT Back Off or Back Down in Facing Sexual Abuse

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Listening to Chellee Taylor last night at the SBC Voices breakout session on Adult Sexual Abuse in Churches, put together by Todd Benkert, I was reminded of how important this subject is. I sat as she told her horrifying story of abuse in an SBC megachurch, as one of her pastors groomed and then abused her in ways that are horrendous. I read the full story online while she talked. Then, her husband (I think his name was Peter) got up to speak and he said something that I've heard other survivors say. He said that the abuse, as awful as it was, wasn't the worst part of their trauma. It … [Read more...] about We CANNOT Back Off or Back Down in Facing Sexual Abuse

Definitive Ballot Results (and It WAS the DAY to Vote for JAY!)

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Our buddy Jay Adkins was elected overwhelmingly on the first ballot to be First Vice President of the SBC. There were 12,715 messengers registered, and 3782 voting at the end of the day. Jay received 2343 votes, for 63.27% of the votes. Dusty Deevers, the surprise candidate, received 784 votes, for 20.73%. Gevan Spinney received 581 votes, or 15.52%. We, here at SBC Voices, are thrilled for our brother Jay! The results of the ballot votes to uphold the rulings of the EC to dismiss three churches from being considered as in friendly cooperation from the SBC were also announced, … [Read more...] about Definitive Ballot Results (and It WAS the DAY to Vote for JAY!)

Three Church Appeals

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Three churches appealed to the convention to appeal the EC action that found them not in friendly cooperation with the SBC. 1. Fern Creek church has a woman pastor. She had 3 minutes to speak and was delightful. She is conservative, a gospel-preaching, right-wing pastor. She believes what we believe except for the idea that women should not be pastors. You couldn't help but like her. The EC assigned Al Mohler to respond and he brought nuclear weapons theologically. It wasn't much of a battle. She was funny, sweet, a truly nice woman,  but I am guessing her appeal fails 85 to 15 … [Read more...] about Three Church Appeals

Election 2023: Nominating Speeches

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I realize that what I am about to say is going to anger people, but it's an observation many have made in the seconds after the nomination speeches. I've never seen such a difference in tone and spirit in the two nominating speeches for president. Jarrett Stevens (was that the right name?) gave an upbeat, positive, and hopeful nominating speech for Dr. Bart Barber, talking about the wonderful job Bart has done as president of the convention this year, how he has earned second term with his good work, his faithful service as a pastor at First Baptist, Farmersville. It was joyful, hopeful, … [Read more...] about Election 2023: Nominating Speeches

Motions Offered – Session 1

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A note here: it is the messenger's duty to learn how the SBC works. If you don't avail yourself of the opportunity to figure out our polity, don't act aggrieved when your motion is ruled out of order. Example - it is not appropriate at this point to offer motions to bring your resolution to the floor. There is another time to do that. If the resolutions committee didn't bring your motion to the floor, then make a motion DURING the resolutions committee time. There's an appropriate time to do this. Learn how the system works. Here are the motions (well, summaries of them - I wrote the … [Read more...] about Motions Offered – Session 1

We Are Southern BAPTIST, Not Southern Presbyterian

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I sat with my dad, who was saved at age 25 in an SBC church, served for over half a century as an SBC pastor and missionary, and was deeply involved in SBC life, when the convention voted to change our constitution to disfellowship churches that either ordained homosexuals or blessed their unions. He was troubled. He said he supported the action because he realized that a church that did these things could not be in friendly cooperation with Southern Baptists. Still, he was troubled because he realized that writing such an action into the constitution, the act of instructing the denominational … [Read more...] about We Are Southern BAPTIST, Not Southern Presbyterian