I will not give the churches over into the hands of the lawyers, the academicians, the risk analysts, the CEOs, or the politicians. Christ put the church into the hands of simple, Spirit-filled Christians. While we must neither lie nor steal, we are not beholden in the operations of local churches to academic rules about […]
The Authority of the SBC Executive Committee: Where does it come from and how far does it go?
As the trustees of the Executive Committee prepare to meet this week, discussion has elevated about the responsibility of the trustees to the convention, with words flying around like attorney-client privilege, best practices, executive session, and the fiduciary duties of the Executive Committee. What follows is some research into the historical role of the SBC, […]
When will Rhetoric become Reality? (Southern Baptist Convention, we’re talking to you) – by Dave Pittman
Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting this summer voted overwhelmingly to create a task force to oversee an independent investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse. The resolution calls for the newly elected SBC president, Alabama pastor Ed Litton, to appoint the task force, which will head up a review of allegations […]
ERLC Trustees Initiate an Assessment of Sexual Abuse in the SBC
While all eyes seem fixed on the EC meeting next week, a significant step in addressing sexual abuse in the SBC took place this morning at the ERLC trustee meeting. In June, a motion was made at the SBC annual meeting calling for an “audit and assessment of sexual abuse within the SBC.” That motion […]
The Minutes of the First Meeting of the Intergenerational Heroes of Freedom
I received a secret transcript of a meeting that took place in the other realm, a meeting of the Intergenerational Heroes of Freedom. They met to tell their stories of heroism during their often too brief stays here on earth. There were freedom fighters and those who resisted tyrants from all over the globe and […]
Twenty Years Since THE Day
My parents hadn’t met when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I was in first grade when the teacher gathered us around in our reading circle to tell us that President Kennedy had been shot and did not grasp the historical import of the moment. I was watching when Reagan was shot and went outside my […]
In the name of God by OS Hawkins
History is written by the victors, or so I’m told. But it’s not always easy to tell who won. That’s one of the lessons from the from the outstanding new book “In the Name of God: The Colliding Lives, Legends, and Legacies of J. Frank Norris and George W. Truett” by Dr. OS Hawkins. The […]
“Pray Or Die!” an Urgent Call to Prayer Dallas, Ft. Worth and the State of Texas (by Erik Vance)
For those who don’t know me personally but randomly find me on social media, I often get the question: “What does your social media name mean? Pray Or Die!” Some people understand immediately and others find it to be a little harsh without a complete understanding. In 2006 when I was a college student in […]
Reasons for close scrutiny of The Sex Abuse Task Force
I learned an early lesson about the realities of Southern Baptist life: Anyone who asks honest, respectful questions about individuals, entities, budgets, policies and the like gets looked at askance, with disapproval, with suspicion and wariness. I asked some questions about the new Sex Abuse Task Force. Others have done the same. One hopes that […]
The eighth generation church member and pastors’ suspicion of multi-generation church families
I recently read a story about a baptism, a young girl who was the eighth generation of her family in that one church. That’s a lot of ‘begats.’ Most people wouldn’t be able to come up with names for eight generations of their family. Eight generations back from my grandchildren would reach to my great-great-great […]
This Is Why the SBC Resolution on Abortion HAD to Be Amended
An amazing thing has happened in Texas and at the Supreme Court in the last 24 hours. Texas passed a law that prohibited abortion after 6 weeks, when a heartbeat is heard. (NOTE: I am not an expert on the law or on these laws, so I am representing them the best I can – […]
Have We Lost Our Minds?
An update from Religion News Service. Dan Darling is a gentle man of God who advocates for godly conversation and a biblical regard for one another as fellow image-bearers. He has written excellent books on online conversation and how we can better reflect Christ in them. In his conversations with others, he lives that out. […]