SBC Voices

Connect with Brandon on Facebook and Twitter --- Ed Stetzer, Vice President of the Insights Division at LifeWay and phenomenal researcher/writer, was kind enough to take the time to answer some of my questions regarding SBC life. I hope this will encourage us all! BRANDON: Electing Fred Luter as SBC President was a monumental step toward racial unity and reconciliation in the convention. In what ways, on the “ground level,” can SBC churches contribute to reaching diverse cultures?  ED: Fred Luter’s election as president of the Southern Baptist Convention was and is a big deal. … [Read more...] about On the SBC: An Interview with Ed Stetzer (Part 1)

NOTE: I have just released a book which compiles (and edits and expands) these posts. It is called "Disqualified? What the Bible Says about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry."   It is available on Amazon.com. The Kindle version will be released in the next couple of days - not sure what the hold-up is there. This book reviews the biblical evidence on divorce and remarriage, beginning with the cornerstone in the Old Testament - the twin principles of God's intent of marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman and the understanding of the brokenness caused by sin. It then lays the … [Read more...] about Is Abuse a Biblical Grounds for Divorce?

In a move that was predicted by many after the controversy that occurred earlier this year, Dr. Richard Land has announced his retirement from the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, effective in October of next year. Baptist Press' article can be found here. When the trustees of the ERLC reprimanded Land and took away his radio program after racially insensitive remarks about the Trayvon Martin tragedy and the plagiarism allegations were made public earlier this year, many expected that Land's retirement was imminent. It is probably the best solution to the situation. Land will … [Read more...] about Richard Land Announces His Retirement (October 2013)

Here we go again: a Southern Baptist Church finds itself having made an unpopular decision. The internet, and presumably other venues that run slower, are exploding with rebuke or defense for the decision. And then up pops a rebuke to those who issue the rebuke: "You're violating the principle of Local Church Autonomy!" in an effort to shut down any correction or argument. The rebuke runs against even words, be they spoken, written, or typed, and states that no one ought to try and correct a local church unless they are a part of that body. Let's take this apart and see how it … [Read more...] about Local Church Autonomy

One of my ministry goals is to be able to say with Paul at the end of ministry, “I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”  (Acts 20:26-27) If the Ephesian church became jacked up a few years after Paul’s ministry he was innocent of their blood.  He was faithful in His ministry.  He declared to them the whole counsel of God.  He left nothing out.  He preached on the joyous things and the difficult things.  He preached in tears and he preached with smiles.  He unfolded for them the entire … [Read more...] about How to Preach the Whole Counsel of God

Todd Littleton blogs at The Edge of the Inside. He wrote a four part series reflecting on the 2012 SBC Annual Meeting through the lens of offering his first ever motion on the floor of the SBC and its demise as Ruled Out of Order. While the nexus of his thoughts turn on a singular incident, Todd finds it illustrative for what ails us. Rather than post these in series form, Todd offers them as stand alone posts. His first post on the subject ran here at Voices, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here.  Maybe what he offers is a Minority Report or as his chosen website title indicates, a perspective from … [Read more...] about Needed: Solidarity Not Stridency (by Todd Littleton)

I was very critical, in an article yesterday, of a Baptist church that refused to perform the wedding of a black couple in their church. Some have been critical of the pastor, Dr. Stan Weatherford for his actions. I have not bashed him for two reasons. First, I know he was faced with a difficult choice. He probably wishes he made a different one.  But there is a second reason.  I once walked in his shoes. It was nearly 25 years ago and I was a young preacher. I look back on my own actions with less than complete satisfaction.  I hope I would do differently now. If you have pastored in a racist … [Read more...] about A Story of My Own Failure in a Racial Challenge

The Clarion-Ledger newspaper of Jackson, MS, is running an article today detailing overt racism at a church that is evidently affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, according to the Mississippi Baptist Convention's church directory and on the SBCnet church search. There is nothing on their website that identifies the church as Southern Baptist (thank God).  However, they are listed on both the SBC and MBC websites as part of us and the stain of their racism is on all of us until we do something about it. I would encourage you to follow the link above and read the story before you … [Read more...] about Shameful, Public Racism in an SBC Church: A Test Case for Racial Reconciliation?