The strangest day of my life was November 21st a decade ago. That was the Monday following my last Sunday at the church I'd served for fifteen years and from which I retired. Monday morning with no sermon to think about for next Sunday, no hospital visits to make, no office to go to, no Christmas events, revivals, vacation Bible schools or other church events to think about. No budget to worry about...and...no more paychecks to pick up semi-weekly. Weird, but your humble hacker and plodder blogging pastor managed to cope (and is anything more retro than blogging?). Ten years later, not … [Read more...] about The weird world of retired clergy: I’ve been retired for a full decade this week.
Baptists You Should Know, Sallie Holmes
Landrum Holmes made his way home with a heavy heart. As a missionary in Chefoo, China he was used to hardship and difficulties. But this time something weighed even heavier than usual. As he opened the door and greeted his wife he began to tell her of the death of a fellow missionary. "If I thought I should die and leave you alone," he said, "leave you to go all that long way back by yourself, I should find it hard to say 'Thy will be done.'" His brave wife's quick and encouraging reply was, "Landrum, I would not go back; I would stay here and work." His face shone with deep joy. "If you feel … [Read more...] about Baptists You Should Know, Sallie Holmes
Safeguarding Our Churches Against Sexual Abuse (A guest post by Tim Overton)
Editor's note (Todd Benkert): I've encouraged more ideas on how to address sexual abuse -- particularly the problem of serial abusers who go from church to church. Here is one such idea. Feel free to discuss the merits of Tim's idea in the comment section, but I applaud such efforts at creative thinking on the issue. Tragic stories of sexual abuse have come to light during the past year. These horrific sins have created a movement among Southern Baptists to do more to protect our congregations. The convention strongly believes in Scriptural inerrancy. Everyone universally … [Read more...] about Safeguarding Our Churches Against Sexual Abuse (A guest post by Tim Overton)
Parents Engaging Gen Z
Youth pastors often complain that the biggest hindrance to raising the bar in youth ministry is parents. Many parents don’t think of the long-term implications of a youth ministry that’s based on silliness, yet it is the parents who cry the loudest when their children aren’t having “fun.” American youth have parents who grew up when being a parent too often meant being a “buddy” to children. The failure of parenting, and of marriages for that matter, has had a serious, negative impact on millions of youth. But if many of the problems facing youth begin with parents, the solution can begin … [Read more...] about Parents Engaging Gen Z
An Open Letter to the Messengers of the 2021 MBC Annual Meeting & All Missouri Baptists
Hello, Missouri Baptist Convention Family! I am Scott Gordon, Pastor of Claycomo Baptist Church in Kansas City. I was also a messenger at our recent MBC Annual Meeting in Branson. Prior to our time there, I had the privilege of working with my friend and fellow MBC Pastor, Mike Leake, and other fellow MBC Pastors on a motion to have appointed an MBC task force regarding the issue of sexual abuse. For those who were not able to be in Branson, you can find the full text of the motion at this link [MBC Tuesday Afternoon Business Update]. Sadly, this motion was rejected by the majority of … [Read more...] about An Open Letter to the Messengers of the 2021 MBC Annual Meeting & All Missouri Baptists
Assessing Why Our SATF Motion Failed
Last week I did something I never thought I would do. I came to microphone 3 at the Missouri Baptist Convention and I spoke. Not once, but twice. And, yes, I remain shocked and deeply grieved that 507 Missouri Baptists voted against our motion. I’m deeply grieved for us, and I’m grieved for what this communicated to survivors. I really do not want to believe that 507 Missouri Baptists intended to communicate, “we don’t care about sexual abuse reform” but this is what was communicated. And I feel partially responsible. I feel as if I dropped the ball. Today I want to share why and help other … [Read more...] about Assessing Why Our SATF Motion Failed
On Pastoral Tenure as Covenant (Phillip Powers)
I recently read an article about an Oklahoma pastor who is retiring after serving in the same church for 60 years. And let me just begin by saying that this is the kind of pastor that deserves the platform though he would probably never ask for it. So often, we platform the personalities that are the most visible, those pastors who have the largest churches, who have published the most books, who speak regularly on the conference circuit. It would seem we have missed the mark. Our measures of ministry success reflect all of the values and metrics of the world and none of the values of God, who … [Read more...] about On Pastoral Tenure as Covenant (Phillip Powers)
How Executive Committee Leaders Failed in Their Fiduciary Duties Long Before October 5th (Benjamin Wright)
By now it’s not news to readers of Voices that the President and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee has resigned. He has reminded us repeatedly of his fiduciary duties to the SBC, and in his resignation letter explained that he can no longer carry out those duties after the October 5th EC vote to waive attorney-client privilege relative to the Sexual Abuse Task Force investigation. You may have also read Rod Martin’s letter of resignation from the EC, in which he writes that “the SBC is in grave danger” due to the EC vote to waive privilege. Floyd believes the SBC is in “uncertain, unknown, … [Read more...] about How Executive Committee Leaders Failed in Their Fiduciary Duties Long Before October 5th (Benjamin Wright)
Thank God for lack of drama at our most important entity: IMB
Paul Chitwood spoke at our church this morning. Excellent. I'm all in for IMB, whatever else is going on around the SBC. IMB and NAMB are having record offerings, a measure of what Southern Baptists think they are worth among our churches. Let's keep it that way. I'm still supportive of our general giving plan, the venerable Cooperative Program, but my practice has always been to put the Lottie Moon offering, 100% going to overseas missions, at the top of my and my church's giving priorities. ____________ Photo: A silver haired beauty, Dr. Chitwood, on old codger with coffee. … [Read more...] about Thank God for lack of drama at our most important entity: IMB
Ronnie Floyd did what he had to do
Last night Ronnie Floyd announced his resignation as president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. You can read the Baptist Press article here. The article contains the full text of Floyd's resignation letter to EC trustees and Southern Baptists. Floyd attributed his resignation to “decisions made on Tuesday afternoon, October 5, in response to the 2021 Convention," which he said, "now place our missionary enterprise as Southern Baptists into uncertain, unknown, unprecedented and uncharted waters." EC Chairman Rolland Slade said of Floyd's resignation, “I am saddened by his … [Read more...] about Ronnie Floyd did what he had to do