SBC Voices

Twenty POLITE Reasons to Oppose GCB (Part One of Four)

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It is fashionable these days to suggest that anyone who disagrees with you is sowing seeds of discord, displaying a nasty attitude that is bitter or snarky. In this article I intend to strike a clear, articulate and principled tone discussing only the subject of the name change study process and result while not insulting the personalities behind it. Please note that if my dearest Christian friends in the whole world had been responsible for this recommendation and the way it came about, I would still oppose the idea while preserving the same love, respect and appreciation for them as brothers … [Read more...] about Twenty POLITE Reasons to Oppose GCB (Part One of Four)

Sleeping Away Our Mission Field

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“God put Jonah in the midst of a serious situation with seriously broken people, and he slept” –D. Patrick & M. Carter from For the City This one hurt. I’ve been Jonah way too many times.  My excuse has always been the same, “my wife and I are planning to move soon, this is only temporary, no point getting too attached”.  Two years later we end up at the same house still waiting for the next location. Granted our moves (up until the big move to Kentucky) were only across town or at least within 15 minutes.  And we could have certainly continued these relationships had we begun … [Read more...] about Sleeping Away Our Mission Field

Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: Were Paul’s Views Scripture or Opinion?

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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 Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: Were Paul’s Views Scripture or Opinion?

Anatomy of a Name Change (By Micah Fries)

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When the invitation of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Bryant Wright came to serve on a task force dedicated to deliberating the possibility of changing the name of the SBC, I was thankful for the invitation and excited to serve with other men and women who care about the SBC. I was not sure what to expect, but I found myself surrounded by some of Southern Baptists’ brightest minds from a variety of regions, age groups and ethnic communities. It was a blessing to serve with them - many of whom have become friends through this process. In the end, we recommended to President Wright … [Read more...] about Anatomy of a Name Change (By Micah Fries)

The “GCB” Debate: An Apology, a Plea, an Aspiration

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It has been nearly a week since the Task Force reported its findings to the Executive Committee of the SBC and it is safe to say a lively discussion has ensued.  Several people have commented here that the issue of the name change is not that significant and that we should be talking about other things. That may be so, but there is no question that there has been a great deal of interest generated here on the topic.  In terms of page views, Tuesday was our busiest day ever, last week was our busiest week ever, and February is already our busiest month ever even though it is only the 27th of … [Read more...] about The “GCB” Debate: An Apology, a Plea, an Aspiration

Can You Help Me – I May Get Fired

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I realized this morning during Sunday School that I had a very small split in my trousers.  I thought I was good to go. After our second service (where I stood at the front with my back to the crowd the whole time) I realized my pants were split pretty much all the way.  I'm not sure how much of myself I exposed to my congregation this morning, but I don't think even Lydia or Rick are looking for that type of transparency in leadership. I really wish I'd worn the Spiderman suit.   … [Read more...] about Can You Help Me – I May Get Fired

Did the Task Force Violate SBC Bylaws?

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Howell Scott, in the comment stream on Rick Patrick's article, "Informal Descriptor or Officially Approved Optional Replacement Name"used SBC Bylaws section 19 as proof that Bryant Wright's appointment of the Name Change Task Force was inappropriate. I would like to take a moment and address the specific issues that Howell raised. I am not a lawyer, nor some kind of constitutional expert, but I do believe that Howell's interpretation is faulty here.  He is using a section of the bylaws that has nothing to do with this task force and using faulty reasoning to condemn the task force … [Read more...] about Did the Task Force Violate SBC Bylaws?

Informal Descriptor or Officially Approved Optional Replacement Name?

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Since 1845 our Southern Baptist ship has sailed without the banner of an informal descriptor. Now that we are being asked to choose whether or not to adopt one, we must consider: "What exactly is an informal descriptor?" 1. It is not merely a nickname. Nicknames are given by people who just start using them and then see if they stick. Nobody ever votes on a nickname. If this were only a nickname, then any church who wanted to use it could do so already. There is no nickname police to stop the Pastor of some Journey Church somewhere from saying, "Hey, everybody, we partner together with … [Read more...] about Informal Descriptor or Officially Approved Optional Replacement Name?