In 2002, after the firing of head coaches Tony Dungy and Dennis Green, the NFL diversity committee crafted the Rooney rule. The rule requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for all head coaching and senior personnel positions. Has the rule worked? Today, there are only one Hispanic and two African American […]
About being their “favorite” pastor
Edith lived along the highway a few miles down from the church. With her in the modest frame house was her infirm husband who had been ill for some time. She was an authentic “shut in” in the ecclesiastical lingo of that rural church, confined to her home because of the condition of her husband […]
In Praise of Sermon Series
Editor’s Note: I feel some level of smug satisfaction that for the first time in a while, I remembered to change the author to Mark Terry and properly credit him for his post! In my preaching ministry, I’ve mainly preached series of sermons. Of course, I’m not alone in this. Many pastors do, I’m sure. […]
The Man We Need in New Orleans
Recently, our esteemed Grand Poobah and Chief Pontificator around here offered a thorough and sound argument for the type of person we need serving our convention of churches in Nashville as our Executive Committee CEO. I’d like to unashamedly steal his title and repurpose it for a similar musing about the type of person I […]
Growing Concern over Search Committees and Minorities
The Biblical Recorder has an article that was just published concerning a letter by pastors James Merritt, Vance Pitman, and Bryant Wright, written to the Search Committee for the EC, expressing concerns about the perceived lack of minority involvement in the hiring process. The article is entitled Diversity in focus as Baptists await EC announcement. […]
Pursue Deep Friendships (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 7)
In this series, I’m considering some things that I’ve learned while pastoring over the last 15 years. You can check out the previous posts and a series introduction here: Part 1: Not everybody will like you, and that’s okay. Part 2: Pray for people and let them know that you’re praying for them. Part 3: […]
Do You Have a Life Verse?
When I started to college at John Brown University, it was a “thing” on campus to have a life verse (a Bible verse that guides your life). I had never heard the phrase, “life verse,” and I did not have one. The first time a student asked, “What’s your life verse?” I replied, “What’s a […]
Todd Lafferty to Become IMB Executive VP
The IMB is announcing that Todd Lafferty will be recommended to the IMB Board of Trustees at their February 6-7 meeting to become the Executive Vice President, working with Dr. Paul Chitwood. Here is a press release from IMB where you can read about him. This has been expected since before Dr Chitwood was announced. […]
Keep in mind, no church has to give to the Cooperative Program
I think we are past all the hagiographic language about the Cooperative Program, how our primary channel is the stuff of genius, God-breathed, and without which the church of Christ would be irreparably handicapped. Although few among us would say that it is no longer relevant or valuable to Southern Baptists, as we are approch […]
Keep Yourself Saturated in God’s Word (What I’ve Learned in 15 Years of Pastoring, pt. 6)
In this series, I’m considering some things that I’ve learned while pastoring over the last 15 years. You can check out the previous posts and a series introduction here: Part 1: Not everybody will like you, and that’s okay. Part 2: Pray for people and let them know that you’re praying for them. Part 3: […]
A Good Step: SBC President Names Diverse Resolutions Committee
A few hours ago, Baptist Press reported that the Resolutions Committee for #SBC19 has been named by SBC President, J.D. Greear. Last week it was reported that the chair of that committee would be Curtis Woods of Kentucky. Now, the rest of the committee has been named. It will not go unnoticed that this resolutions […]
The Man We Need in Nashville
We are shaped by our experiences and my year as president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference opened my eyes in many ways. I saw the very best of the SBC and I saw some things that disturbed me greatly. I was blown away at the support we received from our entities as they helped a […]