In the previous post, Todd Burus asked a question concerning the response to Calvinism among some in the SBC. The post has generated a number of comments that are helpful in understanding the issue. Of course, Calvinism is only one among many issues present in the SBC today. Similar issues, even some that came up at the annual meeting last week, include Baptist identity, alien immersion, alcohol, separation, cooperative missions, who can take communion, neo-Landmarkism, church growth methodology, contextualization, the list could go on… Having read much about doctrinal controversies in … [Read more...] about Baptist Disagreements — Things to Avoid
Calvinism: The New Racism in the SBC?
Coming out of last week's meeting in Louisville I feel more optimistic about the future of our convention than I did this time last year. I have a new found respect for Johnny Hunt, a deeper understanding of the decision making process, and reasons to look forward to next years get-together in sunny Orlando. However, as I remarked in my last post, there are still two things that I am thinking about. I will leave the SBC/Acts 29 cooperation aside until a later date, and instead focus on what I find to be is the most perplexing question in Southern Baptist life today: why are there still … [Read more...] about Calvinism: The New Racism in the SBC?
Louisville in the Rearview Mirror
Although this is late in comparison to many of my friends and colleagues from around the convention I thought it might still be appropriate to jot down a few thoughts about this year's annual meeting. These are not intended to be comprehensive, but rather something of a snapshot from my mind - which has great potential to be terrifying, I'll grant you, none the less here we go. Positives: First, let's start with what I viewed as good or even great parts of the convention. Pastor's Conference Preaching: I have never been so encouraged as I was this year concerning the … [Read more...] about Louisville in the Rearview Mirror
Sitting in the Back and Getting Annoyed
My husband and I, like many others within the church body, have a deep and abiding love for children. We have always considered our church family to be a great and lasting influence in our lives and are thankful for each and every person we have met along the way. We don't live near family and that is sometimes difficult for our children, especially. However, we have strived to teach our children that they belong to a greater family that exceeds the limits of our own homefront or DNA. This teaching has extended through all of the churches we have been members of in the last 20 years during … [Read more...] about Sitting in the Back and Getting Annoyed
Great Commission Resurgence Task Force
-- Ronnie Floyd (chairperson), pastor, FBC Springdale, Ark. -- Johnny Hunt, pastor, FBC, Woodstock, Ga., SBC president -- Jim Richards, executive director, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention -- Frank Page, pastor, FBC, Taylors, S.C. -- David Dockery, president, Union University -- Simon Tsoi, first vice chairman, International Mission Board -- Donna Gaines, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn. -- Al Gilbert, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. -- J.D. Greear, pastor, Summit Church, Durham, N.C. -- Tom Biles, director of missions, Tampa Bay Association, Executive … [Read more...] about Great Commission Resurgence Task Force
Celebration from Chaos- Day 1 of the SBC Annual Meeting
At 10a.m. I thought chaos would rule the day. At 3p.m. I was even more sure of it. But by 11p.m., in a room full of cheerful brethren and exhausted, honorable leaders, I was more firm in my Southern Baptist devotion than ever. This was the first day of the 2009 SBC Annual Meeting. The day started with two motions: one in favor of the infamous Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) and one against (in so many words) Acts 29 and Mark Driscoll. An interesting start. As one SBC Tweeter (Alvin Reid) put it, "Will we be about the world evangelism or witch hunts?" For the next several hours it … [Read more...] about Celebration from Chaos- Day 1 of the SBC Annual Meeting
SBC 2009: Tops Out Clicked Stories From Tuesday
Social media is making the SBC annual meeting more transparent and real time than ever before. The tweets have been amazing for real time information, but the blogs are still where you can get the full story. So, let me share some of the most out clicked stories we've featured on SBC Voices so far. Many of the best posts are just now floating across the RSS feeds, so keep watching the aggregators on our homepage. Tuesday 23 June 2009 (SBC Day #1) Conflicts of Interests in the SBC and the Great Commission Resurgence Declaration (and Conflict) from Wade Burleson WELL, SHUT MY MOUTH … [Read more...] about SBC 2009: Tops Out Clicked Stories From Tuesday
Great Commission Resurgence passes overwhelmingly!
So, what now? Can the convention finally go beyond the Conservative Resurgence? Can we be gospel, mission and word, centered from top to bottom? We shall see... … [Read more...] about Great Commission Resurgence passes overwhelmingly!
Has Chicken Little Come To Roost?
Recently a few Southern Baptist writers have begun writing to offer the opinion that in contrast to the preponderance of statistical evidence, the Southern Baptist Convention is in fact not in decline. Evidently the decline in baptisms, convention attendance and CP giving can all be explained if we’ll just listen well enough. What makes these opinions so newsworthy is that they stand in significant contrast to a mountain of statistical evidence that is being offered across our convention, and even outside our convention. It appears that they would instead have us to believe that those positing … [Read more...] about Has Chicken Little Come To Roost?
An Identified Baptist that believes we need a Great Commission Resurgence
Let me first come out and say that I have signed the Great Commission Resurgence. Maybe, I need to clarify even more, I signed the GCR without "caveats." At the same time, if there were indeed some document stating a renewed emphasis on our Baptist distinctives I would sign that as well. I caught myself yesterday thinking, "Well shoot, I like Bart Barber and Timmy Brister. I like being Baptist and I like the Great Commission." Then I started to contemplate the supposed "competing" views within the Southern Baptist Convention, the GCR and Baptist Identity. Soon after I started thinking … [Read more...] about An Identified Baptist that believes we need a Great Commission Resurgence