Sometimes, while scanning blog feeds, the posts start to mix together and produce interesting insights. Tonight was a good example. First, take a look at this Baptist Press post by Keith Manuel (Louisiana Baptist Convention employee). He writes about the digestive dangers of too much grain for sheep and then makes a point about Christians. We're like sheep who eat too much of the good stuff (Bible teaching) and need to go to the fields to get the grain (witnessing). I don't want to make fun (it's a good point), but I really though the post was headed for some bathroom humor. In my immature … [Read more...] about Baptists, Bible Bloat, & Praying Like A Bishop
Frank Page To Advise Obama Administration
Update: Baptist Press has also written about this story. According to this story from Associated Press, our former SBC President Frank Page will be announced as an adviser to Obama's revived White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The advisory council is scheduled to be introduced Thursday 2/5/09. Other advisers will include a Jewish rabbi active in Washington and a pioneering female African-American bishop. … [Read more...] about Frank Page To Advise Obama Administration
Why Should I Care About The SBC?
The New Testament keeps pointing me to local communities of believers as the primary visible outworking of the church. There are occasional times of cooperation, and submission to apostolic leadership. But mostly the local church is busy preaching the Gospel and living out the implications of God's Grace. So, I'm a typical young pastor trying to work out how denominations fit into a biblic understanding of the church. I keep hearing smart people say we can do more together than we can apart. I'm not sure I can agree with that. Can't most churches do more missions with less money through … [Read more...] about Why Should I Care About The SBC?
CP Comeback In January 2009
Good news from Nashville today, the Cooperative Program giving has made up ground and is now close to budget (99.53 percent) after 4 months of this fischal year. The BP story is cautiously optomistic. Month-to-month swings reflect a number of factors, but largely result from the timing of receipts from state conventions. The end-of-month total represents money received by close of business on the last business day of each month. … [Read more...] about CP Comeback In January 2009
Disagreement Concerning Women Serving As Pastors Is Sufficent Cause To Separate
This post is a follow up of my last post on the issue of First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia being 'disfellowshipped' from the Georgia Baptist Convention. Wade Burleson has written again on the topic, this post is my response. First of all, my post is not going to be nearly as long as Wade's, but I encourage you to go and read his own post. He is a great writer and I believe he deeply loves the Southern Baptist Convention. Wade and I disagree on this issue, but I greatly respect his opinion and I also thinks he makes a lot of great points. Wade's main thesis is that it is absurd to … [Read more...] about Disagreement Concerning Women Serving As Pastors Is Sufficent Cause To Separate
FBC, Decatur: A Test Case For The SBC
There has been a divisive issue within Evangelicalism lately and it has hit the SBC once again. Wade Burleson recently wrote about the Georgia Baptist Convention's intentions to disfellowship with First Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia. I encourage you to read the post yourself. I warn you that it is very long and I cannot go into what exactly Burleson says... Here is the issue: The Southern Baptist Convention is complimentarian, according to the newest Baptist Faith and Message. We as Baptists, have the right to fellowship and disfellowship with whoever we choose. That is the … [Read more...] about FBC, Decatur: A Test Case For The SBC
Ministry Job Board At SBC Voices
Update: After testing, I don't think the current readership fits well with the idea. Just go to churchStaffing.com instead. I'm testing a new job board feature for this site. It's integrated through a third party company and if it works it could be a revenue stream for this blog. But for now, I've set up a discount code KUMMER that will allow any 30 day job posting for no fee. So if your church (or a church you know) is looking for pastoral or ministry related job canidates, send them over for their free job listing. A little more about the reach of SBC Voices. Our email newsletter … [Read more...] about Ministry Job Board At SBC Voices
Do You Get Our Newsletter?
I just sent out the January edition of our Baptist Buzz email newsletter. It's the easiest way for you to keep up with what's being talked about on SBC blogs. Every month, I summarize the leading conversations and links some example posts. Why are we doing a newsletter? The simple answer is this: I wanted to open up a 2nd communication channel with our readers. The email list gives our most loyal readers an additional contact point with SBCvoices. It also provides an executive summary of the 100+ posts I mark each month as Baptist Buzz. The long answer has to do with reader retention and some … [Read more...] about Do You Get Our Newsletter?
Living Your Strengths Within The Church
We moved to Havelock North Carolina last summer and recently took an orientation type class at our new church. As part of the class, the Pastor presents all new members and/or member prospects the book Living Your Strengths by Winseman, Clifton, and Liesveld from Gallup Press. Included on the inside of each book jacket is an ID code that allows you to go online and take a test. Its purpose is to tell you your top five strengths. This test is an excellent resource and one I found quite honest in the results, even though the taking of the test itself was a bit overwhelming as you had to answer … [Read more...] about Living Your Strengths Within The Church
Ted Haggard, SBC Pastors & The Power Of Forgiveness
There was a USA Today story that came across my Google Reader tonight tagged "Southern Baptist Convention." It was plug for the new Ted Haggard documentary on HBO, but they also quoted LifeWay statistics about pastoral dismissals. One note: The LifeWay figures are about forced terminations. According to the LifeWay article, "The other thing to consider is that this just represents the best data we can gather on forced terminations. It doesn’t include those who were pressured out." What's the difference? Usually guys who resign are closer to repentance, either because their sins are too big … [Read more...] about Ted Haggard, SBC Pastors & The Power Of Forgiveness