Double Trouble for the IMB, Mark Terry. The former IMB missionary and seminary professor wrote of our IMB personnel being evacuated from many parts of the world due to COVID-19. This and the financial impact of the virus made for the “double trouble.” Fortunately, IMB was and is in a solid financial position. Reports for the latest Lottie Moon offering are encouraging. This was the top post by a considerable margin, mainly due to connections through social media. It was many times our usual daily figure.
How the Conservative Baptist Network Took Control of the Executive Committee. Jared Wellman. Wellman, an Executive Committee member, laid out how Mike Stone, EC chairman, and the EC succeeded in electing officers who were dominated by Conservative Baptist Network people. It’s complicated parliamentary stuff, enhanced by the EC not meeting in person. The EC was a mess last year, particularly the first half. One hope for a better year this year.
Suspended & Silenced by an SBC Pastor (Dr. Susan Codone), Susan Codone. Codone, a sex abuse survivor wrote about a Conservative Baptist Network pastor inviting the Pattersons to speak in his Florida church. Codone was reported by the pastor and she was temporarily suspended from Twitter. The pastor didn’t bother speaking with Codone. This is the CBN in action, brethren. Look for more of the same.
A Letter from Dr. Jamie Dew to the NOBTS Faculty Jamie Dew. Dew is president of the seminary. This Christmas Eve letter was his explanation of the Council of Seminary President’s letter on CRT.
Examining the Work of EC Chairman Mike Stone, Dave Miller. Miller concludes that Stone has used his power to advance the CBN not to bring peace to the SBC.
Thou Shalt Not Lie: The ERLC, EIT, and George Soros (EDIT – Concerning Retraction by Hate-Blog Capstone). Dave Miller. A couple of sites are rabidly anti-ERLC, anti-NAMB, anti-Greear, and the like. Miller calls them “hate blogs.” I don’t quibble about the label. They are SBC tire slashers.
Open Letter to R. Albert Mohler, President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Rev. Joel A. Bowman, Sr.). Joel A. Bowman. Bowman is an African-American pastor who took issue with Mohler flopping over to support Trump.
Our Response to the SBC Executive Committee’s Statement, SBC Voices Editorial Team. Gripes about Voices’ articles critical of the EC and calls for retractions prompted this. No retraction.
An Open Letter to Dr. Al Mohler and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Trustees Regarding Honoring the Founding Slaveholders. Dwight McKissick. SBTS was founded by slave owners and still has some things named for them. McKissick very pointedly but respectfully calls for removal.
Conservative Baptist Network: Reflections, Dave Miller. This was back in February before the virus situation arose and before the repeated messes at the Executive Committee. Miller hoped that the Network would be “a positive influence on the SBC.” So far, probably not.
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Half of the top ten deal with SBC politics. We love politics and intrigue more than evangelism and cooperation.
Three of the top ten deal with CRT/I.
But let’s watch some bowl games. We can fuss and fight later. We always do. I’ll predict that top articles of 2021 will deal with the SBC Annual Meeting, the SBC presidential election, CRT/I, and scandal not yet known.
