Archive for the ‘Baptist Issues’ Category
Baptists Going Green…
March 10th, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
So, Southern Baptists are going green.
This will probably make me unpopular amongst Baptist bloggers (maybe even with one of my closest friends), but suffice it to say that I think this initiative (however well-intentioned), AS WORDED, is a mistake.
I’m all for environmental stewardship, but please… let’s stay out of the global warming / climate change debate!
Why? Let’s take a couple sentences from this group’s declaration to start…
We recognize that we do not have any special revelation to guide us about whether global warming is occurring and, if it is occurring, whether people are causing it. We are looking at the same evidence unfolding over time that other people are seeing.
We recognize that we do not have special training as scientists to allow us to assess the validity of climate science. We understand that all human enterprises are fraught with pride, bias, ignorance and uncertainty.
Here’s my suggestion. If you’ve got no “special revelation”, “special training”, or the like that allows you to assess “whether global warming is occurring and, if it is occurring, whether people are causing it”… stick to the theological issues and principles that lead Christians to a position of environmental stewardship, and leave climate change out of your statements.
After all, isn’t human-influenced climate change covered by environmental stewardship?
Of course it is. So why hit the hot button issue?
Political expediency and media coverage. At least that’s what it looks like to me.
If that was your goal, I extend my congratulations… you made top story on MSNBC.com for a while, and are sure to receive plenty of publicity for the cause.
Out of the Overflow…
January 8th, 2008 | 4 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, Christian Living, Devotions / Bible Studies, My Life / Family
I was looking back over some of the things I’d written from various times of Bible study over the years, and ran across a devotion on Luke 6:43-45 I’d written almost five years back. In thinking over what I’d written, it occurred to me that this passage might be somewhat applicable to much of the rhetoric, debate, and conflict in Baptist life recently. Or, maybe it’s just applicable to me.
Regardless… here’s the passage:
Luke 6:43-45
43No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
I’d originally written the following:
I don’t think this passage needs much explanation. Think about it a bit, then ask yourself the following:
- What’s coming out of my mouth?
- What are my most frequent topics of discussion?
- What do these things reveal about my heart and what’s most important to me?
These questions are still applicable for self-evaluation… it’s clear, beyond a doubt, that what we talk (or write) about reveals a lot about what’s important to us.
The question I find myself asking tonight is simply this:
If a blog primarily focuses on the conflict in Baptist life, what does it reveal about the author?
If you look at the categories in my left sidebar, you’ll notice pretty quickly that “Baptist Issues” is my number one topic. Worse, were you to look at my bloglines feeds, you’d find the majority of blogs I read deal with Baptist conflict.
While I feel I’ve been civil (for the most part) in the discussions in which I’ve partaken, and I’ve moved away from this almost completely in the last couple months, tonight I simply find myself ashamed of the fact that this has been what has consumed my blogging interests in the past… foolish and stupid arguments (2 Tim. 2:22-26).
No more.
Burleson Censured
November 8th, 2007 | Comments Off | Posted in » Baptist Issues
Baptist Press coverage here.
Burleson / Corbaley Feud Comes to a Head…
October 23rd, 2007 | 5 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues
According to Wade Burleson’s blog, Jerry Corbaley is asking the IMB Board of Trustees to remove him as a trustee for the “gross and habitual sin” of gossip / slander.
Here’s the 153 page letter that Jerry submitted to the Board.
*SIGH*
Here’s my proposed solution to this mess… how about Jerry and Wade both submitting to Christian conflict resolution prior to the next Trustee meeting, facilitiated by a trained Christian mediator?
I don’t expect that to happen, but it certainly makes sense to me.
MBLA Endorses Candidates… or Not.
October 12th, 2007 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
I hate to take up more space on this site about MBC politics, but the saga has taken another turn this evening. There was incorrect information passed on previously here, and it must be corrected.
Remember a few days back, when I posted news from David Krueger (originating on the Missouri Baptist list) about a new set of candidates for Missouri Baptist Convention officers? Well, supposedly, they were endorsed by the Missouri Baptist Layman’s Association (MBLA).
This evening, David informed the list that his “sources” were in error. Although the candidates he announced were spot on, the endorsement didn’t actually happen. David conveyed that, per a conversation he’d had with Kerry Messer (MBLA president), that MBLA has not met, that they did not endorse the candidates, and that they have no plans to do so.
Given the deluge of debate and argument on the list over endorsements for candidates since the announcment on Monday (there have been so many messages, I can’t hardly keep up with reading them all), the sudden news that these endorsements didn’t really happen is certainly interesting, to say the least. It raises quite a few questions in my mind, but to vocalize these publicly and imply that there was anything other than misunderstanding involved in this wouldn’t extend a bit of the grace to David and his “source” that I would hope for were I in their shoes.
(BTW, Rodney? You’ll probably want to correct your post, or create a new one clarifying the matter.)
More Missouri Baptist Nominations…
October 8th, 2007 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
This seems to be the week for MBC announcements. This evening, e-mail on the Missouri Baptist list from David Krueger (reprinted here as it’s of interest to all Missouri Baptists) announced the following:
A number of fellow Missouri Baptists have announced that they will be nominated as officers for the Missouri Baptist Convention at the annual meeting in Tan-Tar-a. They include:
- Mike Green, for a second term as President. Mike is the DOM of the Twin Rivers Association.
- Jay Scribner, for 1st Vice President. Jay was a long-time pastor of FBC, Branson and is now retired.
- Roger Moran, for 2nd Vice President. Roger is a layman and a member of FBC, Troy.
- Jerry Williams, for Recording Secretary. Jerry is the DOM of the Barry Baptist Association.
All four have received the endorsement of the Missouri Baptist Layman’s Association.
Obviously, the same things I wrote about the “Save Our Convention” nominees apply here as well… I hope Missouri Baptists will prayerfully consider each of these, and vote as God leads.
I do hope, given the announcements of the last few days of candidates endorsed by each group, that the convention doesn’t decay into a political battle, with SOC on one side and MBLA on the other. Fireworks will accomplish nothing aside from further fracturing of the MBC, and we know who that will benefit… no one.
Reprinted… an Open Letter from David Baker
October 8th, 2007 | Comments Off | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
There was an interesting submission to the Missouri Baptist Mailing List today… an open letter from David Baker, pastor of Heartland Church. Given that it’s an open letter, and that it may be of interest to Missouri Baptists, it’s reproduced in its entirety below.
Save Our Convention?
Baptist are, after all, an intriguing lot. Bible believing, strongly conservative, Missouri Baptists struggled for years to reclaim the Missouri Baptist Convention from those who no longer emphasized the inerrancy and infallibility of Holy Scripture. Many good Pastors and Laymen suffered isolation, rejection, and marginalization because they aligned themselves with others of like conviction to challenge the status quo and bring about meaningful change. Many of us felt that real change would not occur, but it did.
Through God’s grace and prevenient mercy, these strong conservative folks ware able to bring genuine revolution and revitalization to Baptist life, even throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. In Missouri, we were the first state convention of Baptists to reclaim our executive board and staff. The price tag high; there were many wounded; and five of our state institutions were stolen before conservatives could gain access to boards of trustees. In asking the civil courts to determine who actually owns these entities, we have become embroiled in lengthy and expensive litigation.
We also demonstrated a lack of wisdom by bringing leaders into our state who had good intentions, but did not fully comprehend the history and inner dynamics of the situation. I do believe these men had good intentions but were overwhelmed by the complexities of a very fragile, as well as loose knit, coalition of conservative leadership.
The results have been regrettable. I feel badly for Dr. David Clippard and others who have paid the price for our lack of wisdom. Even though I am aware that they are fully responsible for what ultimately took place, I also believe that such an outcome may have been inevitable no matter who would have been put Into positions of leadership. Remember, the Liberal/Moderate group left us with a mess.In 2002,I was put on the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board to serve out an unexpired term, My election to the board sent shock-waves throughout our state. Within days of the first meeting I attended, nine Liberal/Moderate members of the board resigned. One of them commented to me, “If you are now a member of this board, the battle for the convention is over.” In just a short time later, a search committee brought a recommendation to a special called meeting of the board to hire a new executive director. The board voted to call David Clippard. Many of us were uneasy with the timing and the process, but we had no apparent reason not to move ahead. In retrospect, I wish I had been more vocal about my own concerns.
Within days we were faced with a real crisis. While our books showed significant cash reserves, in reality, we did not have the money to move our new Executive Director onto the field. Through a series of convention and board actions, previous convention leadership had made a series of loans, transfers, and expenditures which literally stripped the convention of its reserves. It Is my own belief that these leaders were attempting to prevent the convention from asking for a legal judgment on ownership of the five renegade agencies. Certainly, we were left in a precarious financial situation. We had no Idea how were going to fund any legal action.
The next year, I was placed on the MBC Executive Board Administrative Committee. In the spring of 2006,I served on an annual review committee to evaluate our Executive Director. Convention by-laws call for an annual evaluation of all staff. An appointed Executive Board committee evaluates the Executive Director each year. In these positions, I had access to the developing conflict which arose between David Clippard, Roger Moran and some members of the Executive Board. From that vantage point, I want to comment on the “Save Our Convention” movement new afoot among some Missouri Baptist Convention.
First, there is no need to ‘save’ the Missouri Baptist Convention. There is no secretive ‘good ole’ boy’ network that controls Missouri Baptist life. Baptists are notoriously independent. Getting conservative Baptists even to agree on anything is like herding cats.
Second, I do not know of any Executive Board member who has been overtly influenced to do anything. When I served on the board, people from all across our state called me and offered their opinions on a wide variety of issues. Virtually all of them wanted to tell me what they though I should do. I have the same experience as a Pastor. I listened to each one and tried to be kind. Then I did exactly what I had prayerfully determined to do.
Third, every member of the executive Board, at least while I serve, seemed thoughtful and sought to be well informed. None walked in lock-step with any particular group. I believe they were mature and prayerful Christians who sought to do the right thing. I sometimes questioned their judgment, but never their integrity.
Forth, Roger Moran is not the devil. Roger is a good man with a heart to do the right thing. He is also a gifted researcher, organizer, and advocate. Roger and I have not always agreed. But I have a deep respect for this good man. We own him much for helping the conservative movement. We should not turn on him because we fear his influence.
Fifth, we need to love and trust each other. The liberal/Moderate brethren are rejoicing in our division. They are convinced that those of us who are conservative in our theology will ultimately turn on each other and destroy our own movement. We must prove them wrong.Finally, we should be aware of false teaching in our midst. Conservatives are not immune from the influence of fad Christianity. We must hold to the old truths of our faith rooted in solid biblical exposition. We must also hold ourselves to a higher standard morally and ethically. We must strive for genuine righteousness combined with compassionate service. We must proclaim the Gospel to the lost with great intensity. And in the midst of it all, we must be kindly affectionate towards one another.
Dear friend, let us have a great Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting in Tan-Tar-A on October 29-31. Let us lift up every local church in love and commit ourselves to live humbly at the foot of the cross.
God Bless You,
David Baker
Pastor, Heartland Baptist Church
Most of you know I haven’t been a believer for as long as troubles amongst Baptists in Missouri have been going on… but I’ve been around long enough to know that the fighting between “liberal/moderate” Baptists and “conservative” Baptists here has left a LOT of people on both sides damaged and scarred, and has left those amongst the public who have been paying attention to our squabbles with a somewhat less than favorable impression of Missouri Baptists.
My simple hope, as a member of an MBC church, is that peace returns to the MBC, and that the two resultant groups from the past few years of conflict (the BGCM and MBC) can each move on and go about furthering God’s Kingdom in their own ways. God knows that neither group is perfect, but I’m fairly certain He’s big enough to use both for His glory… assuming we’ll let Him.