The Southern Baptist Convention—the nation’s largest Protestant denomination—held its annual meeting this week in Dallas, Texas at the Kay Baily Hutchinson Convention Center.
Thank you for this summary of the the issues dealt with and not dealt with at the SBC Convention. I hope you’re right that the SBC may be able to have a bright future. I grew up a Southern Baptist and still go to a Southern Baptist church (though our church doesn’t flaunt the relationship), but I’ve been so disturbed and saddened over things that have come to light in recent years, especially the sex abuse scandal. I’m afraid the denomination has a long way to go in dealing with that. And despite being a conservative, I don’t like what appears to be a contingent that’s far too comfortable with the political direction so many who would call themselves conservative Christians have taken.
Yes we’re in a challenging place as a denomination. Hopefully, new leadership will emerge that can cast a vision for the future that’s less reactive and more focused on the Kingdom.
The Sooner State is saturated with Southern Baptist dogma and congregations. We were raised up into the tradition whether we were aware of it or not. Glad to hear that some of the issues are being addressed. Women are always an absolutely critical part of any congregation but glad to see that ordination is not part of their call in the SBC. Women play a vital role in the faithful life of the community and the Church just cannot function without them.
I think in the case of optics, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck; it's a duck and we don't have to look any further than that we have a warped view of women not just in the SBC but in much of Evangelicalism. We overwhelmingly regard one another according to the flesh and I'm not sure how we thought that was going to go since the Scriptures we claim to follow strictly forbid such behaviour. God help us.
Is that what we need? I know it seems to swing back and forth pretty drastically sometimes, but institutional ossification doesn't seem like it may be the best alternative.
The institution is already ossified. On all three levels: national, state and associational. You only have to look at the failed motion at the convention for transparency in agency finances for proof.
Thank you for this summary of the the issues dealt with and not dealt with at the SBC Convention. I hope you’re right that the SBC may be able to have a bright future. I grew up a Southern Baptist and still go to a Southern Baptist church (though our church doesn’t flaunt the relationship), but I’ve been so disturbed and saddened over things that have come to light in recent years, especially the sex abuse scandal. I’m afraid the denomination has a long way to go in dealing with that. And despite being a conservative, I don’t like what appears to be a contingent that’s far too comfortable with the political direction so many who would call themselves conservative Christians have taken.
Yes we’re in a challenging place as a denomination. Hopefully, new leadership will emerge that can cast a vision for the future that’s less reactive and more focused on the Kingdom.
Thank you for the update. 👍🏼⛪ 🔔 🇺🇲 ✝️ 📖
The Sooner State is saturated with Southern Baptist dogma and congregations. We were raised up into the tradition whether we were aware of it or not. Glad to hear that some of the issues are being addressed. Women are always an absolutely critical part of any congregation but glad to see that ordination is not part of their call in the SBC. Women play a vital role in the faithful life of the community and the Church just cannot function without them.
I think in the case of optics, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck; it's a duck and we don't have to look any further than that we have a warped view of women not just in the SBC but in much of Evangelicalism. We overwhelmingly regard one another according to the flesh and I'm not sure how we thought that was going to go since the Scriptures we claim to follow strictly forbid such behaviour. God help us.
"We overwhelmingly regard one another according to the flesh" is the right diagnosis in this matter as well as in many others.
Thanks for the briefing, Mike. I wish several of those had gone differently.
If this convention is any indication, the SBC seems to be retrenching in its old, familiar patterns.
Is that what we need? I know it seems to swing back and forth pretty drastically sometimes, but institutional ossification doesn't seem like it may be the best alternative.
The institution is already ossified. On all three levels: national, state and associational. You only have to look at the failed motion at the convention for transparency in agency finances for proof.
Agreed. But the return to normal furthers that process, right?
A great summary and spot on the trustee issues.
Thanks Timothy!