As a former disaffected Young Leader, I know many of you may be struggling with the whether or not to spend time and money away from your flock to come to the SBC in Greensboro this year. I know that you think the SBC isn’t listening to you and that the process of getting business to the floor of the convention is under the control of the older generation anyway, so there is no point in you being there. I want to give you a few reasons to show.
1. “Young Leaders Conference 2.” Monday night, War Memorial Auditorium, 9:30 pm. Not only will you get to meet your peers in the SBC, you will get to hear from Wade Burleson and enjoy an evening of good food and good music.
2. Let them hear you. “YLC2″ not enough of a draw for the time, money and energy? Fine, I understand. How about getting our seniors to pay attention to us? If you want them to take us seriously, we are going to have to take seriously what they take seriously: showing up at the SBC and getting involved. The builder generation knocks the busters and/or gen x, y, and z (or gen internet, etc.) by saying that we aren’t “committed,” and they are right. We have a tendency to show little denominational loyalty and that is well documented.
I don’t worship the SBC, but that doesn’t mean its not worth fighting for. It is the greatest missionary sending body in the New Testament age and we are being distracted from the mission by politics. Show up and they will know that you believe that. Sacrifice to be there, like they did when they were fighting for the survival of the convention on the battlefield of Biblical authority, and they will take you seriously. Stay home, and they will know that you don’t really care that much.
Take that thought a step further. If you really don’t care enough to show up, then you are saying that you don’t really care if the SBC goes the way of the dinosaur. It’s saying that you think you can do more by yourself than you can with us. My brothers and sisters, these things ought not be.
As for me, I will sleep in my car and eat bologna sandwiches if I have to. It was good enough for those who have gone before me and it is good enough for me.
3. There will be things that need your official attention. You may not see avenues to voice your opinion other than your presence, but that does not mean there will not be any. Frankly, we need to be there for whatever gets voted on. There are so many possibilities that will play out between now and then. Who knows what the IMB BOT report will say? Who knows what resolutions may come to the floor? To be there, however, means that you must plan NOW! I promise that you will leave with the knowledge that you voted on things that mattered and that your vote and your voice made a difference.
Commit, plan and implement. Be there!
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Kdawg
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 9:17 am:
great insight as always. We will find a place to stay Art.
For any existing leadership reading this. We appreciate your love for God and the SBC. We are not trouble makers. We just want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Art is correct about missions. We love the SBC because of missions and its belief that the Bible is the word of God!
Wes Kenney
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 11:50 am:
Your post begins: As a former disaffected Young Leader…
Just curious: are you formerly disaffected or formerly young?
;-)
Sorry, couldn’t resist!
Excellent thoughts. And if it seems more comfortable, you can sleep in my car. There’ll be beef jerky in there, too…
Thanks for all you contribute.
Kevin
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 12:01 pm:
Art
good read I was wondering about how it was before the older men in charge got involved did they wait until the age of account abillity?(lol) I hope that the young pastors will seek out there Paul and in turn when they are agged they will give of themselfs they way God planned it to be.
thanks 4 the help
Kevin Lancaster
art rogers
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 2:04 pm:
Wes,
Probably both. I am certainly not disaffected anymore. The SBC has my full attention – because winning the lost, wherever they are, is more important than the politics of control.
As to the age, this is my last year in the 30′s. I turn 40 in February.
art rogers
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 2:07 pm:
What am I thinking? This is February! I turn 40 in December.
See! It’s starting already!
Kiki Cherry
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 8:58 pm:
“Commit, plan, and implement!!!”
I love that!!!! It’s going to be my new slogan with the students.
Art, great post. As usual.
You are slowly convincing me. But do you think it’s okay for a woman who is in ministry to come? Because I have felt the cold shoulder at times for daring to be female and comment within the “Emerging Leaders” circles. (Not from you guys–you have been the best). But there are certain guys who won’t respond if a woman comments, and some have even been more blatant in their opinions.
Kdawg
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 9:29 pm:
Kiki,
We will come up and drag you down there.
art rogers
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 10:05 pm:
Kiki, if people have problems with you serving God, then its their problem. I knew of some girls in Seminary that said they were openly and hostily verbally assaulted by men in seminary. I just don’t get that.
If you don’t believe in women in ministry, then don’t support it in your ministry. THAT IS NO REASON TO BE LESS THAN A GENTLEMAN YOURSELF.
Kiki, you are more than welcome and anybody who is less than genteel, can deal with me. Believe that.
Tim Sweatman
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 10:06 pm:
Art,
You ought to work this post up for the Western Recorder. Get the word out that we’re not the future of the SBC; we ARE the SBC, just as the generation who came before us is the SBC.
I’m new enough in “the ministry” that I haven’t had time to become disaffected yet, but over the past year or so I’ve seen enough to become deeply concerned.
Paul
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 10:37 pm:
Honestly, as a disaffected marginally-young (hit 40 last year) leader I will be there in Greensboro and already have my reservations. But I have to say that in the long term I am not all that hopefull. Hopefully I’m wrong. After all, there are some things for which we “hope against hope.”
art rogers
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 10:45 pm:
You know, Paul, I hear you. I have been there.
“I cannot do everything, but I can do something. I must not fail to do the something I can do.”
Helen Keller
As leaders we have the responsibility to not give up. It is hard, no question, but being hard doesn’t give us the excuse. I’m glad you haven’t given up and I look forward to being there with you.
Tim Sweatman
on Feb 21st, 2006
@ 10:47 pm:
Kiki,
It is ESSENTIAL for women who are serving in ministry to show up and participate. Your voice needs to be heard, especially since there are relatively few women leaders speaking up. Speaking from experience, I know that you personally bring a lot of wisdom to the table.
The guys who are giving you the “cold shoulder” should be ashamed of themselves. (That’s the nice version of what I originally wrote.) You are one of the most committed and passionate people I have met on the blogs. How many of us would raise our own support so we could go outside of the Bible Belt to work with an age group that is known more for walking away from the faith than embracing it? When you get discouraged because someone doesn’t accept you as a worthy minister (who of us is?) just remember that the One who called you is the only one whose opinion really matters. And if that doesn’t work, just email me.
steve w
on Feb 22nd, 2006
@ 9:38 am:
Kiki,
Here’s a thought… if you show up in Greensboro as a messenger, your vote will count just as much as any man’s — even that man with a cold shoulder!
Dorcas
on Feb 22nd, 2006
@ 8:54 pm:
Wow, you guys are giving me a lot to think about. I am definitely going to be at Greensboro, and am even planning to be at the Younger Leader meeting. Yet in my mind I was thinking just as observer, so I could put faces with the names I read here.
Are y’all saying I can dare to move from my “to the right and two steps back” spot amongst the men? Now that’s some freedom in Christ that will make me support our Baptist Younger Leaders all the more.
Don’t worry … that doesn’t mean I’m going to be writing any sermons anytime soon. :)