Comments on: Analysis

By: Joseph M. Smith

Joseph M. Smith — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 16:09:00 +0000

This is my first time posting on this or any other blog. I am a bit of a dinosaur, as a graduate of SBTS “back when” (1963) and a recently retired (well, semi-pseudo-retired) pastor. I came to this blog after reading the headlines just to see what it’s all about. I did want to respond to the comment about how only one or two churches in the District of Columbia Baptist Convention are sources for trustees of the agencies. This has been going on for a number of years, and is just ridiculous and unfair, in my opinion. And check the records to see how much Capitol Hill gives to DCBC causes … SBC, yes, but not DCBC. Seems grossly unfair.

By: Phillips Lynn

Phillips Lynn — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 13:20:00 +0000

Art,

I appreciate you and the time you invested in helping us to become more enlightened to the situations in our convention. You are a great guy. I am praying for you and Bonnie as you prepare for your move and new ministry. May God greatly bless you both as you continue to serve Him.

By: Rzrbk

Rzrbk — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:34:00 +0000

Art,
You offer many good insights in this post. As a missionary supported with cooperative program dollars, I am excited about the election of Frank Page and his commitment to the Bible, missions and the cooperative program. I think bloggers had a large part in his election. A lot of factors came together to make this the year someone outside of the power structure could be elected.

I do not think Wiley Drake’s election is in the same category. I think it was a joke that could come back to haunt us. His election does not go along with the request to elect those whose churches give strong support to the cooperative program unless you consider 1% strong support. Some of you who were with him in Memphis can tell me if exhibited any of the repentance called for in the report.

Drake was quoted a year ago as saying, I for one Southern Baptist, since 1965, will not quit, give up, or back down, nor will I be lulled into believing that the liberals all left, Drake said. Our homeland security, Southern Baptist style, praying through and messenger led, will continue to expose these wolves in sheep’s clothing. The cost of being called a rebel, trouble maker and even damage to our ministry will not prevent our war on Southern Baptist-style terrorism. Art, did you see any of these wolves in sheeps clothing Drake is talking about at the convention? Is he going to use his position as 2VP to carry out a war on these Southern Baptist style terrorists as he calls them?
Even more disturbing to me is that he led the effort to pull the SBC out of the BWA but he has had no problem with working with a man like Sun Myung Moon and lending his name to Moon’s campaigns and materials in the past. Does this show good judgment? Has he repented of this? He has also joined Roger Moran and T.C. Pinckney in trying to get the SBC to tell parents to pull their children out of public schools and accused parents who put their children in public schools of endangering their children.
I fear we will regret having his name referred to as an SBC 2VP every time he makes a statement.

I am also not sure the Committee on Committee report was free of cronyism. There may be few new names but i suspect most are cronies of those who have been calling the shots for years. The two from my state of Arkansas were from churches that have been well represented in the past because of the conservative resurgence. The two from D.C. were from Hillcrest and Capital Hill. These same two churches have had these same positions many times. Is there anyone in Capital Hill Baptist that has not served as a trustee yet? You will have to look at your own states and say if the same is true there. Bobby may have asked for no cronyism but I don’t think they listened.

There will be plenty from the BGCT at the San Antonio convention, especially if they feel we are returning to the point where our actions show belief in the authority of the Bible and not just our words.
Ron West

By: art rogers

art rogers — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:07:00 +0000

Dorcas, Kevin and all,

I had to sleep because I had to drive home today and hadn’t slept much at all.

Bonnie was trying to get the house ready to go on the market by herself and was behind. Knowing that the significant business was done and that you all had things well in hand, I came home to help my wife.

Talk to you soon.

By: Villa Rica

Villa Rica — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 01:23:00 +0000

Brother Art,

To imitate you, imitating Elvis let me say to you: Thank you, Thank you very much.

Villa Rica

By: Kevin Bussey

Kevin Bussey — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 22:47:00 +0000

Way to go Dorcas! Get him!

By: Dorcas

Dorcas — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 21:55:00 +0000

Art -

I am so disappointed. You scolded us and scolded us about how we weren’t to be at Starbucks during key votes. You said you would have some words to say if any of us weren’t in the convention for key business. What if Tom and Ben’s resolutions had been allowed? What if we had had the grand discussion on Baptist Dissent from the convention floor? That is part of the main discussion on these blogs. And you would have missed it.

You slacker. :)

(did I make you feel guilty enough?)

By: tim rogers

tim rogers — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 21:52:00 +0000

Brother Art,
I am at loss here. As I posted a comment on Marty’s I also post the same one here. How can you and anyone else pull this toward Wade? I understand the resolution, as you have pointed out is not binding, to be a statement forbidding Trustees from drinking alcohol. It says nothing about a trustee saying the scripture does not say abstain from alcohol. If we take the resolution the way you are saying it was presented, as against Wade, then we will also lose our President at SBTS because he advocates the same thing that Wade does when it comes to alcohol and scripture.
Tim

By: Alan Cross

Alan Cross — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 21:34:00 +0000

Excellent analysis, Art, as usual. It is one that I agree with almost completely at this point. I do think that the bloggers were influential, perhaps mostly in bringing things to light that were already in the works. But, at the same time, it is obvious that we tapped in to the attitude of the convention rather than changing the attitude. We were just part of the greater whole.

I am optimistic about the future, as long as everyone who has been mobilized keeps their heart full of the gospel and their eyes focused on Jesus. If we focus too much on the inner workings of the SBC to the detriment of giving praise to God and engaging in Kingdom work through our blogs, our churches, and our lives, we have just become another annoying voice.

The next year will truly be interesting!

By: church staff guy in TX

church staff guy in TX — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 21:02:00 +0000

Don’t be so sure that SBTC church messengers in Texas will be “pushing back” next year. We have plenty of young church plants as well as reform-minded individuals all over. If this was between theological “moderates” and theological “conservatives,” sure, many Texans would push back against a “moderate movement.” But we’re not all lock-step with Paige, I promise. You might be really surprised at our annoyance with the “establishment” situation. But, as with any non-establishment types, it could be a challenge to get “modern” SBTCers to care enough about the Convention to come…