IMB next week
Sep 8th, 2006 | By art rogers | Category: SBCThe BOT of the IMB will be meeting next week. Marty Duren will be in observance for a portion of the meeting, but no one I know is expecting much. “Which is the problem,” said my friend. That is to say, some things probably should be happening that won’t.
I speculate that this will be a year of laying low. There is genuine division of thought on many of the issues surrounding the IMB. For evidence of this look at the closeness of the past election of officers – particularly the Chair’s race.
Not all of those on a different page with Dr. Floyd are necessarily on the same page as Wade Burleson, though. I perceive a middle ground group that view Wade as too controversial, but are not happy with at least the Baptism guideline (if not the PPL policy) and are very loyal to Dr. Rankin.
We’ll all be watching closely, of course. As I have said before, they are on the clock.
The thing you may not have noticed is the Executive Committee meeting the very next week. Again, I believe that what the EC does or doesn’t do has more impact than all the rest. I’ll post more about their important as they meet.
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Art,
If controversial means to be super nice to everybody you know on the Board and speaking your convictions at Board meetings only when somebody asks you to speak (uh, let’s see, twice in the past year), then I plead guilty.
:)Smiley face, and
Blessings,
wade
I just may have to make the short trip to Spartanburg! :)
This is why I was so concerned with sending these issues back to the IMB. Where is the theological reflection on the two new policies? Where is the attempt to take seriously what the convention asked them to address? I predict that they will hem and haw and do nothing until the May meeting before San Antonio, then they will issue a statement that is basically meaningless as they will say that their investigation is inconclusive.
Maybe this won’t happen. I hope and pray it doesn’t. But, if it does, my questions about why we should trust the processes in SBC life grow.
Art,
That “middle ground” you speak of is becoming an ocean. Floyd and Wade are rapidly becoming “Poles.” Expect global warming to take effect from the four winds of the SBC. San Antonio will be a Tsunami if the Poles are not melted by June.
cb
Kevin,
YOU SHOULD!
CB,
We are silently moving toward the point of GENUINE conflict, I think.
Last but not least… ;)
Wade,
As you know, perception is the reality of the perceiver. That you are contraversial is not my perception, but I think it is a few of theirs.
I met with one Trustee earlier in the year who was amazed that there was tension or anything other than happy fun times on the Board.
The thing that I think is contraversial is the introduction of the restrictions on PPL and administrator’s Baptism within the pool of missionary candidates. Maybe to them you are the face of the contraversy? I don’t know. I think some may have had the idea that the BOT would be sunshine and roses with no conflicting ideas.
I have never experienced a time when the Lord’s work was anything like that.
Was it worth it? Were there great benefits? Was doing the Lord’s work gratifying? Of course!
It has never been easy, though, and certainly never occured without having to stand for my convictions in opposition to others at some point. If that makes someone contraversial, then sign me up. I’d rather stand for my convictions and deal with the fallout than any other option. Even if it is being labeled “contraversial.”
Blessings on you,
art
Art, See if Wade will set you up a session with his mother.:)
(Love what you do for us!)