SBC Archives - Baptist & Reflector

DAVIS: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SBC HIERARCHY

December 2, 2020

By Randy C. Davis
President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

Let’s make one thing clear from the outset: There is absolutely no denominational hierarchy when it comes to the Southern Baptist Convention.

Seldom does my Clarity column address matters involving SBC or Tennessee Baptist Convention entities or institutions, and never in a negative manner. However, this column is birthed out of a significant burden I have regarding an issue too important to bypass. Bear with me; I’ll get to the issue in a moment.

First, some context. There are two important bedrock values Southern Baptists hold dearly and historically: Biblical confession and voluntary cooperation. These were shaped by a unity gathered around the basic tenets of faith as expressed in the Baptist Faith and Message. Together we embrace non-negotiable doctrines like the exclusivity and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; biblical inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible; substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross for the atonement of our sins; and the literal, physical resurrection of Christ from the grave.

These are a few of the essentials. We provide a broad tent on non-essentials. [Read more…]

SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ADOPTS CP BUDGET CUT BY FIVE PERCENT DURING COVID

September 23, 2020

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — Decreased giving during the COVID-19 pandemic led the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to adopt a Cooperative Program Allocation Budget Tuesday (Sept. 22) that is 5 percent less than the committee projected last February.

During a special called meeting, the Executive Committee adopted a $186,875,000 CP allocation budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, after originally proposing a budget of $197,700,000.

Approval of the CP allocation budget would have been considered by messengers at the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting, but its adoption became the EC’s responsibility when the annual meeting was canceled because of the pandemic. It was the first time in 75 years – since 1945, when the annual meeting was also canceled – the EC had the responsibility.

Amid the economic slowdown resulting from the pandemic, CP giving was down 2.92 percent in the third quarter of the current fiscal year, and 1.14 percent below budget as of August 31 for the entire year. [Read more…]

IN HISTORIC ELECTION, SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTS FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAIR

June 16, 2020

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Rolland Slade, pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, Calif., was unopposed as EC chair and was unanimously elected by ballot vote. Outgoing chair Mike Stone called for a ballot vote, he said, to mark the historic moment.

NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee elected its first African American chair in a special called meeting Tuesday.

“I think we all realize by what is going on in this country as well as in our convention, this timing is in many ways the providence of our Lord,” said Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Ga.

Many, including Slade, attributed his election to God.

“I don’t think there was ever a plan for me to be in this position,” Slade told Baptist Press. “I think it’s what God has done. … I believe God loves diversity; He created us and we are all diverse. I think for us to not embrace it is saying that, ‘We’ve got a better idea than You (God).'” [Read more…]

SOUTHERN BAPTIST LEADERS ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD

June 1, 2020

By Baptist Press staff

Protest against police violence – Justice for George Floyd Fibonacci Blue / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

NASHVILLE — Southern Baptist leaders have published a statement grieving the recent death of George Floyd and calling for the end of “racial inequity in the distribution of justice in our country.”

The statement, co-authored by SBC president J.D. Greear and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president Jamie Dew, was unanimously signed by all SBC officers, entity heads and state convention executive directors, including Tennessee Baptist Mission Board president and executive director Randy C. Davis.

Statement on the death of George Floyd

As a convention of churches committed to the equality and dignity of all people, Southern Baptists grieve the death of George Floyd, who was killed May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn. [Read more…]

ERLC, EC TRUSTEE OFFICERS RESPOND TO TASK FORCE ANNOUNCEMENT

February 24, 2020

By George Schroeder
Baptist Press

The SBC Executive Committee voted Tuesday (Feb. 18) to form a seven-member task force to address some Southern Baptists’ concerns about actions taken by the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. — Photo by Eric Brown

NASHVILLE — Officers of the Board of Trustees of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) strongly objected Thursday (Feb. 20) to the formation of a task force to study the ERLC’s effectiveness and instructed the entity and its leadership “not to comply” with the inquiry.

In an open letter to SBC Executive Committee chairman Mike Stone and EC members, the ERLC trustee officers called the task force, which was formed by the EC earlier this week, “unwarranted, divisive, and disrespectful.” Signed by ERLC Board of Trustees chairman David Prince and the board’s other officers, the letter suggested the EC was attempting to usurp the role delegated to the ERLC’s trustees and included a statement of support for ERLC president Russell Moore.

“We find the action of the Executive Committee … disappointing, unnecessary, and harmful to our cooperative work in the SBC,” the ERLC trustee officers wrote, adding: “At a time where a unified voice is needed for our cooperative Gospel work, the Executive Committee is sowing needless division, treating trustees with disrespect, and spreading suspicion with this unnecessary task force.” [Read more…]

STETZER TO CHAIR 2020 SBC RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

February 21, 2020

By Baptist Press

Ed Stetzer

NASHVILLE — Missiologist and researcher Ed Stetzer has been named chairman of the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee, SBC President J.D. Greear announced Feb. 11.

Greear also announced his appointment of Angela Suh Um of Cambridge, Mass., as vice chair. Um will be only the second woman to serve in a leadership role on the committee, according to Baptist Press’ review of SBC records.

“Ed Stetzer has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches across the country in a variety of settings,” Greear told Baptist Press. “Additionally, his vast experience as a researcher makes him uniquely qualified to understand the questions and concerns that the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention face. He is a strong leader who can guide the committee as they help the messengers express their positions on issues that matter to them.” [Read more…]

SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CREATES ERLC STUDY TASK FORCE

February 19, 2020

By Jonathan Howe
Baptist Press

SBC Executive Committee chairman Mike Stone presides over the EC’s plenary session Tuesday (Feb. 18). One of the actions coming from the meeting was the formation of a task force to “review the past and present activities” of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. — Photo by Eric Brown

NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee voted Tuesday (Feb. 18) to create a study task force to “review the past and present activities” of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).

The ERLC is tasked with helping churches understand the moral demands of the Gospel and public policy as well as promoting religious liberty on behalf of Southern Baptists. The Executive Committee action (full text below) comes in response to “ongoing concerns” cited by EC members, state leaders and other Southern Baptists that the ERLC is not adequately fulfilling its Convention-approved ministry assignments.

The motion specifically noted that concerns “have been expressed both publicly and privately to various members of the Executive Committee and other Southern Baptists regarding how the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s actions in relation to its ministry statements are affecting the Convention and its relationships with local churches, local associations, and state conventions.” [Read more…]

SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES STAFF RETIREMENTS

October 31, 2019

By BP Staff

NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee announced Monday (Oct. 28) that Roger “Sing” Oldham and Ken Weathersby are retiring from their respective vice presidential posts.

Weathersby, vice president for Convention advancement, began his role in 2013 and was the first African American to hold an EC vice presidential position. He came to the EC after holding a series of leadership roles at the North American Mission Board, including associate vice president for multiethnic mobilization and vice president for the church planting group. During his time with the Executive Committee, he has worked tirelessly to increase ethnic participation and grow relationships with demographic subsets in the SBC. [Read more…]

HOWE NAMED EC VP OF COMMUNICATIONS

September 4, 2019

Baptist Press staff reports

Jonathan Howe

NASHVILLE — Jonathan P. Howe has been named vice president of communications for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee effective Sept. 5.

Officers of the Executive Committee approved Howe upon recommendation of EC President Ronnie Floyd during an Aug. 28 conference call.

Howe, of Franklin, Tenn., will oversee all SBC Executive Committee communications including SBC.net, SBC LIFE, Baptist Press, social media initiatives and other media and messaging strategies. [Read more…]

WHY DOES THE SBC HAVE A ‘BAPTISM SUNDAY’?

August 23, 2019

By J.D. Greear
President, Southern Baptist Convention

For several years now, I have been greatly burdened by the declining number of baptisms across the Southern Baptist Convention. I believe the baptism numbers serve as one of the best indicators of evangelism in our churches. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and that means that proclaiming the gospel is the core of who we are — not only as Southern Baptists, but most importantly, as disciples of Jesus Christ.

That’s why I’m challenging every Southern Baptist church to call for baptisms in services on Sept. 8, the date our SBC Executive Committee has designated as “Baptism Day” on the SBC calendar. [Read more…]

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