Tuesday @ SBC

Man, the annual meeting of the SBC is so boring.  I mean, I know there are some important things we do for our convention, but please.

If you want some info on the meetings today, go to Baptist Press.  Good pastor's conference stuff by David Phillips.  Some helpful blogging by Bryan Gotcher.

I don't really want to try to report much on today's meetings.  I wasn't even that involved in the normal meetings since we had some other good things to do.  Let me give you a rundown of the day.

This morning as the annual kicked off, Ricky Skaggs was singing some song and then blowing a shofar (ram's horn).  Next, SBC President Bobby Welch started getting the crowd involved.  He said "Who is going to witness, win and baptize one million people in the next year?"  Then the crowd would respond "Everyone can!"  Ugh.  The next step was sadly funny.  Bobby would lead the chant, the crowd would respond, and then Ricky would blow the shofar (whooo WHOOOOOO  whoooo  WHOOOOOO!).  I almost popped a hernia laughing.  Sheesh.  I just don't get this big pep rally mentality.  And can I just say that the SBC choir shouldn't wear anything brighter than angel's clothing?  Get up and sing and leave the prom dresses at home. 

Marty, Joe and I met some Lifeway guys for a coffee in the late morning.  Really good guys with vision for the future.  They have been very encouraging about our websites and desire to see change in the SBC.

For lunch we met with David Price who we first met on the websites, and who is a recent SBTS grad.  We ate at Big River Brewery again.  Fantastic chicken Dijon sandwich.  While there we noticed we were sitting next to Tim Sweatman, uber-poster at the Lifeway Younger Leaders discussion board.  David put a pic of us on his site while we were checking our sites at Lifeway's Wi-fi area.  The guy with the blue shirt in the pic on the left is Craig.  He works with Lifeway at MyBibleStudy.com.  He is a fan of my site and willing to be helpful to an extreme.  Thanks for everything Craig!

A writer for the NC Biblical Recorder sent me, Joe, and Marty a list of questions for some article.  It took some time to answer, but I think it will be helpful.  They've written this, this and this about things we are doing and saying.  The third article took a statement I made about Jerry Vines a bit out of context, but there are some good things there (Steve DeVane corrected it. Thanks Steve).

In the afternoon I heard this from Bobby Welch, a paraphrase: If every church in this convention would have TWO revivals this year it would change everything.  When the symbolic leader of the convention says that, you know you are in trouble.  If he actually meant real revivals, we would only need one.  If he means revival meetings, I've been at enough to know this is nothing close to what our convention needs.  We need a missional revolution Bobby.

Dinner was at the Wildhorse Saloon with Marty and Joe.  A famous, fun place for good food, line-dancing, and live music.  That's a hot pretzel sandwich with ham, cheese, and some sort of mustard sauce.  Highly recommended from our server, Lindsay, who is moving back home to California next month.  Man, that sandwich was really good.  The potato salad was fantastic.  Don't miss this place in Nashville.  You may even meet the pink cowgirl.

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission report was something I could have predicted, but the video presentation which was much better than I hoped.  It's the most compassionate thing I've seen on homosexuality from the convention.  In the video a former homosexual said that homosexuals don't need a finger pointing at them, but a hand to hold.  Another said that homosexuals need someone to say "I will walk toward Jesus with you."  Great line, and the heart of incarnational, missional living.

A few last comments.  The convention is the "sole member" of the NOBTS corporation.  I have never felt competent to decide on a position.  Ultimately I trust those who have said it wouldn't be good for the seminary because of how laws in the state work, but I have to go on the word of others and the literature I've seen.  Doesn't matter much now. (see Dee's take, thanks for the link Alex)

It was a good but exhausting day.  As many good conversationalists have left (Chris Seay, Darrin Patrick, Daniel Montgomery, and now Marty Duren), we are left with boring business.  Let's hope Joe and I can think of some way to shake things up tomorrow.

Comments

[Gregory Pittman]

Thanks, Steve, for your thoughts. I found myself thinking of the "pep rally" mentality pretty much all day, especially this morning, which I was late for.

And at the two revivals comment, cold chills ran up and down my spine. There was another comment by the last preacher tonight that really kinda got me irate, but I'll withhold my thoughts for fear of starting all-out war.

Keep up the great work!

[rick]

it's true about compassion and homosexuals

[Jeff T]

Steve, thanks for keeping us updated. Your writing has helped me to see that we definitely need some fresh leaders. Revival meetings are our solution, Welch believes---that almost makes me feel hopeless.

Jeff

[Todd]

Steve, the thing i miss about not being at the convention is hanging with you guys. the descriptions of the convention leave me feeling much like i did when i attended in New Orleans and Dalls, long before the call from anyone about needing missional reformation.

your description of what another commenter referred to as a "pep rally" really left me where this all began - uncertain but hopeful because at least some are listening to you Joe and Marty.

thanks for the updates.

Todd

[Richard A. Bailey]

Steve, I've appreciated your remarks thus far. Made it possible for many of us other "baptists" to stay home in safety. My dad serves as a trustee at NOBTS. He'll be happy to know of at least one person who agreed with the argument the school wanted to present--despite the efforts of the Exec Committee. He's had an eye-opening time dealing with all of it since his appointment. Again, thanks. Hope you and Joe have safe travel back north.

[Jeff T]

My kids watch Bob the builder...Can we fix it? yes, we can. I suppose the SBC has there on Bob the builder.

Jeff

[Alex]

Thanks for the updates Steve. I think I agree with everything you said. You should have nominated Joe for SBC president - anybody but.... well anyway.

[jvpastor]

Great updates, which I was there hanging out with you guys, I would have plenty of time for hanging out, because I certainly would not be attending any of the amway meetings. That is where you guys are at isn't it, an amway convention...

sorry I couldn't resist after the rams horn, and chanting, maybe you are at a wicca convention...

maybe I should stop and go plan three revivals because we want revival than the rest of you guys. Could somebody get me Skaggs' info we would like to book him:)

[Jeff T]

JV I have a white suit red tie and a super-sized KJV Bible. Jeff

[Paul]

Steve, I'll add my "thanks" to the others. Poor scheduling kept me from attending, but it's great to be able to get a perspective other than what BP throws out there. I chatted a little with Marty yesterday and told him that (along with Todd) I wish I could be there just to hang out.

[D.R. Randle]

I think you let us know very well what YLs are up against if they want to help the convention change. But I guess we are going to have to endure until we can get more ears to listen to us. Maybe we need to blow a shofar or two ourselves.

Really hate what happened with the NOBTS thing. As a 2003 grad I was there when the controversy began. I am just glad it's all over. Let's just pray that the worst doesn't happen -- the Executive committee usurps all the trustees and forces them to make all the decisions they want made.

[Rick Marshall]

Steve, I see from the post above that you must have met Darrin Patrick. He is one of my all time favorite people. He has the vision, the personality, and the anointing of God to do some great things here in St Louis. Darrin has done a superb job leading the Acts 29 effort here in St Louis and has really lit a fire in the local community through The Journey. Praise God!

[Steve McCoy]

Darrin seems to be a great guy. He was really helpful with everything from SBC vision to my local church.