Quotable - Frank Page
May 18th, 2008 by quotablePosted in Quotable |
Half of SBC Churches May Be Dead by 2030…
“The Southern Baptist Convention is rapidly dying and resistance to change could kill more than half of the denomination’s churches by 2030.
“Many Southern Baptist churches are small groups of white people who are holding on until the end. Not only have we not reached out to younger generations, but we have failed to reach out to ethnic minorities who are all around us. Rather than embracing a ‘whatever it takes’ mentality to change and restore a local church to health, many pastors and churches have chosen to die rather than change, and they are doing it.”
Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page, commenting during a recent conference call with pastors, hosted by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Quoted in the newspaper of Kentucky Baptists, the Western Recorder.
4 Responses to “Quotable - Frank Page”
By Bernard Shuford on May 18, 2008 at 1:54 pm
So, let’s get down to it.
What makes a “healthy” church in this quote?
Is a healthy church… a church where correct doctrine in preached? Where Godly living is pre-eminent? Or where the church is full?
I think what Dr. Page is trying to say is that a church that is declining in membership and attendance is not healthy.
Numbers decreasing = bad health?
Doesn’t quite seem fair, since we say that numbers increasing DOES NOT mean a church is truly healthy.
Maybe the numbers decreasing is really a sign of improving health, in some cases.
I personally think that’s rare, since a healthy church - just like a healthy child - will GROW. It’s just natural. It’s how the body works.
I think he’s totally right, by the way.
So what am I saying? I’m not sure. Just sharing my responsive thoughts.
By baptistidentity on May 18, 2008 at 4:01 pm
We are warned about what will happen if we do not REPENT of all Our Ills in the SBC Churches.
Rev 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Rev 2:2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
Rev 2:3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
Rev 2:4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Rev 2:6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Wayne Smith
By Mark on May 18, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I think Dr. Page is making an observation about the demographics of our congregations. If you fast forward our churches 22 years, over half of the people currently in our congregations will have died. The math doesn’t look good for our churches that will not change.
By Lew A on May 18, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I didn’t know Rev 2:1-7 was talking to the SBC :)…
Seriously though, it is an interesting conundrum. We hold to a worldview that is constant and unchanging, yet many of us believe it is change that will save the SBC.
I’m not saying that Frank is wrong, or right. Just seems a little difficult - difficult like a Rubiks cube; once you know the secret you can solve it in under 5 minutes. Until then, you’ll spend your life trying to get it right.
What if the SBC dieing is God’s will for the times?
God’s Glory,
Lew
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