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The Great Commission Resurgence
Posted by Bowden McElroy in Baptist Life
This is my obligatory post on the GCR, the GCRTF, and all things SBC.
It will be concise for three reasons: first, I’m late to the game and simply cannot think of anything new to add to the conversation. I do not believe long-lasting and meaningful change will be accomplished. (Please choose one of the following nautical metaphors: The GCRTF is merely rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship or, the SBC juggernaut is too big to turn in anything resembling a timely manner.) Finally, I’m much more interested in putting my time and energy into my local church and her ministries.
(A fourth reason: all I really want from the SBC is quality and affordable seminaries and an effective IMB. All else can go by the wayside and I won’t miss it.)
Since I don’t really have anything new to add to the conversation, I offer some links to posts and articles that have caused me to think, elevated my blood pressure, or captured my attention in some other way.
For starters: all that our loose confederation of bloggers have written at sbcIMPACT!
The next progress report from the Task Force is due out on May 3, 2010.
GCRTF podcast with David S. Dockery
The Transcript from Dockery’s podcast with the Baptist Messenger; part 1 and part 2.
Nathan Finn’s take on the GCR.
GCRTF VIEWPOINT: Denominational employees should stop defending … a paycheck
One Pastor’s Analysis of the GCRTF Report
Bart Barber’s take: part 1 and part 2.
Search results for “GCR” from the Baptist Press
Ken Hemphill on Great Commission Giving.
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Bob Terry of the Bama Baptist and Morris Chapman.
Bob Terry has an interview of Chapman in the April 22 Alabama Baptist.
Terry is making a strong case, as is the Bama SBC against the GCR.
The sinking ship and rearranging the deck chairs is an apt metaphor; one shared by an articulate and active SBC participant, Sandy at bl.com
I may share his thoughts here later; and a Jonathan; both conservative Southern Baptists.
Some of you may want to take a look at their thoughts at the SBC forum of http://www.baptistlife.com
And while there take a look at how Dave Miller is faring outside his safety zone here at the Impact.
He’s not doing very well.
Bowden, this is a really helpful synopsis. Thanks.
I think you analysis is sad, but true!
I have been Baptist to the bone since I was born in 1946. As a Preacher’s Kid of a father who was deeply committed to being Southern Baptist, I knew all the leadership of the HMB and Georgia Baptist Convention as well as Atlanta Baptist Association.
I reveled in our growth in the 50-1979. I was appalled at the change from Bold Mission Thrust to Conservative Resurgence. Bold Mission Thrust had, at its heart, the possibility that every person on this planet with a satellite receiver could tune into Baptist TelNet and hear the gospel.
In June 1979 this instantly stopped. We battled over Inerrency. We grew to hate and politicize everything traditionally Baptist–especially Autonomy. We were embarassed by some of the ribald statement of the new leadership such as Baily Smith’s declaration that “God doesn’t hear the prayers of Jews.” This was just the tip of the iceburg along with “If the SBC declares pickels have souls, then that is the way it is.”
Our naive and trusting constituents continued to give assuming nothing had changed. After some 30 year of naivete, no one can deny the lack of giving by mega churches whose pastors have been elected SBC President with no regard to their lack of giving.
Now, with 600 missionaries unable to be sent / 3 major Institutions and Agencies having a resigned Head, we are at a crossroads:
Do we continue with our failed approach / Do we see the error of our ways and change back to what worked?
I hear no really repentant voices. There are rumors of who will replace the 3 former heads of the Executive Committee / IMB / NAMB.
What I am looking for as a solution is a true Servant Minister whose whole mission in his local church has been to humbly grow and minister without dictating as if God were riding on his shoulder and he was the only one capable of expressing “God’s Will for this church.”
Does anyone out there still honor Autonomy???
Is there a Pastor whose church gives 50% to the CP with no strings attached???
Does anyone in leadership land consider staying in the Holiday Inn so more can be sent to missionaries to share the Gospel???