Editor’s note: We received several responses to Gene Jennings’ letter, published Nov. 12, calling for “young pastors with fresh voices” to be invited to preach at the South Carolina Baptist Pastor’s Conference. The responses follow.
I am writing in response to the letter concerning “the old guys” who preached at the pastor’s conference. It is not my purpose to offer rebuke, rebuttal or to retaliate in a spirit that is anything less than edifying. However, it is under the compulsion of God’s Spirit that I have decided to respond – not only to an individual, but to an idea that is becoming prevalent throughout Baptist ranks.
There is nothing more arrogant, ignorant and obstinate that we could do as a convention than to set our veteran soldiers of the cross out to pasture or put them on the shelf. They have blazed the trail, proclaimed the truth and faithfully stood up for the fundamentals of the faith. I am thankful for a heritage that includes such a great cloud of witnesses. America was at its strongest spiritually when our pulpits were mounted by such men as Criswell, Havner, Hobbs and Olford.
“Out with the old and in with the cold” seems to be what we’re pushing for today. We gain nothing when we replace the prophetic with the pathetic. The Bible says nothing about a person’s “felt need.” To the contrary, it is all about God’s redemptive plan for fallen man.
Regardless of a man’s age, if he is preaching the doctrine of Christ, his voice is as fresh as the morning dew. There were many of us who attended the pastor’s conference this year because there were men in the lineup who have not sold out to “easy-believism,” political correctness and casual Christianity.
Thank you, Dr. Lynch, and this year’s officers for having put together such a respectable roster of biblical proclaimers. May the return of true biblical preaching continue next year at the SCBC Pastor’s Conference!
– Keith D. Kelly, Greer
Speaking as a young pastor, I was grieved to read Gene Jennings’ belligerent remarks directed at older pastors in the Nov. 12 issue of The Baptist Courier. I wish this caveat had been attached to his comments: The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily reflect the views of all of our state’s young pastors.
In a time in which pastors are burning out in record numbers, I am thankful for those who persevere and have long and fruitful ministries. If it weren’t for the “old guys” that he mentioned, I would not be in the ministry today.
– Schuyler Peterson, Charleston
This letter is in response to Mr. Gene Jennings letter, “Thanks for the memories.” I believe Mr. Jennings’ letter was in very poor taste. I attended this year’s pastor’s conference, and it was one of the best I’ve ever attended. Dr. Ron Lynch did a fantastic job, and every message was a great challenge to every pastor.
We owe a great deal of gratitude to men like Dr. Bailey Smith, Dr. Fred Wolfe, Bill Stafford and many others who have set the course for Southern Baptist pastors for the last several years.And these men still have much to say, especially in a day where so many SBC pastors have fallen prey to a generation who wants their ears tickled and do not want to hear the pure gospel.What a sad day it will be when these who have led the way to a return to biblical expository preaching are gone from the scene.
I am 51 years old and I’ve been attending these pastor’s conferences for the last 16 years – and even as a 35-year-old minister enjoyed them. So I do not believe it has anything to do with the age of a pastor.
– Kyle Turner, Greenville
In response to the letter talking about the old preachers, there is one thing we need to remember: The vessel might be old, but the contents are the same whether you are young or old.
I wonder if the young preachers ever use any of the commentaries available. If they do, they are using the wisdom of the old preachers. There will come a day when the young preachers will become old, and – you know what – they will be preaching the same gospel that old preachers preach today: Christ, and Christ crucified.
I love old preachers. I am one, praise God. Amen.
– Rick McFarlin, Westminster
I am disappointed in Pastor Jennings’ response about the pastor’s conference. While I understand and share his view that young pastors need to be a part of the convention, there is no need to disrespect godly men who have paved the way for our South Carolina churches. I am confident people would be willing to hear his voice if he shared his concerns in a constructive way.
– Jeff Haley, West Columbia
As a young Southern Baptist seminarian, I can find much to agree with in a recent letter addressing the need for fresh faces at positions of influence within South Carolina Baptist life and the SBC in general.
However, I cannot agree with the seemingly dismissive way in which the letter regarded pastors who have given their lives serving for the sake of the gospel.
Just as it is shameful for older leaders to ignore the potential contributions younger leaders can make, so it is with those of us who are younger deciding when the usefulness of an older pastor has come to an end.
Southern Baptists need to do a better job in attracting and keeping younger leaders. That has been an obvious failure. The remedy for this, however, is not the young disrespecting those who have served before us.
Each generation makes its own mistakes, but the next generation can only learn from them if we take the time to listen. If we are dismissive to those who are older now, we will continue to be dismissive when we have become the older leaders and the next generation will have the same complaints about us.
– Aaron Earls, Wake Forest, N.C.
What do you think? Click here to send a letter to the editor addressing this or another subject.