On Feb. 20, Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) Chairman Marshall Blalock presented an update to the SBC Executive Committee on the development of the “Ministry Check” website in accordance with Recommendation Two, which was adopted by the messengers to the 2022 SBC annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif. Recommendation Two instructed the SBC Credentials Committee […]
Vice Chair Blalock Comments on Report of SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force
At the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, a motion passed overwhelmingly to have the president of the convention name a task force to employ a professional firm to investigate claims of sexual abuse, mistreatment of sexual abuse survivors, and mishandling of abuse allegations by members or staff of the SBC Executive Committee. The task […]
Update from the SBC Task Force on Sexual Abuse
In response to a motion passed at the 2021 SBC meeting in Nashville, a nine-member task force was appointed to engage a qualified firm to conduct an independent investigation of claims of sexual abuse, mishandling of abuse, or mistreatment of victims as related to the Executive Committee of the SBC from Jan. 1, 2000, to […]
Counterpoint: Should Accept Emergency Payroll Assistance
The question of the day is whether or not churches and Christian non-profits should accept the emergency payroll assistance from the Federal Government as a result of the challenges faced by the coronavirus. Many organizations have seen significant reductions in giving and income, and are contemplating reducing the payroll and/or laying off employees. The CARES […]
President’s Perspective: More Than a Business Meeting
Editor’s note: On Nov. 13 and 14, watch the proceedings of the South Carolina Baptist Convention annual meeting live at http://www.scbaptist.org/annualmeeting. Anyone who says he loves Baptist convention business meetings is either being paid to be there or is being disingenuous (or else he also enjoys root canals). I have been serving as a pastor in […]
President’s Perspective: Race, the Gospel, and Politics
As South Carolina Baptists, we have a unique opportunity before us on Tuesday evening, Nov. 13. We have been invited to hold our annual worship service during our state convention at Mother Emanuel Church in downtown Charleston where nine black Christians were murdered in June of 2015. Pastor Eric Manning has graciously offered us this […]
President’s Perspective: Essentials of Disciple-Making
The Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) created a stir in 1990 when the Church Training department became “Discipleship Training.” Discipleship was a popular word then, and our leadership rightly emphasized disciple-making as an essential function of the Christian life and every church. I remember much was said and done regarding discipleship, but […]
President’s Perspective: The Great Promise in the Great Commission
Over 2,100 Baptist churches make up the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and every single church has a place in God’s kingdom. The vast majority of our churches average around a hundred people on Sundays, although the large churches get an outsized portion of the attention. Sadly, however, churches of all sizes tend to settle for […]
President’s Perspective: Persevering over Sexual Sin
My heart has broken over and over recently as Christian leaders from around the country have acknowledged sexual sin (see the related news articles in this edition and in the May edition). These sins have profoundly devastating consequences for marriages, for all involved in the relationships, and for the witness of the church. No Christian […]
President’s Perspective: How to Prevent an Ugly Breakup
The pastor wanted to make some changes. There were some who were not happy. Frustration set in on both sides, then the pastor left for greener pastures elsewhere. Some form of this scenario happens frequently in our churches. Sometimes it is more acrimonious. Sometimes it is more the pastor’s fault, other times more the church’s […]