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There has been a lot happening in the various SBC conversations lately. Trying to keep up with all the various conversations, as well as with sermon preparation and other pastoral duties, has left me feeling a bit like the man in this picture. I decided that the best solution was to let them all drop, hence the crash. No, not the pastoral duties, just the attempt to participate in so many and varied discussions. This is why there hasn't been anything new in this space lately.
I'd like to offer some passing thoughts on some of the more noteworthy discussions currently ongoing.
First, on the issue that has taken up so much of this blog's attention lately, the baptism issue at Henderson Hills. The vote did not take place as scheduled on the last weekend in July. Obviously, I view that as a good thing, opposed as I was to their proposed action. It isn't clear whether the vote was postponed or canceled altogether. Pastor Newkirk, in describing it on his blog, uses the word "stopped." Good enough. Dr. Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (I've been criticized for not capitalizing "The"), weighed in after the fact on his Conventional Thinking blog. Dr. Mohler dismisses the church's concern that their autonomy was somehow violated in this process, and rightly so. There is simply no mechanism for this to occur, and Pastor Newkirk and others have confused expressions of concern and discussion of possible consequences by autonomous bodies with which HHBC is voluntarily associated with a violation of autonomy. Dr. Mohler's excellent article urges watchfulness of the situation and prayer for the church as it seeks to follow God's leading. Excellent advice.
Another interesting bit of news from Henderson Hills is that Paul Burleson, Wade's father, who has commented on his own blog on the situation there, has joined the church, and preached there last Sunday. I know many of my fellow bloggers share my experience of having met Paul in Greensboro, and of being better for it. He is a good man.
In other news, Pastor Ben Cole of Parkview Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas is publishing in installments a paper titled "Church Planting Movements and the Crisis of Power in the Southern Baptist Convention." In this, he gives his views on some of the background events that have lead to current controversies within the International Mission Board. One item in particular has intrigued me. In part three of this series, he makes oblique reference in the body, and more specifically in footnote 11, to an accusation he claims is being made that Dr. Jerry Rankin, IMB president, "buried" money during a multi-million dollar renovation project at IMB's Richmond headquarters in 2000. While Cole contends that this accusation is still being "whispered" by those who wish to discredit Dr. Rankin and force him into retirement, my conversations with several current and former trustees have turned up no one who has heard this whispering continue. A majority of the trustees who investigated the incident obviously believed that Dr. Rankin had done nothing wrong, and while there were trustees who believed Dr. Rankin should resign for what they perceived as lax oversight on his part, I have found no one, nor have I heard of anyone, who believes anything approaching criminal took place. The only sources from which I have heard of this allegation are Wade Burleson and Ben Cole.
Then, there's the continuing alcohol conversations. Dr. Bobby Welch, beloved former president of the SBC, spoke rather pointedly in an SBC Life article of his perceptions of the debate over resolution 5 in Greensboro.
I met yesterday with my good friend and fellow pastor Jeff Richard Young. Bro. Jeff was one of those who spoke against the resolution, and he was very clear that his objection was not based on a desire to advocate drinking, but on a desire to avoid prohibiting what scripture does not expressly prohibit. I supported the resolution, though I do wish that it had spoken of abuse rather than use. But Bro. Jeff believes that Dr. Welch lied about him, and I expressed to Bro. Jeff my disagreement with that accusation.
I would suggest that in order to lie, one must intend to deceive, and I don't think that motive can be assigned to Dr. Welch. I am convinced that, from Dr. Welch's perspective, this was a solid resolution that accurately reflected the mind of the great majority of Southern Baptists on this issue. I am further convinced that Dr. Welch believes that any who would publicly oppose such a resolution have by that action advocated its opposite. I concede that Dr. Welch's characterization of the participation of Ben Cole, Tom Ascol, and my friend Jeff Young in the floor debate was inaccurate, but I don't believe he lied. Jeff, as you might imagine, does not entirely agree with me on this point. What's wrong with him, anyway?
Well, that's enough for now. I will put myself to the task of picking up the pieces of all the broken plates on the floor. I think I'll take up juggling; it must be easier.
The trustees of the International Mission Board are meeting this week in Richmond, Virginia. The public plenary sessions of these meetings customarily conclude with a report by the chairman. Dr. John Floyd is presiding over his first meeting as chairman, and Marty Duren has reported on his blog that “The chairman’s report included a strange statement that blogs are lowering the morale of missionaries around the world.†A similar account can be found on trustee Wade Burleson’s blog. I have received a report from another trustee, and here is that trustee’s recollection:
“As I remember the Chairman’s words, he was asserting that inaccurate accusations distributed by rumor and media were adversely affecting missionary morale. The word ‘blog’ was mentioned in the general context. The reference to missionary morale was a tiny percentage of the whole report, which was encouraging, cooperative and built trust and understanding among those who were there.â€
The five men pictured above all have some things in common. They are all Americans. They are all patriotic, educated, serious men. They have all been candidates for President of the United States. They were all defeated, some narrowly and some quite soundly. They were (or are) all United States Senators.
I remember political commentator George Will, predicting a victory by George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election, saying that the American electorate, in its wisdom, has a strong tendency not to elect legislators as president. John F. Kennedy was the last one, in 1960, and his eye was always on the presidency.
The reason for this reluctance, in Will's estimation, is that the personality and temperament required in a successful legislator make one ill-suited to the exercise of executive power. The interpersonal skills required to stand out in a deliberative body make one have a tendency to waver when the weight of a decision falls squarely and exclusively upon them.
Having spent time with those on both sides of the recent conflict within the International Mission Board, I see something of the opposite of this dynamic at work. I have been impressed with Wade Burleson's confidence, charisma, and assertiveness in the brief time I have shared his company. And I have talked with many who have worked closely with him who testify to these and similar characteristics. These are the characteristics of an effective executive.
I am not yet ready to say that there are not individuals within the IMB board of trustees who are involved in some of the underhandedness to which Burleson has alluded. But there are clearly others who are not convinced of the seriousness of that situation, and some of those are trustees.
When Burleson was elected as a trustee last year, he was immediately confronted with a developing situation in which a process was underway to adopt policies he viewed as being overly restrictive at best, and unbiblical at worst. He also saw things that convinced him that some of those involved in this process had ulterior motives. While a part of the current conflict may be attributable to those who did, in fact, have questionable motives, I believe there is more involved.
The characteristics of an effective executive, which Burleson certainly has, are not characteristics that serve one well as a member of a deliberative body such as the IMB board of trustees. To those not aware or not convinced of underhanded tactics at work, Burleson's actions in speaking out against these policies, which he viewed as a principled stand, were simply offensive. What he called unbiblical, some trustees had been at work on for two years. They believed them to be perfectly biblical, and they viewed Burleson's repeated objections and suggestions of attempts to embarrass others as 'gossip and slander.' They saw what they viewed as someone insisting on a right to be heard, a right that they perceived as being something that must be earned in a deliberative body.
My purpose here is not to say that one side or the other is more correct or more innocent, but to simply to offer my analysis, as one who has spent time with those on both sides, of a possible source of some of this current conflict. I see correctness and innocence on both sides, and I am certainly convinced that this is far from being a simple situation. I continue to pray that God will work in the hearts of all involved to bring the current conflict to a resolution that brings glory to Him and furthers the spread of the Gospel around the world.
Technorati: Wade Burleson, IMB, trustee, conflict
It has been discussed on several blogs, notably SBC Outpost, that there is a potential conflict of interest regarding Dr. John Floyd's election as chairman of the trustees of the International Mission Board. I emailed Dr. Floyd regarding this, and here is his response:
I am not sure what is meant by conflict of interest that some are discussing. It has been supposed that we receive a pension from the IMB. Any retirement funds for missionaries come from Guidestone, the same as any pastor or other agency employee. That is from funds already contributed for that purpose, not funds that are currently being provided. I have never served on a committee that has anything to do with benefits for emeritus missionaries.
In other news, Baptist Press is reporting today that the recommendation that the SBC elect leaders from churches who give 10% of their undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program is
being changed to delete the reference to 10%. The official statement of the officers of the Executive Committee said, "These recommendations never were intended to create controversy." Morris Chapman, President of the SBC Executive Committee, states in the article that "The mention of a specific percentage in the recommendations has generated so much discussion from a variety of perspectives that we felt a revision would allow all Southern Baptists, from churches large and small, to enthusiastically approve the report, including the nine recommendations."
Dr. Anthony Jordan, Executive Director/Treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, chaired the ad-hoc committee responsible for the report. He expressed disappointment with the revision, but affirmed the leadership of Chapman and the officers of the Executive Committee.
Well, I've made it to the middle of the Texas panhandle, and I'm not yet halfway home. I may not make it tonight.
So I'm in Amarillo, contemplating the Big Texan's offer of the free 72 ounce steak dinner, if you eat it within one hour. According to their website, if you can't eat it in one hour, you won't eat it in two, either. I think I can handle it...
I wanted to share my reflection of the back-and-forth between Tom Hatley, outgoing chairman of the IMB board of trustees, and Wade Burleson. Wade describes the incident on his blog, and my recollection differs slightly from the way it was described there. It is, in my mind, a minor point, but Rob Ayers asked a question about it in a comment on SBC Outpost, so I will share my recollection.
Hatley read what he described as a "special report" of the executive committee, composed of elected officers and standing committee chairpersons. He cited some of the language in Wade's Crusading Conservatives Vs. Cooperating Conservatives(following that link, it's about 2/3 of the way down the page) post from last December, as well as comments Wade allowed to be published on his blog, as examples of how Wade had, in their estimation, broken trust with some trustees. He stated that these and other unspecified actions on Wade's part had hurt personally some trustees who believed their motives were being attacked. He concluded the prepared report by stating his recommendation that Wade not be allowed to serve on any committees of the board in the coming year.
He then said that while that was to have been the extent of the recommendations, he had been very recently informed by IMB counsel* that Wade had broken the confidentiality of the trustee forum held on Monday by publishing details discussed there on his blog. Based on this breech of confidentiality, he was further recommending that Wade be barred from all closed sessions of the board (forums, executive sessions) for the following year.
Hatley was then planning to recognize Clyde Meador, who was bringing the annual personnel review, when Wade stepped to a microphone. Hatley recognized Wade, who stated that he was unsure how specifically he had broken confidentiality, but that if it were pointed out to him, he would repent "on the spot."
Hatley responded that while repentance would be appreciated, it would not change his recommendation concerning the ban from closed sessions, as Wade had demonstrated a pattern of breaking confidences (lack of accountability?). He stated that Wade would need to establish a contrary pattern of repentance in order for the recommendation to change. At this point, Wade again asked for specifics on the accusation, at which point, Hatley said, and this is a loose quote, "You'll need to close that mic, I need to recognize staff for their reports." Wade returned to his seat, and Clyde Meador stepped to the platform and gave his report.
This is, in my memory, how Hatley addressed Wade's offer of repentance. He did not say that it would not be accepted, only that it would not change his recommendation. I don't intend by this post to say that Wade's or anyone else's account of this event is wrong and mine is right. As any trial lawyer will tell you, eyewitness accounts are notoriously unreliable, and this is simply my eyewitness account to the best of my recollection.
Perhaps when I have driven a few more hours, I'll post some more. Or maybe I'll just sleep...
*In a comment on this post, Wade Burleson said based on a conversation after these events with IMB counsel Matt Bristol that this recollection is faulty on my part. Hatley did mention "IMB counsel" but did not indicate that Mr. Bristol instigated the event as I described. I'm leaving the original wording above so the comments make sense, but I agree with Wade's characterization of Mr. Bristol's involvement.
I can tell by the traffic I have received today that there are great expectations within Blogtown related to what I have to report. As my wife would tell you, get used to disappointment...
I am left speechless by the appointment service I attended this evening at Hoffmantown Church. The testimony of those who are eager and willing to leave all the comfort and safety we enjoy in order to see the gospel spread through their obedience is humbling and overwhelming. I have said that I would follow God's call wherever He leads, but to be in the presence of those of whom God has required great sacrifice to fulfill those words humbles me.
I am also left quite literally speechless by the conversations in which I have engaged this day. The issues that began the current conflict within the board seem to me to be as intractable as ever. I don't know that they will ever be fully and finally dealt with; tomorrow's plenary session will tell. As the board proceeds with a change in leadership, it is conceivable that the entire issue will be glossed over and there will be an attempt to return to business as usual. As for Wade Burleson's status on the board with relation to committee service and such, tomorrow will likely tell the future of that. As to Wade's attitude concerning those issues, he indicated tonight at dinner that he is happy to lounge by the pool while the committees do the hard work, showing up only for the plenary sessions. I suspect that observation was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, however... ;-)
I will share observations about tomorrow's plenary session, probably after my long drive home, and certainly not before Marty Duren has broken anything of note that happens. He's in Georgia, and I'm actually in Albuquerque. How does he do that?
Continue in prayer for the trustees as they meet tomorrow, and I would appreciate your prayers for me as I travel home. I will post an update as soon as possible.
Tell me if I've had an interesting day:
1200 - 1300: Lunch with Jerry Corbaley
1400 - 1630: Mostly uneventful plenary session. New officers elected, including chairman John Floyd of Tennessee
1700 - 1800: Dinner with Wade & Rachelle Burleson, Clif Cummings, and Alan McWhite
1800 - present: Scramble to put something up here, find something for my headache, and hustle to the Appointment Service.
I'll try to get more information and reflections up later tonight...
For some very good personal reasons, Jeff Richard Young is unable to make the trip with me to Albuquerque. I will miss the fellowship and perspective he would certainly have provided, but I am pressing on. I'm especially going to miss the fourteen hours each way that I could have spent trying to talk my Calvinist friend back from the dark side...JUST KIDDING! No need to flame me! Though I'm not a Calvinist myself, I find them generally to be more thoughtful and serious than those of us who disagree. Appeased?
I'm planning to hit the road by about 4:00 AM tomorrow and arrive in time for dinner in Albuquerque. Ironically, a couple from my church is on vacation and they plan to be in Albuquerque to take me to dinner Monday night.
I know Jeff will be praying, and I humbly request all of your prayers as well, for my travels, but mainly for the trustees of the IMB meeting this week. Pray that God grants them wisdom as they seek to glorify Him by spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.
I'll be updating as time and internet access permit. Thanks for your prayers.
Art Rogers posted today a reminder of what initially energized the participation of so many in what Dorcas Hawker (the attorney, not the band) affectionately calls Blog Town. The root, Art reminds us, is the controversy involving the trustees of the International Mission Board. It is this controversy that motivated my taking up residence in Blog Town. In recent weeks, it has faded as a topic, due to the bright glare of presidential nominations. But it will be back front-and-center next week as the trustees meet in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jeff Richard Young, I, and I know many others have been praying for this upcoming meeting, and continue to do so. There are many issues that must be resolved, and I am told that this meeting will see them dealt with. As most readers know, the motion to ask the convention to remove one of their fellow trustees, which was passed in executive session in the board's January meeting, was unanimously rescinded in March. This vote followed passage, with three dissenting votes, of comprehensive new policies on trustee responsibilities. I have been told that the vote to rescind the request for removal would not have passed unless these new policies had been adopted, because the attitude of the board toward the trustee in question had not changed. The newly adopted policies provide new ways of dealing with the issues, and they will be used for that purpose in Albuquerque.
I will be traveling to Albuquerque on Monday. God's provision, accomplished through a wonderful, loving couple in my church, has allowed me to make this trip. I will be present for the plenary sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I am especially looking forward to attending the Appointment Service for new missionaries to be held at Hoffmantown Church. I also look forward to meeting many with whom I have had only telephone or email conversations.
I don't know what to expect from this meeting, but I do plan to keep you informed. When making hotel reservations, my only requirement was internet access. Come to think of it, I could have just slept in the lobby.
Please continue in prayer for this meeting. Pray that the Kingdom will be expanded as a result of what happens there.
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