I'm sorry, but when only about 1500 people out of our sixteen million members make pronouncements at the annual meeting about issues, it just isn't worth much. The Executive Committee gets to say that the SBC has spoken on this or that but these things are probably more harmful that helpful so far as the publicity they generate.
Intelligent SBCers might note that a resolution is only a statement of opinion by the folks who happen to be present at the time. Unfortunately, the public doesn't grasp that and imputes the resolution to the entire Southern Baptist Convention.
Dave Miller does a good job of analyzing the immigration resolution of last week, “Immigration and the Gospel” – the SBC’s Real Controversy, and I have to be honest. When I read the resolution I thought that it sounded just like what the CBF would do, if they did resolutions.
So, in addition to immigration we affirm hell. I didn't know hell needed any help from Southern Baptists, although one of the upper levels of hell has to be some sessions of the SBC annual meeting that I have endured.
The resolutions process is one of the more tightly controlled aspects of the meeting, although there has been the occasional runaway convention.
The SBC will always have to endure the phrase "former SBC vice president" in front of Wiley Drake's name. One of these days we will embarrass ourselves with a ridiculous resolution and have to deal with being reminded that the SBC "officially" passed such a thing.
Perhaps we could follow the CBF, they may have this thing right if not much of anything else.
11 comments:
William:
You said:"When I read the resolution I thought that it sounded just like what the CBF would do, if they did resolutions."
Why do you use seemingly every opportunity to put down the CBF?
The SBC made these resolutions, not the CBF.
Why not criticize the SBC and leave the CBF alone as it pertains to resolutions?
Just asking.
I get comments every now and then, something akin to: "Didn't the SBC try to boycott Disney? Yeah, how did that turn out?"
I think we already have those resolutions.
Tim Dahl
William:
One last thought.
You said:"Perhaps we could follow the CBF, they may have this thing right if not much of anything else."
Surely, they have done a few things right-right?
How much is a bucket of tepid spit worth?
Dave, I'm just cleaning up that old phrase and adding some Southern Baptist sophistication to it.
Tom, I admit to taking some shots at the CBF but I assure you that I don't take EVERY opportunity to put them down, just an occasional opportunity.
And I do so enjoy it when you do. Please do it more often.
In the CBF's favor, I'd add their support of Associated Baptist Press. All SBCers need to get the news feed from ABP as well as Baptist Press. BP will omit some items of interest that ABP will cover.
William
William:
Thanks for bringing Miller's blog to my attention. I have a response at www.baptistlife.com/forums SBC Trends.
Greenville S.C. is reporting Frank Page's successor at FBC Taylors, Jimenez, who Bryant Wright appointed to chair Resolutions Committee is son of Nicaraguan immigrant born in Greenville.
So I tend to disagree, the Immigration Resolution as unpacked by Miller and others is having medicinal value, maybe salvific for Bama Gov Bentley and state Senator Beason of Steve Gaines FBC Gardendale for two. Beason and the Bama Gov seem to be to the Far Right of even Miller and Russ Moore on this one.
On a related note, had great good fortune to have brief phone convesation with U West Ga's Dan Williams of God's Own Party this afternoon.
Must reading for you and Miller this summer as I make explicit in several posts at bl.com
I have a commendation for Miller at bl.com but also somewhat against him like Paul to church at Laodicea, which I explain there with reference to GOParty.
Hope you all explore it there.
And as for Bryant Wright, turns out I have Furman classmates in influential positions with his JFerry Congregation. So gonna have to do a little rearranging, tacking myself.
That resolution on immigration was probably the worst thing I have ever heard of coming out of a convention. The part about "restitution" made it even more ridiculous. Obviously a lot of Baptists don't live in a border state where illegal aliens are bankrupting our states.
I did like this part of the resolution:
RESOLVED, That we ask our governing authorities to prioritize efforts to secure the borders and to hold businesses accountable for hiring practices as they relate to immigration status;
Thank goodness that resolutions don't really mean a thing.....
I am not so sure the CBF would have used the language regarding securing the border, that Anony mentions above.
I agree that the whole resolution process is silly, and changes little in Baptist life. However, I think the fact that this resolution has caused so much controversy is telling.
I don't like throwing the word "racism" around, but for a convention that makes resolutions regarding everything else (ie boycotting disney), why would affirming the fact that illegals need to have the Gospel presented and demonstrated to them be a problem?
As you said, it's not like this resolution is going to change anything, anyway. What is everyone afraid of???
"I didn't know hell needed any help from Southern Baptists, although one of the upper levels of hell has to be some sessions of the SBC annual meeting that I have endured."
LOL
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