...by a small church pastor with some characteristic oddities, one who has less than a snowball's chance in Gehenna of ever being appointed or elected to anything ...so how does he come to be the source for what is happening behind the scene and for what will happen in Texas?
People know he will speak up and not shut up?
I don't know that David Montoya, who blogs as Spiritual Samurai2 has ever explained exactly how he came to be the source of the most significant news in the BGCT, but it seems that he has.
Today in The Fix is In, Montoya explains who will be the next Baptist General Convention of Texas CEO, who gets to be mentioned as being in the running, though they really aren't, and how it will happen.
If I were in Texas and had not already fled the dysfunctional BGCT for the upstart Southern Baptists of Texas, I'd be watching.
Showing posts with label Montoya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montoya. Show all posts
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Managing rapid decline: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Pity the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Be it a church or a state convention, going through lean times is depressing and no Baptist entity seems to be going through a more demoralizing period than the venerable BGCT.
There are lots of Texas Baptist bloggers but I get heads-up stuff on the BGCT (which state would be right next door to me save for Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) from David Montoya at Spiritual Samurai. Montoya might be the most effective squeaky voice in blogdom. His continual yipping about ValleyGate was eventually heard and consequences continue to be felt.
The BGCT’s downsizing is put in numerical perspective in this Baptist Standard story.
Over one hundred full-time staff positions cut in the last four years. Egad.
The upstart convention in Texas, Southern Baptists of Texas, is due some credit for the BGCT’s woes because the SBT provides an attractive choice for Texas churches. Surely some credit is due the BGCT itself for its propensity for self-inflicted wounds.
In the link above note Samurai’s mention of nepotism at the BGCT. To be fair, Montoya has not always been accurate, but if he is, such would be hard to justify in a time of downsizing.
I see no great revival of enthusiasm for denominational (Cooperative Program) giving and our current SBC president, Bryant Wright, has famously said that state conventions should make drastic, radical cuts in what they keep out of CP gifts. Unless something not anticipated occurrs, other state conventions may be following the BGCT in decline. Call this pessimism if you wish. I rather think it is realism.
If so, the most valuable people in the SBC might be those who have the skills to shepherd our entities in a time of radical reprioritization, er, decline. One cannot say that the BGCT has done this well, but it has done it.
Maybe lessons can be learned from it.
There are lots of Texas Baptist bloggers but I get heads-up stuff on the BGCT (which state would be right next door to me save for Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) from David Montoya at Spiritual Samurai. Montoya might be the most effective squeaky voice in blogdom. His continual yipping about ValleyGate was eventually heard and consequences continue to be felt.
The BGCT’s downsizing is put in numerical perspective in this Baptist Standard story.
In 2006, the BGCT employed 406 staff, with 315 in full-time positions. After the latest cuts take effect, staff will number 268, with 213 full-time positions.
Over one hundred full-time staff positions cut in the last four years. Egad.
The upstart convention in Texas, Southern Baptists of Texas, is due some credit for the BGCT’s woes because the SBT provides an attractive choice for Texas churches. Surely some credit is due the BGCT itself for its propensity for self-inflicted wounds.
In the link above note Samurai’s mention of nepotism at the BGCT. To be fair, Montoya has not always been accurate, but if he is, such would be hard to justify in a time of downsizing.
I see no great revival of enthusiasm for denominational (Cooperative Program) giving and our current SBC president, Bryant Wright, has famously said that state conventions should make drastic, radical cuts in what they keep out of CP gifts. Unless something not anticipated occurrs, other state conventions may be following the BGCT in decline. Call this pessimism if you wish. I rather think it is realism.
If so, the most valuable people in the SBC might be those who have the skills to shepherd our entities in a time of radical reprioritization, er, decline. One cannot say that the BGCT has done this well, but it has done it.
Maybe lessons can be learned from it.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tattoos, BWA, BGCT, BP
Friday random plods:
My hero for the week: Savannah, GA police Chief Willie Lovett who said, “This isn’t an art gallery, it’s a police department,” referring to his tattooed officers. He ordered them to hide their colorful self-mutilations under clothing, bandages or makeup. Hooray for him. What municipality wants its police force to look like the thuggish NBA?
David Montoya continues his lonely populist crusade against bureaucracy in the Baptist General Convention of Texas. His Texas colleague Rick Davis comments that the BGCT keeps 77% of contributions ‘in house.’ Another commenter is finally getting around to asking if his church might make better use of what they are now sending to the BGCT. I’m guessing that all the state conventions are dealing with churches being more attentive to what happens when they mail the checks.
Relative irrelevancy of the year (so far): Baptist Press’ stream of stories from the World Cup in South Africa. Why?
At the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Amsterdam one speaker said, "I would go so far to say that they [the SBC] probably need us even more than we need them…" I don’t know about that, although it seems as if the SBC is going to jettison Bobby Welch’s Global whatever.
Christa Brown of Stop Baptist Predators speculates that the research that shows that clergy sexual misconduct three times as frequent in black churches as in white is due to Baptist autonomy. I speculate "not so." Perhaps the researchers will offer a breakdown of their stuff. It should be a simple matter to compare black and white Baptist churches.
I never thought I would preside over the funerals of both of my parents but have now done so. It was an honor and a privilege. After attending a funeral of a relative, my mother would usually comment, “That was too long” and “I’m not sure I recognize the person the preacher was talking about.” I think she would have been pleased with hers on both counts
My hero for the week: Savannah, GA police Chief Willie Lovett who said, “This isn’t an art gallery, it’s a police department,” referring to his tattooed officers. He ordered them to hide their colorful self-mutilations under clothing, bandages or makeup. Hooray for him. What municipality wants its police force to look like the thuggish NBA?
David Montoya continues his lonely populist crusade against bureaucracy in the Baptist General Convention of Texas. His Texas colleague Rick Davis comments that the BGCT keeps 77% of contributions ‘in house.’ Another commenter is finally getting around to asking if his church might make better use of what they are now sending to the BGCT. I’m guessing that all the state conventions are dealing with churches being more attentive to what happens when they mail the checks.
Relative irrelevancy of the year (so far): Baptist Press’ stream of stories from the World Cup in South Africa. Why?
At the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Amsterdam one speaker said, "I would go so far to say that they [the SBC] probably need us even more than we need them…" I don’t know about that, although it seems as if the SBC is going to jettison Bobby Welch’s Global whatever.
Christa Brown of Stop Baptist Predators speculates that the research that shows that clergy sexual misconduct three times as frequent in black churches as in white is due to Baptist autonomy. I speculate "not so." Perhaps the researchers will offer a breakdown of their stuff. It should be a simple matter to compare black and white Baptist churches.
I never thought I would preside over the funerals of both of my parents but have now done so. It was an honor and a privilege. After attending a funeral of a relative, my mother would usually comment, “That was too long” and “I’m not sure I recognize the person the preacher was talking about.” I think she would have been pleased with hers on both counts
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
So where are state conventions headed?
Are state conventions headed in the direction Bryant Wright, our new SBC president, said they should be headed – towards being cut in half?
Perhaps people in North Carolina have something to think about. Check this story concerning a motion made by a bald, goateed NC Baptist. Perhaps a NClinian would tell me where they think this is going.
The BGCT budget has been plummeting for some time. David Montoya, the Texas small voice who seems to have a large megaphone thinks it is partly because of lack of transparency, cronyism, and mismanagement. Maybe he has a point.
Radical. But it’s a good time for some radicalism in the SBC. If the Cooperative Program is to contribute more to North American and international missions not a few think that the states should keep less and send more.
I'm not terribly optimistic that this is what will happen. Organizations, even Baptist(perhaps especially Baptist) ones seems to have a modicum of institutional inertia and resistance to change.
We will see.
Perhaps people in North Carolina have something to think about. Check this story concerning a motion made by a bald, goateed NC Baptist. Perhaps a NClinian would tell me where they think this is going.
The BGCT budget has been plummeting for some time. David Montoya, the Texas small voice who seems to have a large megaphone thinks it is partly because of lack of transparency, cronyism, and mismanagement. Maybe he has a point.
Radical. But it’s a good time for some radicalism in the SBC. If the Cooperative Program is to contribute more to North American and international missions not a few think that the states should keep less and send more.
I'm not terribly optimistic that this is what will happen. Organizations, even Baptist(perhaps especially Baptist) ones seems to have a modicum of institutional inertia and resistance to change.
We will see.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Wright, salaries, lottery and odd thoughts
Baptist Press reports that clergy salaries are outpacing inflation. Really?
Bryant Wright iscalling for Southern Baptists to get busy with the Gospel and missions. The guy is a workhorse, not a showhorse. He calls for every SBC church to send their pastor on a mission trip "annually." I'm for that.
Here in Georgia, one of the worst states for foreclosures and bank failures, the economy is quite bad...but our state sponsored lottery is doing just great, thank you. The lottery, our tax on poor and stupid people, is effectively transferring money from po' folks to educated middle class folks by paying for their kids' college education.
Back in the mid-1990s long before I could afford a cell phone, people were coming by the church asking for assistance, uh, money to pay their bills. How long before someone shows up at my church with an Iphone needing help to keep their water turned on?
We're deep into indirect losses from the BP oil disaster. Maybe the BGCT, whose revenues are way, way down, can put in a claim. I think Texas has a good bit of land that borders the gulf.
The little Texas Japanese bulldog, David Montoya, can't seem to get answers about just how much BGCT employees are paid. Good luck, David. Don't give in or give up. It's your money. You deserve to have your questions answered.
An observation: Church conflict blogs that are successful, as in seeing the pastor resign (Two Rivers BC, Nashville) disappear. Those that don't achieve that success (FBC Jax, Bellevue) stick around and morp into sort of a watchdog and commentary function.
I'm still waiting for Frank Page to tell me what I need to do Sunday...
Bryant Wright iscalling for Southern Baptists to get busy with the Gospel and missions. The guy is a workhorse, not a showhorse. He calls for every SBC church to send their pastor on a mission trip "annually." I'm for that.
Here in Georgia, one of the worst states for foreclosures and bank failures, the economy is quite bad...but our state sponsored lottery is doing just great, thank you. The lottery, our tax on poor and stupid people, is effectively transferring money from po' folks to educated middle class folks by paying for their kids' college education.
Back in the mid-1990s long before I could afford a cell phone, people were coming by the church asking for assistance, uh, money to pay their bills. How long before someone shows up at my church with an Iphone needing help to keep their water turned on?
We're deep into indirect losses from the BP oil disaster. Maybe the BGCT, whose revenues are way, way down, can put in a claim. I think Texas has a good bit of land that borders the gulf.
The little Texas Japanese bulldog, David Montoya, can't seem to get answers about just how much BGCT employees are paid. Good luck, David. Don't give in or give up. It's your money. You deserve to have your questions answered.
An observation: Church conflict blogs that are successful, as in seeing the pastor resign (Two Rivers BC, Nashville) disappear. Those that don't achieve that success (FBC Jax, Bellevue) stick around and morp into sort of a watchdog and commentary function.
I'm still waiting for Frank Page to tell me what I need to do Sunday...
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