The GBC presidency - Will it make any difference?

I've been a pastor in Georgia for almost 15 years. It's home. I like the Georgia Baptist Convention. I like my fellow pastors. I like the GBC staff that I know and have worked with. The ones I don't know are probably great folks. I have no big complaint about things here.

We have two outstanding GBC pastors, Fred Evers and John Waters, campaigning furiously for the presidency this year, and that even though the moderates and liberals in this state have long since departed GBC life. So far as folks like me in the GBC hinterlands know, there isn't any scandal afoot nor any unsavory characters lurking around.

No Visigoths are at the gate in this state convention.

For reasons previously offered I plan to vote for John Waters for GBC president, not that my vote is anything other than one hacker and plodder's vote. But bloggers like to do stuff like this, just in case someone else might be paying attention. Happy to do my part. If John Waters loses and Fred Evers wins, I will still be a happy GBC guy.

But what I'm ruminating on about the whole business of GBC politics is this: Does it really matter? The answer that I hate to give is - probably not.

There are matters of concern. The GBC is at the budget level we were at a decade ago and employs scores fewer employees that we did a decade ago. The state convention as a moral influence and a significant force in the state is likely lower than it has been in generations (the latest example may be found here).

So, does it matter which successful pastor is our president? In a way, no.

The GBC does yet have a good pile of Cooperative Program money to spend. It's a falling sum but still quite significant. Replacing one group of decisionmakers with another will likely not change much. We may tweak a bit here, shift a little there, and replace this program with that one. Some employees may be ushered out and new ones hired. A new regime would probably only nip at the margins, since we have heavy fixed investments in buildings, programs, schools, and ministries. No one will change much.

We can rearrange the deck chairs on this ship but not do much else? Perhaps. The ship isn't sinking, of course, just shrinking.

God can certainly move things much faster, more dramatically, and permanently. I don't see that He is tied to any state convention election, budget, or personnel issue.

On the other hand, the GBC president is a person in a good position to take steps to see that GBC ownership is shared and greater participation is encouraged. Control of convention budgets, entities, and programs has been rather tightly held by a well-meaning few. It cannot but help to broaden the base of GBC supporters. Such will not be swift or dramatic, but it will be a positive move.

But does it make any difference who is elected? Probably not in the short run. But if commitments to expand convention leadership and ownership are studiously kept for the short and medium future the base of GBC supporters cannot but be expanded.

Both GBC presidential candidates have stated that they would involve new (the word 'and younger' is usually affixed here) people. Good for them both.

To my way of thinking John Waters alone has offered some very specific and concrete commitments about this. He has also explicitly stated he would like to be held accountable for this.

That's good enough for me, whether it makes a lot of difference or not.

Georgia Baptist 'insider' blog goes kaput

I didn't think it could happen but after about two months of anonymous blogging on the Georgia Baptist Convention, the possibly spuriously named GBCInsider blog has managed to give even anonymous blogging a bad name.

The blog started badly, stumbled often, and ended up an embarrassment. A few interesting points about GBC matters were offered along with a generous helping of out-of-date information, high minded pontifications, and factually challenged assertions. The blog degenerated into a raft of anonymous, unkind hemorrhages that passed for comments.

While I think some anonymity in blogging is reasonable, I'm about cured of this type. If you have something to say. If you would like to write about things you don't like about the GBC, do it with a name affixed, like John Waters, one of the GBC presidential candidates.

My friend and fellow non-anonymous blogger, Peter Lumpkins, has noted the demise of the same yesterday and with greater insight and elan than I. He speculates that the whole thing was a political tactic designed for no good purpose other than to scare up a few votes for one of the two GBC political candidates.

For the record, GBCInsider signs off by absolving itself of any blame for untoward comments and by blithely declaring victory.

What a joke.

There is a need for honest discussion of matter of concern in the Georgia Baptist Convention and a dearth of forums for doing so. The impression of not a few GBCers is that leadership would like for the churches to just trust us and give more money. I suggest that GBC leadership and the new president find a way to schedule sessions around the state where the purpose is listening, where honest feedback is solicited, received, and heard.

...either that or start a blog and welcome questions and provide answers.

Fast and furious Georgia Baptist politics

The highly charged political atmosphere here in Georgia has two candidates for GBC president offering websites, marshalling supporters, making multiple campaign stops around the state and delcaring their superior value to Georgia Baptists.

Why?

Both are heavy Cooperative program supporters. Both have a gaggle of GBC pastors behind them. Both are conservative. Both are substantial men. Both declare this to be a critical time for the GBC. Both declare their support for younger pastors. Neither say a whole lot about laypeople, but then GBC politics is the highest form of clergy sport in this state. Laypeople are relegated to the sidelines, seems to me. Both disavow the recent anonymous blog by alleged GBC insiders, GBC Insider, which airs various complaints about the GBC work.

So, one candidate, John Waters (website) says...

...I will not personally support any At Large appointment of a person who has recently served. Nor will I support the appointment of that person’s staff member or a member of his/her immediate family to key places of leadership, practices which have become commonplace in recent years.

The fact is, three of the main supporters of Dr. Evers have collectively offered 80% of all first-time presidential nominations for the last 20 years. This overwhelming figure includes the nomination of 5 of the last 6 presidents and a published attempt to nominate 6 of the last 7. If successful, that would represent a staggering 86% rate of control over a 14 year period…by a very small handful of men.

This tight-knit group of high-profile pastors has been called a lot of things in the past. Some have called it, “The Old Guard.” Others have jokingly called the group, “The Boys.” Still others have been more harsh in referencing, “The GBC Mafia.” We’ll leave it to others as to what it is to be called. We just think it’s time to call it “past history.”

I will not engage in “blacklisting” or “blackballing” any faithful Georgia Baptist pastor, regardless of whom he supported in this presidential election.

Fred Evers doesn't say much on his website but says in person that he is the one who will appoint new folks, respect younger pastors, etc., and he says that often, since he said he was having fifty campaign meetings around the state.

What's the big deal? Why so much campaigning this year? CP receipts are declining. The GBC has been cutting staff, heavily. The GBC is saddled with a magnificent HQ building in an Atlanta suburb that will suck up CP dollars for years. Neither can do anything about that.

Somewhere some GBC layperson is saying, "Who cares?"

Some suggestions for GBCInsider

Dear anonymous gaggle of Georgia Baptist colleagues who have started a blog that takes a critical look at matters that are of concern to the Georgia Baptist Convention:

May I suggest some things?

DO reconsider identifying yourselves, or some of yourselves. That would add credibility, integrity, and seriousness to your blog. There is a bit of untoward spectacle inherent in guys taking public potshots at people and decisions anonymously. While I understand your desire to not be identified, and don't object to it so far, openness would be better.

DO focus on policy and decisions, not people.

DO make your criticisms in context. Example: "The GBC has temporarily withheld CP missions payments to SBC, NAMB, and IMB to cover their own operating expenses." Standing alone that sounds pretty bad. But, how long are funds held? How often? By whose decision? Is the Executive Committee aware or have they approved of such?

DO take time to explain the charade involved in the GBC's claim that "Georgia Baptists share every mission dollar equally with the Southern Baptist Convention." I'm guessing that most of your readers are pastors or others who will find this to be worthwhile.

DO take time to vet your criticisms. That you quickly walked back some of your earlier assertions makes one wonder if you are really up-to-date GBC insiders.

DO tell both your adoring and aghast readers what the GBC policies are for such things as interim pastorates, hiring of relatives, etc. Such things are worthwhile.

DO avoid petty complaints.

DO get around sometime before the GBC meeting next month to stating, speculate if you must, why this year's presidential election is the most hotly contested in GBC history.

DO throw some light on the Executive Committee. Is this an effective group? Are they stacked with cronies, colleagues, and spouses? Are they diligent in oversight? Just asking.

DO try and get a copy of the agreement between NAMB and the GBC that used to be called the "Cooperative Agreement". No one will let me see this secret, evidently highly classified document.

Your non-anonymous, plodding GBC pastor trying to serve the Lord day by day,

William Thornton

You could see it coming: Anonymous State Convention critic blog

Here is Georgia there is a hotly contested Georgia Baptist Convention election coming up in November when the GBC meets in annual session. There are two candidates, both outstanding men and heavy Cooperative Program supporters, but I'll blog on that and them later.

Somehow you knew it was coming. Sure enough, some clever fellows have started an anonymous blog, sort of a GBC Information and Criticism site: GBC Insider.

It is pretty tame and, so far, no individuals have been singled out for criticism although certain practices, spending, and departments have. The bloggers describe themselves as, well, GBC insiders - former employees or executive committee members, or folks who are in tight with convention leaders. One wouldn't be surprised that since the GBC has downsized a good bit in the past few years, there just might be an disgruntled ex-employee or two who has an ax, or a hatchet, or a penknife to grind.

The writers explain why the blog is anonymous, here. They are correct to say that if they affixed their names, they would quickly be in the crosshairs of the powers that be in the GBC and in this state; hence, anonymity.

Both GBC presidential candidates quickly distanced themselves from the blog and not a few commenters have been quick to slam the bloggers for their anonymity. These commenters are anonymous themselves and offer GBC Insider readers a good laugh over the odd scenario of anonymous commenters complaining about anonymous bloggers. Sorry, fellows, you aren't granted the spiritual high ground by being an anonymous commenter trying to pull a Matthew 18 on anonymous bloggers. Nice try, though.

So, are such anonymous blogs helpful or harmful? Acceptable or anathema?

Depends.

The GBC Insider blog, so far, looks to me like people who are sharing relevant information in an appropriate manner, information that folks in the pulpits and pews of GBC churches ought to know. When openness and transparency is lacking, either by design or by leaders not paying attention, these alternative channels of information will inevitably arise. Need anyone be reminded that in 2011 every level of Southern Baptist life has to justify not just their funding but their reason for existence?

Incidentally, after the first week of the GBC Insider blog they reported 7,000 page views. Not too shabby. Instant success.

They may be loved, hated, praised, or condemned...but they are read.