SBCOutpost

Ed Stetzer is one of my favorite leaders in Southern Baptist life. Ed gets it. He went to the
recent Executive Committee meetings and came back with these observations from his own blog. It’s so good we’re copying the whole thing:

I had the privilege of attending the SBC Executive Committee meeting this week. I think it is essential that we, as denominational servants, are under the accountability of lay people and pastors from churches across the United States. I don’t consider that a burden, but I see it as a mark that we serve the churches and not the other way around. People have joked with me about running for SBC office, but I think it is a bad idea. First, because I would lose– big time. Second, and more importantly, in our current SBC environment it is important for denominational employees to be accountable to our churches– not, for example, appointing trustees that, well, oversee us. One highlight of the meeting for me was a show of, and promise of, unity made by the SBC entity heads. Frank Page spoke soon after Jerry Rankin prayed for (while other entities gather around) Paige and Dorothy Patterson. I was blessed to see Jerry Rankin, who has been attacked so many times, leading the group prayer for Paige and Dorothy Patterson, who have also come under attack. Frank shared the heart of so many in our denomination today calling for “A unified focus” when he added:

It gave me great hope to know that even among that group of wonderful servants of God, that we have made a covenant … that we will lift up one another and not tear down one another,” Page said. “It is not just enough for our entities and their staffs to make a pledge that we will not attack one another. I have called on Southern Baptists, whether it be in blogs or in hallway conversations or in telephone conversations or in hushed tones … to make a covenant that we will not attack one another, but we will lift high the name of Jesus and we will encourage one another.

In light of the recent cross agency sniping and growing unrest, this is good news indeed. I have shared my concern about this very issue here. You can read the whole article here.

Keep up the good work, Ed.

From BP:

– R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaking on behalf of the presidents of the SBC’s various entities, noted to the Executive Committee that “there is an unprecedented level of attack upon some of our own leaders … in the form of innuendo and smear and caricature and character assassination.” Mohler also noted, “Two of our own have suffered in particular along these lines,” referencing Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his wife Dorothy.

Mohler stated that the SBC entity presidents have committed “that we will not ourselves tolerate personal attacks upon one of our colleagues,” and Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, then led in a time of prayer for the Pattersons.

And in turn Paige Patterson, who did not set any precedents himself in criticizing Jerry Rankin, led in a time of Prayer for Jerry. Or maybe not.

[Edit: OK.  Sarcasm aside.  I genuinely hope this is a move in the right direction.  I know that in the past Paige Patterson has done things that have resulted in the straining of his relationship with Jerry Rankin.  His criticisms have not been public, though the private nature of those criticisms have, in my opinion, been even worse because I doubt he would have done in public what he has done in private.  It has been credibly alleged that Dr. Patterson has gone so far as to attempt to undermine the leadership of Jerry Rankin through the IMB board of trustees.  Just read about a year’s worth of Wade Burleson’s blog starting in November or December of 2005.

I would also contend that their appeals for civility are selective.  When it was Russell Dilday in 1992 I didn’t hear Al Mohler or Paige Patterson gathering entity heads to rally support and call for prayer. Read the rest of this entry »