We’re back again with another of our weekly podcasts. In this episode, we talk about the GCR Task Force, the closing of Sunday schools, de-baptisms, and the chaos at the North American Mission Board. We’re enjoying recording these, and hope that they are enjoyable to listen to, as well.
We welcome your suggestions for ways we can improve the podcast. Feel free to comment here, and also to leave a review for us on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you back here next week.
Here are links to some of the items we talked about during the episode:
I enjoy listening to these podcasts.
I think the overall problem with the NAMB is that the NAMB has taken on the GPS “Evangelism Initiative” without any identified source of how the total program is going to be financed.
Maybe the analogy is not perfect, but the it would be similar to GM deciding to come out with a new pickup truck but their financial condition is so tight that they are unable to raise the cash needed to hire designers, setup a manufacturing operation, and/or spend the needed dollars for marketing and advertising. To extend this anology, say part of the plan was to have each local dealer advertise the new truck. In this anology assume that historically the dealers have received financial assistance from GM to help with local advertising to assist the product launch. But this time we find that GM has no budget for local advertising and the dealers are not able or willing to finance the advertising on their own.
My view of the “problem” at the NAMB is that the NAMB is overcommitting. They need to come out with a TOTAL PLAN that shows that all aspects of the GPS are on track — including agreements with the state conventions and the funding that backs up those agreements. If the NAMB does not release a viable GPS plan then I think they should just cancel it and direct staff resources on something that is coherent.
Roger Simpson
Brother Roger,
I believe your analogy of GM may be correct with the GPS. However, I believe that it breaks down in that the Chairman and the Executive Leadership team never said one thing about GPS. It never said anything about NAMB overcommitting them self or any of the other items you bring to light. Everything they brought up was strictly dealing with the President and his leadership style. Nothing they brought up had to do with leadership initiatives.
Blessings,
Tim
“Boys”
You have asked for suggestions, right?
The next time you Sunday School “dwarves” plan to talk about Sunday School, get in touch with someone who can “guide” the discussion intelligently as to what Southern Baptist Sunday School is actually about in the first place.
:-)
And also, The accountability of baptizing new Christians was given to both the Church Universal and the Church Local at the same time. For at the time Christ gave the Great Commission, the Church Universal and the Church Local were one and the same. It is not really a mystery or hard to understand.
So hang in there, Wes. And smite them “Theo-dwarf, Neo-Baptists” Hip and Thigh and give the Wild Geese a good thrashing while you are at it.
:-)
See you boys in October.
cb
Enjoyed listening to your podcast this morning. I want to make a couple of points about the SS discussion.
According to the comments made, outreach/evangelism is considered the purpose of Sunday School. I believe that most pastors and ministers of education would confirm this because it is what we have been taught at Seminary and at conferences we have attended. However, there is a disconnect between ministers and the “laity” when it comes to the purpose of SS. When I mention to church members that SS is considered the outreach arm of the church , they look at me as if I am not from this planet. The majority of church members would claim the purpose of SS to be one of two things: fellowship and/or Bible study.
This leads me to another point that connects the GCR with SS. Should it be that Sunday School done on Sunday morning at church is focused on the members rather than outreach? Are our lessons “anemic” due to the fact that outreach is the purpose rather than discipleship? Sunday mornings have the highest attendance during the week. Why not capitalize on Discipleship?
I think our church members equate “evangelism” with inviting people to church or to their SS class. In other words, we have turned the Great Commission into “Come and hear” rather than “Go and tell.” I think Southern Baptists need to strongly re-evaluate the purpose of Sunday School.
Pastor Tim:
As you say, none of the three points mentioned by Tim Patterson’s memo regarding Dr. Hammond’s “problems” relate to any of the work product being done by the NAMB.
However, I believe that whatever “problems” Dr. Hammond may or may not have is not the core issue with the NAMB. The real issue is (a) that the NAMB has taken on a big project that is dependent upon the state conventions being involved financially and (b) that some states are evidently unable and/or unwilling to come on board. This, in my opinion, is the big problem and the NAMB. It is not going to be solved overnight even if Dr. Hammond is replaced.
One of over-arching situations in SBC life right now is the lack of finances to keep things going at the same level. This is true not only at local churches but also at some of the agencies.
1. We see a shortfall at the IMB which has caused some missionary candidates to not be sent
2. We see a shortfall at the NAMB which brings into doubt whether or not the GPS initiative will be able to go forward without being significantly curtailed. The last news I heard from Dr. Hammond and his team is that the vision for GPS right now is to roll it out on a “trial basis” in a few localities and then possibly it scale up later based upon the initial experience.
3. We see shortfalls in SBC churches where there have been staff cutbacks. One church that comes to mind is Wieuca Road Baptist in Altanta that according news reports is one of several that has had to cut back quite a bit on staffing.
I can’t comment on the effectiveness of the management team at the NAMB. But I think shuffling leadership at the NAMB does not really address the core problem at the NAMB. That core problem is that the NAMB needs to conclude clear agreements going forward on the financial and ministry parameters that govern a shared implementation between themselves and local churches, associations, and state conventions in doing evangelism and church planting in the USA and Canada. If this work product is not produced it does not make any difference who is running the NAMB.
Brother cb,
#3….. agreed.
Blessings until October,
Chris