When Lane Kiffin came to the University of Tennessee (UT) he predicted that he would beat Florida. He then accused the Florida coach, Urban Meyer, of recruiting violations. When Kiffin came to UT athletic Director, Mike Hamilton said;
When it was all said and done, we felt like Lane Kiffin was a perfect fit for Tennessee. He’s energetic, charismatic, consumed with recruiting and has had a lifelong love affair with football.
However, when Kiffin left Tennessee Hamilton made the following statement;
“I feel like we gave him a chance and gave him a good job,” Hamilton said when asked Wednesday if he felt betrayed at Kiffin’s departure. “If I said I was anything less than disappointed, not personally disappointed … I’m more disappointed for our kids and our fans.”
What happened in 14 months to go from “being a perfect fit” to being “less than disappointed”? If Kiffin was a perfect fit for Tennessee 14 months earlier, then how would he be anything other than the wrong fit for the University of Southern California? It all comes down to the “dream” job.
Before the Great Commission Resurgent Task Force (GCRTF) began their work
one state editor specifically warned against Task Force members serving only to land their “dream” job. Southern Baptist Texan editor, Gary Ledbetter, said it this way;
If some Southern Baptists are going to face difficult changes in their ministries, it might go down better if no task force members find themselves with shiny new jobs in the process.
It comes down to maintaining one’s integrity that he/she is being used by God instead of running around trying to land the perfect position. Here within one year of being named to the GCRTF one member has landed a VP position at an entity and now is reportedly going to move from that position to President of the Executive Committee. It is rumored that the vote for Dr. Page will be very close. However, whether it is or not isn’t the question. The question remains as to what other GCRTF members are in line to get a leading position at one of the other open entity positions. With some leaders saying that Southern Baptist are “not concerned with the lost” it comes a little surprising that we are seeing these same leaders trying to position themselves for the upcoming “denominational servants” positions that are open. Also, it seems a little disconcerting when we see people move from one denominational position to another. I am praying and trusting our leaders that they are following God’s leading in this process. However, one must admit it does call into question ones commitment to following God’s leading when one jumps from one place to another. It also calls into question one’s commitment to following God’s leading when one serves on a visible committee and then is placed in the position the committee targeted for change.
Hi TIM ROGERS,
I wonder if you could expand on this statement a bit more:
“It also calls into question one’s commitment to following God’s leading when one serves on a visible committee and then is placed in the position the committee targeted for change.”
Particularly the part about ‘a visible committee’, in the light of the recent announcement that the records of GCRTF proceedings will be sealed for the next fifteen years. Thanks, if you can help.
Tim, in a denomination of millions, the same twenty or thirty names perpetually come up over and over again for every major job in the SBC. The SBC is more inbred than Washington and elite than NASCAR. Nothing at all surprising here.
Tim,
Not versed enough in SBC politics. Leaders push upward in any organization. I do want to hear your concerns though. It does seem a lot of people are trying to retroactivly show their displeasure that Page was ever elected president. I would think he has a lot of service to offer with his experience.
The SBC needs a boycott towards any team that matches orange and black. Please do not compare any minister to Lane Kiffen anymore.
I believe we are all tainted by original sin but that is overkill.
Keep us informed.
Fletcher
Christianne,
Do not misunderstand where I am heading with this. Dr. Page was elected President of the convention in 2006. In 2009 he was asked to serve on the GCRTF. If what they concluded on the GCRTF in 2009 were present in 2006 (which it was) why wait until everyone begins gripping before acting? Then, while serving on the task force, he is recommended for VP of Evangelism at NAMB. We have another GCRTF member serving on NAMB Trustees and remember that NAMB was relieved of their President in the summer 2009 with two Task Force members present at the Trustee meeting and very vocal in that meeting. At the time Dr. Page went to NAMB he said that God had led him there. Now we after 8 months he says God is leading him to be President of the EC. I am not against Dr. Page, just not understanding how God moves someone to move like this.
Brother Darby,
It has nothing to do with inbreeding or elitism.
Brother Fletcher,
Nothing meant by comparing this situation to Lane Kiffin with dishonesty. Kiffin was flat out dishonest and that is not what I am saying. What I am saying in the comparison is that we have something going one here where a person says that God is leading him/her to serve but then another committee approaches the person and offers another position that is better. Are we just in this for advancement?
Blessings,
Tim
Tim,
1. It was a joke to think that Tennessee was ever going to beat Florida again, in the first place. I guess Kiffin finally saw the light.
2. Could it possibly be that our search committees really pray, work, seek God’s will, and make their recommendations on the basis of believing someone is the best person for the job? Is it possible that people accept positions because they too pray and seek God’s will, and believe God is leading them to fulfill this role? Is it generally a good thing to believe the best about our brothers and sisters in Christ, and give them the benefit of the doubt on these types of things? Are you able to look into people’s hearts, and know for sure whether or not someone is “trying to position themselves for the upcoming ‘denominational servants’ positions that are open”?
Hi TIM ROGERS,
Thank you for responding.
I can see your concern better now.
What do you think about the revelation that the record of proceedings of the GCRTF will be ‘sealed’ for the next fifteen years? I am wondering why they would do such a thing because I thought a goal of trust-building was important to them when I read this:
“”We must also work toward the creation of a new and healthy culture within the Southern Baptist Convention. If we are to grow together and work together in faithfulness to the command of Christ, we must establish a culture of trust, transparency, and truth among all Southern Baptists.”
Transparency?
I’m confused. (sigh)
Pingback: Tweets that mention Tennessee Football and Nashville Political Volleyball–the SEC comes to the SBC :: SBC Today -- Topsy.com
Brother David,
I am not questioning anyone’s heart in this matter. I am merely stating a fact. Dr. Page went to NAMB 9 months ago stating that he believed God was leading him there and it was God’s will for him to take that position. Now, 9 months later, we have a search committee, along with Dr. Page, saying it is God’s will for him to be at the EC. If that is the case so be it. However, we have a situation where God’s Will is being thrown about based on the desires and whims of people. That is all I am saying. God’s will is not based on my personal desire, neither is it based on the exposure of any committee. Out of all of the people in the convention are we saying that God can only work through a small group of people to lead us?
Blessings,
Tim
Christianne,
In all seriousness, as much as I would like to discuss that issue, this post is not about the GCRTF desiring to keep the proceedings quiet.
Blessings,
Tim
Thank you, Tim.
I did not realize that it was not related.
Sorry to be so much trouble.
Pingback: Tweets that mention http://sbctoday.com/2010/06/11/tennessee-football-and-nashville-political-volleyball-the-sec-comes-to-the-sbc/#comment-13475?utm_source=pingback -- Topsy.com
Tim,
I suppose you are saying that God could not call someone to NAMB for 9 months, and then to the EC, afterwards. I guess the only reason someone might change ministries, after a relatively brief amount of time in one place, is “the desires and whims of people”? No, I don’t believe we are saying that God can only work through a small group of people to lead us. Are you saying that, due to his willingness to serve as VP at NAMB for a time, God could not be leading Dr. Page now to the EC?
Tim, a friend of mine who was a major player in the Resurgence from the very beginning — though always behind the scenes even when on the the frontline — used to talk about “climbers.” These are persons who see ministry as a series of stepping stones from a small seminary through larger churches until they reach a denominational retirement plan.
I think Mr. Page has all the earmarks of a “climber.” Some may ask, “But couldn’t God be calling him to a bigger, better job with a sweeter retirement plan and guaranteed speaking engagements after retirement to sweeten the deal a little bit more?” Yeh, God could do that I suppose, but nothing in His Word indicates to me He “would” do that.
Why not just call it what it is and not blame God?
I can’t believe how many times we keep recycling the same old names at the denominational leadership level and we keep losing more and more ground both theologically and as an organization. I say, “we need some fresh blood.”
Brother David,
Lest I be misunderstood. The only thing that God cannot do is lie. So, to suggest that I am saying God cannot do something is not accurate. I believe that God could do exactly what you are suggesting. I believe your question to me concerns more of my belief as to trusting Dr. Page and the committee that they are following God. You know the old saying that “perception is reality”? Well, I perceive that this plan was placed into action the minute Dr. Page was asked to be on the GCRTF.
Also, lest I be misunderstood again. If Dr. Page is affirmed by the EC trustees, I will accept his position and follow his leadership to the extent my heart’s conviction will allow. Of course a person whose dissertation was an egalitarian defense and is an Obama appointee for religious ecumenicism makes one question how many others in the convention will have the same tension as I.
Blessings,
Tim
Brother Matt2239,
It does make one wonder.
Blessings,
Tim
So, Tim, I imagine you won’t be voting to approve Page’s nomination. Fair enough. We, as messengers of the cooperating churches, should all have the opportunity to make our preferences known. I still think you need to be careful about publicly judging (or speculating about)other people’s motives, though. And, it seems to me this is exactly what you are doing on this post.
Climbers? Which Conservative Resurgence task force member didn’t get rewarded with presidencies of Conventions or SBC Institutions? How many became trustees, which is I can assure you, a job that pays well in resume cred and posh accommodations. Judge Pressler, perhaps, but how many leaders in that good fight began to reap the benefits here and now?
Tim, can we scrap the conspiracy theories? You can conjecture all you want but it seems if it’s not one thing its another. I’m a Reformed Southern Baptist who’s a member of a SBC/A29 church and I greatly admire Dr. Page for his Gospel tenacity and faithfulness, even though I disagree with him on some things. He’s arisen in this convention as a catalytic leader. Didn’t Esther rise quickly for “such a time as this?” I wish I could be in Orlando and I certainly hope that he’s confirmed as the next leader of the EC.
Tim Rogers,
He would not have been my choice. He will not be my choice. That’s to place no disrespect upon him—there are millions of Southern Baptists who would not be my choice for this position. Page just happens to be one of them.
The relevancy for this is that one of the reasons the GCRTF may have wanted to keep their stuff secret for 15 years, an insult to ordinary Baptists who have paid the bills, is to avoid any difficulty for TF members who are being considered for SBC positions.
Brother David,
I am not judging anyone’s motives. I am merely making an observation. Just like Dr. Mohler did back in 2006.
Brother Paul,
I greatly admire Dr. Page for his Gospel tenacity and faithfulness I am not the one asking the question concerning Dr. Page’s tenacity and faithfulness. Dr. Mohler, in his above linked article, raised this question and called for him to clearly articulate his position and the reason for his change. The only reason I have ever heard articulated is that was what he was taught at the time by his professors. Notice what Dr. Mohler says in the above article, which I have pasted some below.
Brother Bart,
I am not clear, but I believe, the only votes to be taken are those of the Trustees. Is that correct? It seems that Brother David and Paul feel we are supposed to vote at the convention on Dr. Page.
Brother William,
I am not certain of the reason for the GCRTF desiring the proceedings to remain private for 15 years. I believe the Peace Committee, the stated example they are following, made very clear the reason for their keeping the records sealed. However, the Peace Committee was put together to keep the convention from splitting, something that eventually happened, and the GCRTF was put together to help us get the Gospel to the nations more effectively.
Blessings,
Tim
Tim: That Mohler article is 4 years old! If you read, on, he confesses his own change of mind on that topic, that being biblical manhood and womanhood. However, that is not the topic at hand! Mohler and Page just served on the task force together, so I don’t think that is an issue anymore. Mohler indicates that Page explaining his change of mind on the issue would be helpful for the convention, but not necessary. The fact that he changed his mind was enough, though.
You agreed with Matt2239′s musings about “Climbers,” thus implying that Dr. Page is one. But my point about the Conservative Resurgence remains unanswered: Climbers aside, the CR won and to the victor belong the spoils. But unless you’ve forgotten, Dr. Frank Page was president of our convention for 2 terms, he’s not just a task force member. Not only was in president, to take a line from Sen. Scott Brown, he was the people’s president. Your attempt to cast his nomination as GCRTF maneuvering is silly.
Tim, My bad, I must have misread your comment about it being a close vote. Now I see you were just talking about the trustees.
That last line in my comment should say, “Not only was *he president.” Apologies.
Brother David,
No problem with the vote, I believe it is just the trustees that cast a vote. That meeting will take place on Monday.
Brother Paul,
Look, that is how you feel, ok. Just don’t misunderstand that I see it differently. I have never said your position was silly. Please afford me the same respect. I disagree with this move concerning Dr. Page. All I have said all along is that he said 8 months ago that God was leading him to NAMB. Now 8 months later he is saying that God is leading him to be the President of the ExCom. If one were to go to a church running 500 in the Charlotte Metro area and eight months later receive a call from a church running 1200 in the DFW Metroplex we would certainly have the same questions.
Blessings,
Tim
Well Tim, count me in as one who does not think your post is silly. I like Frank Page for all the reasons some of you have listed for being against him but perseverance is above all else in my book. If he moves ‘up’ the ladder then that is probably more based on his past presidency experience rather than his task force experience but I too will be watching to see what happens to the other task force members. Will the Lord suddenly be calling many of them to new fields of service? Fields that usually pay more money and have more influence? I would be impressed if a year from now most of the current task force members were still in their current positions of service. I would almost feel that they served the convention while on the task force instead of themselves. Time will tell.