Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #SBC23
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One last #SBC23 for now regarding my amendment to BFM:
I believe it was a needed and good edit to strengthen what we have always believed. Nothing change in belief, but gave more clarity.
At the same time, I am 100% of amending the process of how this happens.
I believe it was a needed and good edit to strengthen what we have always believed. Nothing change in belief, but gave more clarity.
At the same time, I am 100% of amending the process of how this happens.
It’s not lost on me on how significant this was. I assumed this motion would be referred, and I had no intentions of overruling that decision.
When it was brought out it seemed like a chance to let the messengers speak, and they did just that.
When it was brought out it seemed like a chance to let the messengers speak, and they did just that.
I am not in the camp that believes the messengers are dumb. I empathized in speaking for the amendment that this should not be considered lightly, and what it means.
The messengers voted decisively to amend. In fact, the question was called and 2/3 voted to end debate.
The messengers voted decisively to amend. In fact, the question was called and 2/3 voted to end debate.
Intial takeaway from #SBC23:
1️⃣ The SBC is not drifting. I don’t see how you could walk away from this convention and believe otherwise.
2️⃣ The SBC is a people committed to the Great Commission.
3️⃣ The SBC is prepared to speak toward hard issues with biblical clarity.
1️⃣ The SBC is not drifting. I don’t see how you could walk away from this convention and believe otherwise.
2️⃣ The SBC is a people committed to the Great Commission.
3️⃣ The SBC is prepared to speak toward hard issues with biblical clarity.
On point one, the messengers overwhelmingly disfellowshipped 3 churches out of step with what we believe.
Clarity was offered for what we believe about the office of pastor with 2 of these churches, and other motions.
All these votes were overwhelming.
Clarity was offered for what we believe about the office of pastor with 2 of these churches, and other motions.
All these votes were overwhelming.
On point 2, we commissioned 79 missionaries. @DrPaulChitwood emphasized supporting the “home team” and I heard a lot of pastors really thinking about to get to their churches.
The Great Commission is urgent and Southern Baptists are doing their part to be obedient.
The Great Commission is urgent and Southern Baptists are doing their part to be obedient.
🧵 on “post more than they pray”
Let me say FIRST--it 👏🏼 doesn’t 👏🏼matter how much a person posts, I would never assume that speaks to their prayer life.
👩🏻💻
I researched & each SBC President candidate who won election in recent history was the one who *posted more*.
#SBC23
1/7
Let me say FIRST--it 👏🏼 doesn’t 👏🏼matter how much a person posts, I would never assume that speaks to their prayer life.
👩🏻💻
I researched & each SBC President candidate who won election in recent history was the one who *posted more*.
#SBC23
1/7
So based on @ToddUnzicker statement, we ARE being led by those who *post more* and to think that has (again) 👏🏼anything👏🏼 to do with a Pastor’s prayer life is simply ridiculous—and for @jdgreear to actually quote it and tweet it out 😬
2/7
2/7
Receipts: (with person who won listed first)
@bartbarber: joined Twitter in 2009 and has 51.8k tweets
@PastorMikeStone joined Twitter in 2009 and has 1,270 tweets
@tomascol (who ran against Barber in 2022) joined in 12/2007 and has 24.2k tweets
3/7
@bartbarber: joined Twitter in 2009 and has 51.8k tweets
@PastorMikeStone joined Twitter in 2009 and has 1,270 tweets
@tomascol (who ran against Barber in 2022) joined in 12/2007 and has 24.2k tweets
3/7
Now, the "why" question here always haunts me. Like yeah power is a hell of a drug & men throughout history have done horrifying shit to hold onto it but in the SBC the power is so closely tied to being able to abuse women & children & protect those that do #ChurchToo #SBC23
I don't think that every denomination where anyone has ever been sexually abused is like this, but the more I study the SBC specifically the more that it looks less like a conglomeration of churches to me and more like a coverup ring for sexually violent men #ChurchToo #SBC23
I do not know why else you would be SO desperate to hold onto the power to sexually abuse others with impunity (or enable literally HUNDREDS of other men to do so) to the point that women pastors are your worst fear unless you had a very vested interest #ChurchToo #SBC23
There will be some that call the #sbc23 decision to "disfellowship" a church for having women in pastoral leadership "hypocritical" given their rampant #churchtoo sexual abuse crisis perpetrated mainly by men in pastoral leadership against women & children, BUT. Here's the thing:
It's actually not hypocritical at all, and I think calling it hypocritical is generous and gives the vile, queerphobic, white supremacist, p*dophilia protecting leadership of the SBC WAYYY too much credit, as if it's simply a problem of ideological consistency. #SBC23 #ChurchToo
It's not hypocritical: it is both intentionally supremacist & perfectly in line with the SBC's theology of sexuality, gender, and ecclesial authority. Complementarianism is a sexually violent theology. Anti-LGBTQ+ theology is sexually violent theology. #ChurchToo #SBC23
If the words "purity culture" came out of Bart Barbers mouth I will yeet myself in to the sun lol 😂 #ChurchToo #SBCtoo #SBC23
I'm actually interested in this though because some moderate/conserv Christian spaces have started being like "we are NOT promoting purity culture, we're just teaching the biblical view that sex is for marriage between a cishet man & cishet woman" which is, ahem, purity culture
But if others are actively and gladly accepting the banner of "purity culture" by name, my innate morbid curiosity really wants to look at more of that. Similar to The G*spel C*alition saying a while back they want to promote a "positive culture of purity" which is almost that
“Christianity changes our view of what is beautiful.”
“Even when truths are controversial or painful or difficult the lies that we replace the truth with are far more uglier.”
#SBC23
#SBC23
🧵🧵Today Southern Baptists will choose between two presidential candidates with drastically different views on the SBC's sexual abuse crisis, among other things. But it actually goes much deeper than that. Allow me to explain: #SBC23
Two notes:
1) SBC presidents have very restrained power - they're not popes. But they are a good gauge of how Southern Baptists are thinking about themselves/the future. #SBC23
2) SBC presidents are elected annually, but almost always go unchallenged for their second/final term
1) SBC presidents have very restrained power - they're not popes. But they are a good gauge of how Southern Baptists are thinking about themselves/the future. #SBC23
2) SBC presidents are elected annually, but almost always go unchallenged for their second/final term
But this year, incumbent Bart Barber has a challenger - and one all-too familiar to abuse survivors/advocates (more on that later). Barber was elected in '22 after a historic report that outlined 20 years of mishandled/downplayed abuse by leaders. #sbc23
texastribune.org/2022/06/15/bar…
texastribune.org/2022/06/15/bar…
What are pastors of smaller SBC churches (which are majority of SBC) saying about issues we’re facing in New Orleans? I had no less than 75 of these @OKBaptists pastors contact me in last 2 wks asking questions/sharing thoughts on annual mtg. I heard 6 common themes:🧵#SBC23
1. They’re not in doubt about, nor have they wavered in commitment to, the inerrancy/authority of Scripture & convictional/confessional beliefs to which Baptists have long held. They are, however, confused why some w/in the SBC want to move it beyond confessional boundaries.
2. They view the Bible as clearly teaching complementarianism & are firmly committed to it. At the same time, they value & want to encourage/equip, not alienate, women who are gifted/called to serve indispensable roles of ministry in the church w/in the guidelines of Scripture.
So the #SBC23 will occur this week. I have a unique insider/outsider perspective. I was disciplined by the Southern Baptists as a young Christian. I left them. Then recently joined a Sothern Baptist Church. Now that church has left the SBC
I have been to a couple of conventions. I was on the inside of the debate on CRT, and to a lesser degree on the debate on sexual abuse. But I do not have an insider position on the current debate about the role of women in ministry.
Finally, I am not going to take a personal position on the complementary/egalitarian debate. I have my own opinions, but I want to approach this as a social scientist than as a theologian. That is my area of expertise. Okay, here we go.
A great many people are replying to this #SBC23 tweet are replying with examples like the Wesleyans, Pentecostals, etc. I'd reply that all the exceptions prove the rule. They have existing, long-term theology very distinct from Southern Baptists, Presbyterians, etc.
For an SBC church to deviate from long-held SBC norms is just the first of a long-term shift. It always happens slowly and then all at once. Today, it's abandoning the long-held practice of men only as pastors. Then it's lowering standards on pastoral qualifications.
Then it's deviating further on standards for who can be deacons. A few years from now, it'll be on marriages in the church, and then, presto, you're out the door of Christendom, and suddenly your ecclesiology is very high church, and your theology is high as a kite.
1/
I don't have the motivation to write a post on this. So you'll have to settle with a thread. #sbc22 #sbc23
Today, @AdamGreenway posted with @BaptistPress on drawing the proper balance b/t cooperation and doctrinal commitments. baptistpress.com/resource-libra…
I don't have the motivation to write a post on this. So you'll have to settle with a thread. #sbc22 #sbc23
Today, @AdamGreenway posted with @BaptistPress on drawing the proper balance b/t cooperation and doctrinal commitments. baptistpress.com/resource-libra…
I understand the argument and overall it's not like the thesis in and of itself is terrible. We would expect a seminary president to argue well. And at end of the day, we certainly will not agree on *everything*.
However, I have two main issues with the article:
However, I have two main issues with the article:
1. Dr. Greenway is trying to make an argument that we should partner with churches who have women who serve on staff as pastors so long as they are not senior pastors.
Why is this a problem? a. It goes against the Bible. Read 1 Timothy 3. The office of pastor is for men.
Why is this a problem? a. It goes against the Bible. Read 1 Timothy 3. The office of pastor is for men.
Best things about being SBC President so far. A top 10 thread, but not in any particular order:
1. Last week I went on the prayer lists of thousands of really effective prayer warriors.
2. From fellow-students with me to former-students of mine to partners in @fbcfarmersville's missions projects in the past, I've heard from so many people I've loved down through the years.
2. From fellow-students with me to former-students of mine to partners in @fbcfarmersville's missions projects in the past, I've heard from so many people I've loved down through the years.
3. My high-school science teacher reached out and said that he was proud of me, which was a personal win, since I accidentally shattered a petri dish in class once by doing something stupid. Maybe I've made up for that.
