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Z. Scott Colter ✒️ Profile picture
@ScottColter
May 16, 2022 • 11 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X
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I am asked frequently about the state of the SBC. After the latest Book of Reports and the annual ACP numbers were released, the only possible answer I can offer is: Not well.

A brief thread:
2/ Don’t take my word for it—check the numbers out here for yourself in the full report:

baptistpress.com/wp-content/upl…
Our baptism numbers continue to decline. While a slight recovery is being seen from the unprecedented drop during Covid, total baptisms are still significantly decreased from pre-pandemic levels.
4/ The 20+ year decline continues, and you have to go back to the 1910’s to find a time in history we reached fewer people for Christ. If something doesn’t #ChangeTheDirection, Southern Baptists will not be able to sustain this decline.
5/ .@SEBTS reported decrease in full time equiv (FTE) enrollment. FTEs are the standard measure by which acad institutions are observed & determine the financial support received by SBC CP. In past year, FTE students decreased from 1,268 in 2020 to 825 in 2021—drop of about 35%.
6/ @NOBTS similarly reported significant numbers of decline.
7/ .@SWBTS at first glance appeared to remain level, but after closer examination, a small footnote reveals that their FTE decreased from 1,126 in 2020 to 944 in 2021. Additionally, the number of students pursuing an MDiv has continued to decrease from 473 in 2015 to 203 in 2021.
8/ The funds from seven state conventions passed through to the national CP have decreased by more than 10%.
9/ The latest report of total receipts into the Cooperative Program has decreased by $6,745,983.
10/ Although baptisms continue to decline, more resources are being spent on missions and great commission work and more churches are being planted. We are literally spending more and doing more to accomplish less.
11/ And according to the latest ACP report, our total membership continued to decline by an additional 409,454. Southern Baptists have lost more than 1.1 million members in the past three years.

Southern Baptists have no choice but to #changethedirection.

End.

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More from @ScottColter

Z. Scott Colter ✒️ Profile picture
Mar 16
Regarding the SBC, great challenges, and even greater challenges

Around this time each year, discussions regarding the SBC rise toward a fever pitch.  Baptists are as divided at this current junction as they ever have been—perhaps more so.

I have been a Southern Baptist for my entire life.  I’ve been concerned about the direction of the SBC since 2015.  I’ve been actively opposing the rise of liberal and moderate factions in our convention since 2018.  A few thoughts:
In 2020, the Conservative Baptist Network emerged as a true grassroots coalition to stand for the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture against a leftward drift that was being propelled by platform leaders and various groups within the SBC.  Brad Jurkovich answered the call to help lead this new group at great personal and professional cost.  I cannot overstate the respect I have for leaders like Brad who stand for what is true even when it is unpopular and detrimental.  He is a warrior.  Thousands resonated with this new group.  I’ve received literally hundreds of calls and notes of support, appreciation, and gratitude that the voices of “everyday” Baptists were being heard.
In 2021, Pastor Mike Stone was nominated for the presidency of the SBC and won the most votes on the first ballot in one of the largest conventions we had seen in decades.  On a subsequent ballot, he was defeated by only a few hundred votes on the heels of a vicious smear campaign against him by leftists that would rival the worst gutter politics of DC.  Individuals involved have now admitted their goals are to divide and destroy the SBC.
Read 24 tweets
Z. Scott Colter ✒️ Profile picture
Jun 27, 2021
THREAD: I spent 14 years as a student in theological higher education. We have been taught from literally the first day that taking someone else’s material without attribution is plagiarism and will not be tolerated. 1/
I’ve sat in countless preaching courses where such practice in preaching is harshly condemned.

Now to see multiple seminary presidents & profs scramble to excuse the almost verbatim taking of someone else’s sermon by the president of SBC without attribution is…interesting. 2/
I’ve known quite a few students expelled and/or placed on probation for plagiarism in seminary. Never realized they were just “doing theology in community.” I guess we owe them an apology. 3/
Read 7 tweets
Z. Scott Colter ✒️ Profile picture
Nov 17, 2019
For the record, @_PPatterson_ is not a racist.

During his life and ministry (so far) he:

-Led an African American church while their pastor was ill for several months.

-Endured confrontation with KKK over leading an African American to Christ in Mississippi while in seminary.
-Hired first African American professor at @SEBTS.

-Hired African American dean @SWBTS, who has since been removed from position.

-Issued degree and alumni award to African American previously denied admission under earlier administration @SWBTS.
-Undertook effort to reach unreached people group of 1,000,000+ in Madagascar.

-Offered extensive scholarships and opportunities to minority students.

-Emphasized diversity by those selected for platform responsibilities.
Read 6 tweets

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