Everyone plant one, unless you have been divorced

reformedbeliever

I thank God for his mercy upon you and His presence in your life and the work of ministry you are doing. The success of your ministry will not be determined by what the SBC/NAMB does or does not do, but by God's continuing presence in it.

The policy concerning divorce is an attempt to correct many years of liberal views in the SBC. Even though I think it goes too far in some cases, I certainly wouldn't stop giving to the cooperative program over it.

peace to youraying:

 

First, I didn't say you were "liberal". Don't take what I am saying personally. You asked if one would stop supporting the cooperative program over this issue. The answer is no. The COOP program is a great program, despite a few problems here and there.

There is no doubt the I Tim. passage means "one woman man", which was an expression wives put on their husband's tombstones to indicate the husband had been faithful throughout the marriage. The I Tim. passage also indicates a pastor is to be someone who manages his household well. A divorce is a good indication of problems managing the household, even if it occured long ago. The qualifications are for Pastors, not "church planters", if they are not going to be the pastor.

The folks in charge had to make a decision on the issue. This is what they decided. Most SBC churches would, I think, agree with the decision.

At some point, maybe the leadership and membership can be convinced that such a policy goes beyond the biblical standards for qualifications for church planters and/or pastors, and the policy will be changed.

In the meantime, I hope you will continue your ministry and your association with the SBC and the cooperative program.

peace to youraying:

 

Everyone plant one

Reformed,

I know how you feel. You are in my prayers. Keep up what you are doing!:godisgood:

 

Well honestly this isn't as clear cut as we might believe insofar as the decline is going. The greatest days of the convention for growth were in the 1950s and 1960s well within the 50 year mark...but let's not mince facts.

And I completely agree. Divorce issue should be decided on a case by case basis not a blanket issue. But that is decision of the convention and we must abide by it while attempting to change it.

Well I'd suggest that you should investigate other funding sources and agencies. NAMB has some strict requirements that are in place and that's just the truth of the matter. While it might stink, that is the policy of the board.

There are plenty of other funding options that have a lot less strings attached. I'd investigate those!

I had a prof in seminary...well a teaching assistant I guess...who was in the same boat. Divorced while lost. Why in God's name are we requiring lost people to act saved and hold it against them when they don't? No clue.

I empathize with you, but until our limited exegesis climate subsides in the SBC my apologies for your troubles. If I can be of any assistance in helping you procure funding please let me know.

For what it's worth, if God is really calling you into church planting trust Him and He'll provide more funds than the SBC could ever provide.

 

for what it's worth, the SBC was never liberal by accepted understandings of liberalism. The SBC was theologically leaning moderate at worst. The "resurrgence" was a corrective action that has gone too far. Vilifying someone and ending their faithful ministry over a minute area of theology as practiced often in the resurrgence is liberal secularism imho.

Also, opening our read of the 1 Timothy and Titus passages on leadership to include a more generous read is not liberal either.

Your thought on the CP giving is right on btw

 

Does the SBC leadership ever think? Did they check their brains at the door and find it impossible to think?

Paul murdered people and planted churches, but somehow the SBC thinks that divorce is the unpardonable sin.

B.H. Carroll started SWBTS and pastored a church. Those who followed behind him years later have tried to cover up the fact that he smoked by having the cigar painted over in his picture at SWBTS.

For some strange reason does anyone get the picture that the SBC leaders like to hide the truth?

 

Sure they do. But this kind of thinking is just symptomatic of the fundamentalist swing of the resurrgence. If anything we are constantly narrowing the parameters of what it means to be an "authentic SBCer" which is ridiculous imho

amen. Not only to mention that it is highly hypocritical that the venerable founder of an institution could not even get a first look for a faculty position...or janitor's position with the above listed resume.

 

They are the same people who did not like it that a number of students at SWBTS were coming from non-Baptist backgrounds. They did not like students without a pedigree.

 

You could start the church without SBC help. That is what Rick Warren did. If you already have a group of people and the pastor does not draw a salary it does not take much to survive and also grow.

Accepting SBC money can be a real pain at times. The first person I worked with in a SBC church plant had never planted a church yet he was their "expert". Each month I had to fill out forms and meet with that man who was of no help to me. Once we were out from under that responsibility we began to grow even more. The church accepted their responsibility better rather than relying on money from somewhere else. When the money chain ended it became a very different church. People gave more and saw it as their's.

Several years ago I worked with several other churches who pooled their money in an effort to help new churches in the area to get started. I led the effort and it worked very well. The churches liked it and the church plant pastor liked it. The churches also pooled their resources and when the churhc plant needed help with something several people could help. It placed the burden across many churches rather than just one.

 

We planted an SBC church a little over 4 years ago. To date we have received the following:

From the ABSC - $2,500
From NAMB - $0.00
From an SBC individual who wanted to help - $1,000
From our local association - 1 broken lapel mike (wasn't worth trying to repair)

Our experience (we're still SBC) the cooperative program is much more about gathering funds and paying staff salaries than it is about cooperation. My experience is only with NAMB, I have none with IMB

 

ReformedBeliever,

Are you by any chance close to Chickasha?

 

I pray for you to have God's blessings and direction.

As far as Biblical requirements for a church planter, you obviously disagree, but SBC policy seems to say that a church planter has the same Biblical requirements as a pastor.
Are you saying that you think a woman could plant a church? You are saying you see no Biblical requirements.

Did I know about the strict interpretation of the NAMB? Yes. Do I agree with it? No. I do lean more to case-by-case and that it is far less relevant what one did before becoming a Christian.
If anything, my individual church is more strict in its rules. I do not agree.
But I am not leaving it or the SBC over it.

Fellow Christians who think this way are not evil or the enemy. They are striving to be Biblically faithful. And they might argue that you are trying to elevate your feelings about what you think God wants you to do above the text of Scripture. I trust that is not true in your case.
I hope your meeting goes well.