SBC Pondering

 Sometimes I do things I regret. Last week I posted about the "dumpster fire" I thought the SBC Annual Meeting was this year. Even though I still do believe it was every bit of that, I regret sharing it on such a platform as that. I don't know exactly what I intended to accomplish outside of basic venting, which I should be doing on this site instead of something more public like Facebook or my other blogsite.

I appreciate the current SBC President, and recognize the difficulty of the SBC Executive Committee CEO. I may not always agree with Jeff Iorg on his public stances, or consider his reasoning to be wrong or unfounded or deceptive or whatever else; but he might be the best person for the job from the usual crop of gentlemen. However, maybe he should step aside at next year's meeting to make way for the current SBC President, Clint Pressley (although he might reject taking the job after two years as President).

Truth is, a few of the major reasons I thought it to be a dumpster fire is something I don't see changing ever. The current annual meeting oftentimes acts more like a worship service and celebration than a business meeting. There's a massive amount of business to conduct with thousands of messengers (more than 10K this year), and only several hours within two days to accomplish it. Also, the meeting acts as one gigantic commercial for the Cooperative Program, which I have tired of over the years. Most messengers support the CP, and it makes no sense to continue advertising it like no one knows about it; yet that continues to happen and will never stop. More advertising means less opportunity to conduct meaningful business. Basically, I must come to grips that I will probably think it will be more of the same next year.

One issue worth resolving that must be resolved: having more than 10K messengers and only 5,000 to 6,000 ballot voting on major issues such as the Law-Sanchez Amendment and Abolishing the ERLC. These votes seem to always happen right before lunch or the end of the day, or on Wednesday afternoon with many people are leaving to make their church's prayer meeting or catch a flight. I believe messengers should be committed to voting for these issues, particularly since they come from their local churches to do this very thing. 

The Annual Meeting is quite fun to go to and catch up with longtime friends, former seminary comrades, and people you can't stand but feel like you have to butter their bread for some reason; but maybe do those necessary things should occur during times that don't conflict with the business of the SBC. Listen to the miscellaneous business, do some research beforehand to be better informed and ready to take action.

Messengers should be as concerned with preparing for the business meeting as the people on the platform. You don't have to wait until you get there to figure out what the news is.

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Another thing worth saying: there's nothing wrong with members of churches affiliating with the SBC having issues with the SBC. Even issues like the ones above that will never resolve to my liking. Just because someone close or loyal to the executives, high-powered committees, and entity trustees wants me to shut up or drop dead doesn't mean I'm out of line to hold an opinion. 

Just probably not on Facebook around people who heard their happy-clappy pastors shout for joy about whatever at the event tickled their funny bone. I don't want to pay $8/mo. for the privilege of writing extra words on X, but I might just eventually have to.