Southern Baptist missions chief's job reviewed; 'cronyism' a concern
A former missionary tapped by Southern Baptists to help reverse declines in baptisms and memberships might be out of work next week.
After two years on the job, Geoff Hammond, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board, is at odds with the board's trustees. The board previously had high praise for Hammond, but trustees now are being asked to discuss replacing him during a meeting in Atlanta. At issue is the leadership of the convention's 5,600 missionaries in North America and management of the mission board's $130 million budget....
Jim Lincoln wrote: I think most of us really do wish the SBC well, since they generally follow the right path theologically.
I have to disagree. They have justification right, but their ecclesiology is terrible - as you noted, they are the largest denomination; i.e., they are the biggest gathering of sectarians in America. The SBC is also a big enforcer of the false, so-called "clergy / laity" divide, though we see no such divide in the NT.
They also have a strong tendency toward legalism. There are likely more sermons on "tithing" at SBC churches than at most denominational gatherings. Covenant theology has been gaining ground among them as well in recent years.
But even thinking about their origins, the only reason there is a Southern Baptist Convention is because they couldn't agree with their northern brothers that slavery is wrong. So how much faith am I to have that they are theologically correct?
Mr. Dispy, with such a large denomination, and the SBC is the largest denomination in the country. They're going to have to have some formal organization, if they pool their money into missionary work. When a person can't follow what his organization deems as very necessary, then they should fire him.
I think most of us really do wish the SBC well, since they generally follow the right path theologically. However, this does show the benefits of each local church being responsible for all activities including missionary work.
Another example of some of the many hazards of denominations are the ideas that men get about doing God's work, such as:
1. We should pool all of our money to support missions; and then
2. We need a board to oversee all that money that has been pooled; and then
3. We need staff to support the board that oversees all that money that has been pooled.
Why not just trust the Lord Jesus to call the people to whom he has given gifts to the work, and to motivate the people who are supposed to support the work to pray for those who are sent out and to help with finances?
Oh, that would never work! they'll say. The Lord needs missions boards to get his work done!
Charles A. Bonadies | 7/8/2007
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