Baptist leadeship

[Salty]

The Southern Baptist Convention is an affilation of local churches.
The SBC has several units - ie Semminaries, Guidestone, Lifeway, as well as
State/Commonwealth conventions, ect

Should the Executives of the SBC - such as Presiden, Veep, ect only be
composed of pastors of the churches. I realize that the Presidents of the schools and
other agcys are norally ordained - but they have not been pastoring a church of late.

Thus, should the SBC consider such a rule that only active pastors may be voted into
these positions?

 

[StefanM]

I don't think there is a need for a rule because I don't see a problem, unless the reason for no longer being in a pastoral role is something that would be disqualifying for ministry.

 

[Salty]

I don't think there is a need for a rule because I don't see a problem, unless the reason for no longer being in a pastoral role is something that would be disqualifying for ministry.

The reason I mention that is that when the leaders of the schools and agys - well could it be a situation of
the Fox guarding the hen house? That is would they as leaders of the SBC and their School/agy could be considered a conflict of interest.

 

[Reformed1689]

Thus, should the SBC consider such a rule that only active pastors may be voted into
these positions?

Not necessarily. The area of academics are not necessarily pastoral.

 

[Salty]

Not necessarily. The area of academics are not necessarily pastoral.

Even more the reason they should not be in SBC leadership.

 

[Jerome]

Salty, there is rule for trustee boards of SBC entities, that they cannot be comprised solely of pastors. A good number of trustees must be 'non-clergy'!

 

[Ziggy]

Do all the heads of SBC agencies (including especially the seminaries) have actual pastoral experience or even ordination? I'm not sure, but would like to know.

 

[Jerome]

Should the Executives of the SBC - such as Presiden, Veep, ect only be composed of pastors of the churches....should the SBC consider such a rule that only active pastors may be voted into
these positions?

Salty, fyi here are the current SBC officers. Only three are, in your words, 'active pastors':

June 2019 • Convention's leadership diversity evident as new SBC officers Marshal Ausberry, Kathy Litton, and Noe Garcia join John Yeats and J.D. Greear

(left to right) Yeats, Ausberry, Greear, Litton, Garcia

 

[Jerome]

Salty, have you heard of the SBC Leadership Diversity Initiative?

"One year ago...the launch of the SBC Leadership Diversity Initiative...designed as a networking tool...to discover and identify Southern Baptists for potential leadership roles...particularly ethnic minorities, women, and lay persons."



"Over the past year....we’ve been able to forward the contact information of over 70 different potential nominees to SBC leaders when they have requested data from us."

We’re...thankful to see a dramatic increase in diversity among some of the appointments and committees announced already this year....J. D. Greear has made increasing diversity in leadership a priority from the beginning."

 

[Jerome]

The Southern Baptist Convention is an affilation....The SBC has several units - ie Semminaries, Guidestone, Lifeway, [etc.]....the Presidents of the schools and other agcys are norally ordained

Do all the heads of SBC agencies (including especially the seminaries) have actual pastoral experience or even ordination?

There are thirteen SBC-related corporations.


A number have had very recent turnover at the top.

New leaders in 2019 are:


New Orleans Seminary — President Jamie Dew

Southwestern Seminary — President Adam Greenway

EC — President RonnieFloyd

IMB — President Paul Chitwood

LifeWay — President Ben Mandrell



Those who have been in office for years are:


GuideStone — President O.S. Hawkins (since 1997)

ERLC — President Russell Moore (2013)

Midwestern Seminary — President Jason Allen (2012)

Gateway Seminary — President Jeff Iorg (2004)

NAMB — President Kevin Ezell (2010)

Southern Seminary — President Al Mohler (1993)

WMU — President Linda Cooper (2015)

Southeastern Seminary — President Danny Akin (2004)

 

[Reynolds]

The reason I mention that is that when the leaders of the schools and agys - well could it be a situation of
the Fox guarding the hen house? That is would they as leaders of the SBC and their School/agy could be considered a conflict of interest.

Its Its definitely a conflict of interest.

 

[Salty]

Let me rephrase - - I dont have a problem with non-ordained/licensed church members being in the state/commonwealth or National bodies leadership.
What I believe should not happened are those individual who are employed by a SBC entity.
The only reason I mentioned pastors before -is because normally it was pastors who did make up the leadership.

As I said before the SBC and local conventions/association is an affilation of local churches - NOT entities.
Thus any individaul in a leadership position should only reprsenent a local church - and not be employed by any entinity.

 

[Jerome]

An exchange between twitterers Pastor Steve Gaines (Bellevue Baptist, Memphis) and Russell Moore earlier this year:

Russell Moore on Twitter 15 April 2019

Gaines: "Why shouldn’t the next President of LifeWay be a competent, Godly woman? I see no biblical reason LifeWay has to be led by a man or a former pastor."

Russell Moore: "Amen."

Gaines: "Thx, Dr. Moore"

 

[Ziggy]

From reading Jerome's links, and checking other sources, it appears that all listed agency or seminary heads (WMU excluded) have actual senior pastoral experience *except* Adam Greenway, Jeff Iorg, Russell Moore, and Danny Akin.

Feel free to correct me if I read the information wrongly.

 

[agedman]

The only leadership not exclusive to men should be the WMU.

ALL who are in leadership should meet the same qualifications as elder, with no exception other than WMU.

 

[Salty]

The only leadership not exclusive to men should be the WMU.

ALL who are in leadership should meet the same qualifications as elder, with no exception other than WMU.

My first thought is often a church or S/C or Association may have the President of the International Mission Board
to come and preach a message. But if the President of the IMB is a female - then she would not be preaching.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[agedman]

My first thought is often a church or S/C or Association may have the President of the International Mission Board
to come and preach a message. But if the President of the IMB is a female - then she would not be preaching.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

In my opinion, the church should not be involved in supporting any organization that the leadership does not meet the requirements of the elder.

 

[Jerome]

The only leadership not exclusive to men should be the WMU.

ALL who are in leadership should meet the same qualifications as elder, with no exception other than WMU.

Jim Richards, Texas convention executive director, lobbying for a woman leader of a SBC entity earlier this year:

New Leadership in the SBC | Jim Richards | April 23, 2019

At LifeWay I would...advocate for a woman to be considered for the president’s position....Diversity has to be intentional. We can get this done....it will happen.

We need good partners in all of our SBC entities. We don’t need to nitpick our differences....I urge all Southern Baptists to pray for the search teams....let’s...move forward for the glory of God!

Hallelujah!