Thank you for having been about to ask Alvin Reid’s and Nathan Finn’s weekend. I’ll be happy to inform you. Alvin and Nathan traveled to Oklahoma this past weekend to speak at the annual meeting of the Northwestern Baptist Association in Woodward, OK. Nathan finn provided a brief overview of SBC history, explaining how we arrived at this moment. Alvin Reid preached from Acts 2:41-47, on the priorities of a healthy church.
The theme of the conference was “For the World: Becoming the Great Commission Church.” The other speaker was Anthony Jordan, Oklahoma’s EDT. Dout Baker moderated a panel discussion, in which the participants discussed a number of topics, including the gospel, GCR, Baptist Identity, Calvinism, and the Cooperative Program. If you are interested in the audio content, you may click here and here.
Dear Nathan,
Tell me, please, that you did not wear a bowtie to Oklahoma. That would be just one step removed from having showed up in a Texas hoodie.
Paul
Comment by Paul Brewster — November 5, 2009 @ 2:21 pm
I listened to the podcast segments from Woodward. Since it was only streaming audio (no video) I don’t know who wore (or didn’t wear) what type of tie.
This podcast was excellent! I think this is the best overall assessment of what is going on in SBC life that I’ve heard in the last five years. That is because those who spoke represent the various stakeholders in SBC life more than many conferences which I’ve heard.
The fact that is was held in Oklahoma didn’t hurt either. :)
The GCR task force is representative of many stakeholders in SBC life but for whatever reason each of them has not “gone on record” as making any type of assessment as to what they see going forward — at least not in any type of public forum that I’m aware of. So far, at least of 80% of the data flow coming from the task force participants has been either (a) definition of the goals and/or (b) the historical context we are in. What is needed now is starting a PUBLIC conversation on (c) what are the TANGIBLE changes that the task force members see going forward.
Although the conference only obliquely discussed the GCR task force, I thought listening to the speakers provided a pretty good insight for uninformed laymen like myself as to the extent that leaders in various segments of SBC life “see the terrain”.
If only one statement sums up the meeting is it this: Dr Jordan [as it relates to the CP] : “. . . . let them put their money where their mouth is “. I agree with Dr. Jordan. Maybe this whole CP mechanism needs some tune-up but don’t get out sticks of dynamite. Lets keep the CP alive and well rather than construct a framework that justifies ways to circumvent it.
Doug: Thanks for moderating this and putting it up on a podcast.
Roger K. Simpson
Oklahoma City OK
Comment by Roger K. Simpson — November 5, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
Paul,
I did not wear a bowtie, but not for lack of effort. It was packed, but the DOM who hosted the event asked–no, BEGGED–that I not wear it. Something about wild-eyed Okies beating me up and stealing my lunch money. So I spoke sans bowtie. Call it contextualization.
NAF
Comment by Nathan Finn — November 6, 2009 @ 10:02 am
Nathan,
WIMP!
Bill
Comment by Bill Nettles — November 9, 2009 @ 2:36 pm