Highlights so far...
Highlights of the day (Tuesday): AM- Great breakfast, Dr. Dever did a fantastic job, everyone should get the tape. It should be abundantly clear from his message that reformed-thinking Baptists are VERY clear in their affirmation of evangelism.
Got to finally meet Tom in person. Nice.
In Morning motions session: - One msgr. makes a motion that a committee be formed to study the impact of Calvinism on our denomination and churches (paraphrase). This one really stunned me.
- When Dr. Vines spoke against an amendment resolution and then had someone call a "point of order" (which Welch ruled against), some knucklehead sitting just left of me yells "Just because your name is Jerry Vines doesn't mean you get special treatment!" I respect Jerry Vines ALOT, but seriously, You would've thought someone cursed the pope's mother! The crowd gasped and everyone turned to see who it was. I didn't see...and it WAS definitely a cheap shot, but the drama gave me something to remember in years to come. I joked to a friend that there may be a gallows set up after lunch...
- Morris Chapman's embarrassingly bad debacle. In what was supposed to be his "Executive Committee" report, MC took the opportunity to "set things straight" among SBs by first scolding Calvinists, telling us that "our Calvinistic theology was fine for discussion in the seminaries, but it needed to stay there, and stay out of the churches where it will only create division." (Paraphrase). I thought this was the most ridiculous comment of the day. Actually laughable. Why don't we just keep ALL divisive theology out of our churches...that will mend our troubles! Wait...isn't that why we are suffering with pitifully weak churches now? Haven't we (SBs) been keeping serious theology out of our churches long enough? And BTW... isn't this the same posture our Roman Catholic friends take about "deep theological issues."
- He went on to pontificate about the error of plural eldership, saying the trend needed to stop because it was already ripping churches apart (again, paraphrased)
I had never had any reason to be critical of Dr. Chapman. In fact, I always respected him and enjoyed most of what he wrote. AFter today, I felt that he demonstrated a great deal of hubris standing before pastors of autonomous churches that hold the same statement of faith as he and rebuking them and telling them what to stay away from and what to "stop preaching."
I wasn't surprised to see DR. Page win... the convention air was thick all day with the energy of a CP pep-ralley. My friends and I did the math and figured out mathematically that he only carried the majority (literally 50.4%) by 22 votes! Without 22 votes, he would've sank below 50% and there would have been a run-off. My opinion, bottom line, he won because he was CP strong AND an outsider, and LOTS of the young guys (reformed or not) are sick and tired of the "good ole boy" nepotism and elitism of the convention. Incidentally, I ate lunch at a restaurant where one of the "BIG GUYS" (pastor of a southern state mega-church, former high-ranking officer, etc...) was eating. It was almost comical to watch all the "little people" coming up to him and introducing themselves and wanting to talk shop and pick his brain. Everyone in my group was commenting about how much like "celebrity worship" it has become. How sad. Many after the Mohler/ Patterson discussion were rushing the stage to get their Bibles autographed and their photos made with the celebrities.
The general tone of the day seemed to be "CP Missions and cooperation at ALL costs." It seems to me that more and more folks are leaning toward this "theology doesn't matter so much" mentality, as long as there is CP support (incidentally, at a recommended 10% "tithe.") Everyone seems to agree that is, except those who feel that "Calvinism" is the source of all SB problems. They apparently just want the Calvinists "investigated" and thrown out. I want to see just how they go about this without shredding our own confessional documents.
HIGH POINTS: Wade Burleson's motion for investigation; well recieved, very courageous; NO PROTESTERS THAT I COULD SEE ANYWHERE (if they were there, I missed them!)
LOW POINTS: DR. Chapman's tirade, bonehead calling out Dr. Vines, the scorched coffee that I payed $2 for during Chapman's ordeal.
Got to finally meet Tom in person. Nice.
In Morning motions session: - One msgr. makes a motion that a committee be formed to study the impact of Calvinism on our denomination and churches (paraphrase). This one really stunned me.
- When Dr. Vines spoke against an amendment resolution and then had someone call a "point of order" (which Welch ruled against), some knucklehead sitting just left of me yells "Just because your name is Jerry Vines doesn't mean you get special treatment!" I respect Jerry Vines ALOT, but seriously, You would've thought someone cursed the pope's mother! The crowd gasped and everyone turned to see who it was. I didn't see...and it WAS definitely a cheap shot, but the drama gave me something to remember in years to come. I joked to a friend that there may be a gallows set up after lunch...
- Morris Chapman's embarrassingly bad debacle. In what was supposed to be his "Executive Committee" report, MC took the opportunity to "set things straight" among SBs by first scolding Calvinists, telling us that "our Calvinistic theology was fine for discussion in the seminaries, but it needed to stay there, and stay out of the churches where it will only create division." (Paraphrase). I thought this was the most ridiculous comment of the day. Actually laughable. Why don't we just keep ALL divisive theology out of our churches...that will mend our troubles! Wait...isn't that why we are suffering with pitifully weak churches now? Haven't we (SBs) been keeping serious theology out of our churches long enough? And BTW... isn't this the same posture our Roman Catholic friends take about "deep theological issues."
- He went on to pontificate about the error of plural eldership, saying the trend needed to stop because it was already ripping churches apart (again, paraphrased)
I had never had any reason to be critical of Dr. Chapman. In fact, I always respected him and enjoyed most of what he wrote. AFter today, I felt that he demonstrated a great deal of hubris standing before pastors of autonomous churches that hold the same statement of faith as he and rebuking them and telling them what to stay away from and what to "stop preaching."
I wasn't surprised to see DR. Page win... the convention air was thick all day with the energy of a CP pep-ralley. My friends and I did the math and figured out mathematically that he only carried the majority (literally 50.4%) by 22 votes! Without 22 votes, he would've sank below 50% and there would have been a run-off. My opinion, bottom line, he won because he was CP strong AND an outsider, and LOTS of the young guys (reformed or not) are sick and tired of the "good ole boy" nepotism and elitism of the convention. Incidentally, I ate lunch at a restaurant where one of the "BIG GUYS" (pastor of a southern state mega-church, former high-ranking officer, etc...) was eating. It was almost comical to watch all the "little people" coming up to him and introducing themselves and wanting to talk shop and pick his brain. Everyone in my group was commenting about how much like "celebrity worship" it has become. How sad. Many after the Mohler/ Patterson discussion were rushing the stage to get their Bibles autographed and their photos made with the celebrities.
The general tone of the day seemed to be "CP Missions and cooperation at ALL costs." It seems to me that more and more folks are leaning toward this "theology doesn't matter so much" mentality, as long as there is CP support (incidentally, at a recommended 10% "tithe.") Everyone seems to agree that is, except those who feel that "Calvinism" is the source of all SB problems. They apparently just want the Calvinists "investigated" and thrown out. I want to see just how they go about this without shredding our own confessional documents.
HIGH POINTS: Wade Burleson's motion for investigation; well recieved, very courageous; NO PROTESTERS THAT I COULD SEE ANYWHERE (if they were there, I missed them!)
LOW POINTS: DR. Chapman's tirade, bonehead calling out Dr. Vines, the scorched coffee that I payed $2 for during Chapman's ordeal.
posted by pastorleap | 7:06 PM
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