I have never attended any Baptist convention quite like this year's KBC. Not only did we never require a ballot vote, as far as I could tell every vote was unanimous. I nominated Dr. Bill Henard, pastor of the Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington and my colleague on the faculty of Southern Seminary, to serve as president, and he was elected unanimously by acclamation. Dr. James Castlen, Director of Missions of the Three Forks Association as well as former FMB missionary to the Phillipines and professor at Clear Creek Bible College was elected First Vice President by acclamation. Rick Reeder, Director of Missions of the Caldwell-Lyon Association (where my father is a frequent interim pastor and pulpit supply) was elected as 2nd Vice President, also by acclamation. We passed all resolutions by unanimous vote as well.
Are Baptists allowed to get along this well?
Kudos to Darren Gaddis, one of the truly great young pastors in the SBC, for his great job as president this year. I loved serving with this man. I also very much enjoyed last night's Past Presidents' Dinner. The living history of the KBC was written in the lives of the men in that room. What a special moment when we all gathered around Darren and prayed for him and for our convention. I relish those moments.
Three years ago when I was nominated for President I told the press that one of my goals was to heal some wounds that still existed between the KBC and Southern Seminary. I am happy to say that we now enjoy a healthy symbiotic relationship between Southern and the KBC like there was in years past. Today the current First VP, Kevin Smith, presided over much of the meeting. Not only is he a colleague at Southern, but his office is next to mine. Chad Fugitt, 2nd VP, is a fine young pastor and one of my former students at Southern. Dr. Russell Moore was a member of this year's resolutions committee. Earlier this year Dr. Albert Mohler was the featured speaker at a major statewide Baptist Campus Ministry event. Now the 2007-2008 President is a PhD graduate of Southern and a member of the Billy Graham School faculty. I have preached in chapel at Georgetown College and the University of the Cumberlands, and in March I will preach in chapel at Campbellsville University. All that once seemed unthinkable, but now it seems normal.
I am grateful to the Lord and to Kentucky Baptists for the spirit that I see in our state. We need to continue to reach out to each other, but I believe we are learning to trust each other, be honest with one another, and work together for the glory of God and the spread of the gospel. I am grateful that we have avoided the kind of disputes, squabbles, and even lawsuits that have plagued other states. To God be the glory!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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6 comments:
Dr. York,
I admit that the last three posts all concern me. I am a 'millenial,' an SBTS student, and an IMB missionary.
I praise God that KBC and Southern are in such accord. It is true that as millenials, we desire the best for ourselves, but that can be a very positive, Biblical state. I chose Southern because I thought it to be the most academically challenging of the seminaries, but if it cannot be at peace with the greater SBC institutions, then it is not the 'best' it can be.
As a millenial missionary, I appreciate the ability to mold my work on the field to my God-given strengths and talents, while working within the guidelines of my supervisors. Although we have long used cultural bridges to engage our people, it is good to see that our trustees are addressing these issues. Oh that this work would get more press than certain other actions.
When will we on the field be informed about the details of these principles of contextualization?
Thank you for your service.
Shadrach:
You must be ministering to Babylonians since you have adopted a Babylonian name!
Seriously, I am happy to hear from you. One of the greatest joys I have experienced on the board is hearing how much the IMB loves Southern! I am going to blog about that, too, at some point because the SBC needs to know that Southern has so many going to the mission field. I am proud of you and, though I do not even know who you are, you need to know that I am lifting you to the Lord. Thanks for going for us.
As far as the Millenials post goes, I probably need to elaborate on that a bit. I raised two millenials, after all, and I realize that not everyone born in those 16 years exhibits the tendencies described in the 60 Minutes piece. I grew up in the 70's, but I never had long hair, never smoked pot, never took drugs, and I never joined Students for a Democratic Society. So I don't mean to brush with too broad a stroke, but I find in that analysis of millenials some suggestions for understanding why some things are happening right now.
As far as how the IMB will actually implement and inform missionaries of those guidelines, I really don't know. Frankly, I think 99% of our missionaries are within those guidelines now and these will probably be explained only as some supervisors see a need to set parameters. If you would like to discuss it further, you can email me at my sbts address and I will be happy to help in any way I can.
Actually, we are ministering to West Africans, but we hope to get over toward the Babylonians at some point in our career. I am glad my parents decided not to go with Hannaniah. I think that would have made it difficult getting through Jr. High.
I understand that you are not painting all of us with the negative aspects of millenials, but just wanted to say that God can use those cultural/generational traits in very good ways. We are some of the youngest missionaries in our region who are planning on serving longterm. As such, we have recently been asked to participate in three different 'generational issues' projects. Our region is trying to figure out the same things as the rest of the US, but we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit in the midst of our deliberations.
Again, thanks for your service and comments.
Dr. York,
I have one other question. Why do you believe the messenger turnout to the convention was so low this year? I just read that it was the lowest since 1974 and I thought you would have a much better take on that than any outside commentator.
Thank you, sir.
The unfortunate truth is that people turn out for controversy more than for mere participation in the process. Nothing this year was even contested. People didn't feel the need to "turn out the vote" as in year's past. I threatened to bring up private prayer languages and alien immersion just to get something going, but no one was listening anyway. (That was a joke, btw)
I laughed.
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