Skip to main content

Meet and Greet

One of the first people I saw at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Charlotte greeted me with, “Didn’t you use to be somebody?” Well, I was and I am. In fact, everybody at the General Assembly was somebody to friends and colleagues they encountered.

The General Assembly is your typical “meet and greet” denominational meeting where you catch up with friends with a brief handshake or hug, chat for a few minutes before moving on, engage in a 15 to 20 minute conversation about what’s happening in your respective lives, or share a meal together. These are opportunities to share joys, troubles, words of encouragement, and assurances of prayer.

Of course, this type of interaction has some dangerous moments. You might run into the chair of that search committee that never called you back (embarrassing for that person) or misidentify someone you should know. I only had one serious experience of the latter this year. When you don’t recognize someone right off, it is usually safe to ask, “How are things at your church?” and hope that their response will trigger some recollection. Only problem was that I did this with a person who has not been in a church staff position in years and works for a professional organization. Embarrassing! I should have known better.

There were many more pleasant and affirming encounters. I ran into Esther Burroughs and her husband, Bob, who reminded me that I was the one that started her on the college lecture circuit talking about sex and marriage. A number of former students introduced me to their sons or daughters who would be college freshmen in the fall! I saw a number of former campus ministry colleagues, a number of whom were able to transition into good ministries as chaplains, educators, pastors, or church staff members when their state conventions changed their philosophy of college ministry.

I celebrated with some the joys of ministry and sympathized with others about the challenges they are facing. One friend shared his vision for a new church start that would reach unchurched people in the rural part of a southern state. Another talked about the work he and his wife will do in the Philippines.

I am always pleased to see and speak to those folks who have been my “heroes” in Baptist life—James Dunn, Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler, Emmanuel McCall, Bill Sherman, and Harlan Spurgeon (among many). Many of those individuals who have been my contemporaries—like Bill Leonard and Carolyn
Anderson--are now moving into another phase of their ministries but are still important contributors to the CBF movement. I was especially impressed by the young leaders, including a number of women, who have assumed leadership roles. I am pleased to know some of them personally

Of course, it was good to see former state CBF coordinator colleagues (although there is transition in those ranks) and Tennessee CBF friends. With a new coordinator, Terry Maples, on board, TCBF has an opportunity to move in new directions in the days ahead.

I also enjoyed time with some relatively new friends—my colleagues at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. We had to answer the question, “Where is Molly (Marshall)?” a number of times, but our president was busy representing the seminary’s interests at the Association of Theological Schools Biennial Meeting in Montreal (I assume that it was cooler there). Those of us representing the seminary were no substitute for Molly, but we did our best.

It was also a good time of fellowship with my “boss” and colleague, Mark Tidsworth, of Pinnacle Leadership Associates. Mark and Melanie, as well as their daughter Erin and her friend Jessica had a great Chinese meal together. Mark and I both attended the Leadership Institute with Alan Roxburgh and had the chance to share some insights from that and other parts of the program.

Of course, I noticed those who were not there, as well. Cecil Sherman has gone on to join his dear wife, Dot, leaving both a heritage and sense of loss. Other friends are at the age where they can no longer travel to the meetings, but they have made a significant contribution to the moderate movement. Then there are those who have chosen to move on to other pastures of denominational or vocational life. Their departure is our loss.

Since I am an only child, I value the folks I encountered at the General Assembly. They are my siblings, brothers and sisters in Christ. It was family reunion time.  Our personal conversations may be infrequent, but we have walked the same road together and this year our steps converged in Charlotte.


Comments

Check these out

Confessions of a Recovering Southern Baptist

I am grateful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist.  I was exposed to the Bible and worship from a very young age.  I grew up in a church in south Alabama that supported the Cooperative Program of missions giving.  This meant that our church had the benefit of being part of a supportive group of local churches and the educational opportunities that afforded. Our state convention provided varied and effective ministries with groups like orphans, ethnic groups, and college students.  We supported missionaries at home and abroad.  We had good Bible study and training literature (which we paid for, of course).  I went to an accredited seminary and paid a remarkably low tuition.  Wherever you went on a Sunday morning (in the Southeast and Southwest, at least), you could find a church that sang the familiar hymns and studied the same Bible lesson. In hindsight, I realize that this Southern Baptist utopia was imperfect.  There were significant theological differences, often geograp

The Bible Tells Me So

As I read the story of the Good Samaritan during my devotional today, I was reminded of the times that I have heard the story in the Christian education setting of the local church--as a youngster in primary and intermediate classes (old terminology), as a young adult in college classes, and then as an adult, often teaching the passage myself.     The characters and story line are very familiar due to these experiences of Christian education. These are challenging times for Christian education in the church.  Like so much of what is happening in the church today, the old forms do not seem to support present needs.  What once worked no longer seems to be effective.  Christian education or the formation of believers is in a state of flux. In an article on ethicsdaily.com , retired professor Colin Harris addresses this issue. He points out that the period of the 60’s and 70’s  “saw the beginnings of a loss of vitality within the educational dimension of church ministry, as the

Metaphors of the Kingdom of God

In a recent blog , consultant Seth Godin addresses the power of metaphor.   He points out, “The best way to learn a complex idea is to find it living inside something else you already understand.”   In other words, “this” is like “that.” “When you see a story, an example, a wonderment,” says Godin, “take a moment to look for the metaphor inside.”   Jesus turned this around.   In the use of parables, he told a story or provided a metaphor and challenged his hearers to see the truth within. For example, in his teaching on the Kingdom (or Reign) of God in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom to such things as a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a net, a king, and a landowner.   His hearers are encouraged to use their imaginations to understand something that they had never experienced.   He also attempted to shift their perspective so that they might see signs of the Kingdom breaking into their present reality.  These are metaphors for the Kingdom. Where do w

The Tragedy of Willow Creek Community Church

File photo of Steve Carter, Heather Larson, and Bill Hybels As Christian brothers and sisters, we need to pray for Willow Creek Community Church.   On the eve of the Global Leadership Summit, a worldwide conference sponsored by the church in cooperation with the Willow Creek Association, church leadership imploded as a result of further allegations against former pastor Bill Hybels. Last year, Hybels introduced the team who would assume church leadership upon his retirement--lead pastor Heather Larson and teaching pastor Steve Carter.  Although the founding pastor planned to stay on to assist in a time of transition, reports of sexual impropriety involving Hybels surfaced early this year.  He accelerated his departure from the church and left the board of the Willow Creek Association. When other charges emerged last week, teaching pastor Carter resigned. On Wednesday evening, Larson and the entire elder board--lay leaders who provide accountability on behalf of the congreg

A Future for the Global Leadership Summit?

Craig Groeschel, the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church. The Global Leadership Summit which began as a project of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and its founding pastor, Bill Hybels, over 25 years ago was held this week without Hybels. For several years, the GLS has been now produced by the Willow Creek Association, a spin-off organization and a loose network of churches but Hybels has been its driving force. Attended by thousands at the church facility in South Barrington and broadcast to thousands more at satellite locations, the annual meeting brings together not only evangelical leaders but outstanding speakers from business, charitable organizations, politics, and business.  For the first time, Hybels did not appear due to allegations of sexual impropriety brought against him over the past year by former employees, staff members, and business associates.  He has already left the church and resigned from the board of the association.