Comments on Founders Ministries Blog: GCRTF Report passes, good spirit predominates at t...

Thank you, brother, for sharing your insights. It...

2010-06-21T13:29:52.440-04:00

Thank you, brother, for sharing your insights. It helps as I'm processing my thoughts. I too hope for radical renewal.

God bless you,

James

James: Your concerns resonate with me. I would ha...

2010-06-21T05:22:54.072-04:00

James:

Your concerns resonate with me. I would have voted for much more radical recommendations than the report contained. I voted for it as is because I believe it points toward a new direction for the SBC--a direction where proposals like yours can be entertained seriously without throwing the proposer under the bus as a lunatic or disloyal to the cause. God is doing great things in stirring up people within the SBC. Go back and read the GCRTF Report and ask yourself if such language (especially in the challenge to churches section) would have been used even 5 years ago. That, along with the resolutions on the gospel and family worship all signal the dawning of a new day. At least that is my hope and prayer.

This was my first SBC...though I've been a mem...

2010-06-20T15:19:53.244-04:00

This was my first SBC...though I've been a member of SBC churches since the early 90's.

I too went into the experience with good anticipation regarding the GCTF report. I thought I'd vote for it. Alas, I did not.

What struck me was that the report, while offering many things I can celebrate...didn't start at the place of transparency it should have.

I think second to the fact that we need revival and the empowering of the Holy Spirit resulting in obedience to the Great Commission and Great Commandment is the need to address WHERE cooperative dollars are distributed.

It's at the point of distribution where I find my biggest challenge.

We heard a lot of talk about how we were going to scale back the number of IMB missionaries...yet, we spent millions on getting together to talk about convention stuff (read: the cost of having a convention as we do it would fund a lot of missionaries!!!).

Also, currently, cooperative dollars by the hundreds of thousands are spent five times a year on IMB trustee board meetings alone!

My question: Can we not streamline and do things a different way that will still keep the convention strong yet free up funds to be reallocated for things more noble than the two illustrations of superfluous spending mentioned above?

I understand the need for confidentiality. I think...

2010-06-17T22:48:35.267-04:00

I understand the need for confidentiality. I think this is an issue that should have been settled and publicly discussed before being announced in the 11th hour, however. The perception of any kind of inappropriate secrecy is not heathy an could have been avoided with some forethought.

Tom, I would appreciate your take on the decision ...

2010-06-16T19:59:54.535-04:00

Tom, I would appreciate your take on the decision to keep the records of the GCRTF sealed for 15 years.