Truett Presence in Greensboro

The following was originally posted on the official blog of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  You can access it here. 

 

Seven years ago I enrolled in George W. Truett Theolgoical Seminary.  It was a risky decision for me.  I knew little about Christianity as a whole, much less Baptist Christianity.  I was turned on to the seminary by professors at East Texas Baptist University.  Until then, I was not aware the institution existed, or what it stood for and how it differed from other institutions.

This decision set me on a course to be a pastor within the Baptist tradition.  A tradition, that I would soon learn, has a complicated and nuanced history.  Some have claimed Truett is merely a reactionary institution, emerging from the Southern Baptist wars that are barely a memory in the thoughts of people my age.  To that I would say that every movement is a reaction to something.  The key element that has made me grateful to be associated with Truett is not what it is against, but rather what it encourages and affirms.

Greensboro, North Carolina is a long way from Central Texas.  As a CBF Fellow, I've learned just how different life and culture is outside of my home state.  As a "Texas Baptist," the brand many of us prefer these days, I admit to feeling awkward in highly liturgical settings, where worship feels a little too scripted and formal.  However, if I learned anything from my seminary days, it is that just because something is different, that does not mean it is inherently bad or wrong.

Herein lies the great ethos I've come to appreciate about my alma-mater: it's extremely difficult to "pigeonhole." When struggling with making the decision to attend, I remember hearing things from various sources regarding the school: "it's too liberal;" "it's too conservative;" "it's too young;" "it's too small;" "it's not Baptist." Yet, as I met up with friends at the alumni reception, I was reminded of just how broad and encompassing our presence is.  I was reminded that I prefer to define Truett not by WHAT it is, but by WHO it is.

It is the "Texas Baptist" pastor that seeks to minister to a rural community in a small church; it is the church starter in the middle of a poverty-sticken urban metropolis; it is people serving in remote places you will never hear about, and award winners in the center of denominational life; it is men and women living out the call God has placed on their life.

And in the midst of its vast representation, it is a family that seeks to continually support and encourage its alumni.  As former and current students caught up with one another, associate dean Dr. Dennis Tucker quieted the room for a few moments to share an invitation with us to an alumni retreat and to unveil the "Office of Church Services."  The retreat will be led by beloved professor, Dr. Hulitt Gloer, whose very presence exudes one of solace and refreshment, and the new office is an attempt to create a more efficient and effective way to connect both students and alumni to places of service.

As the night's events came to a close, I found myself thankful to be affiliated with such a supportive institution, and challenged to fulfill the call that I and so many others have discovered at Truett.

CBF Commissioning Service

The following was originally posted on the official blog of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  You can access it here. 

The Commissioning Service for church starters, field personnel, chaplains, and pastoral counselors took place at 7:15 pm on June 27^th as one of the main evening worship services of the 2013 CBF General Assembly.  This year’s theme was reflected throughout the service as verses from Kyle Matthew’s We Go Boldly were sang in various key moments, as well as in the timeless challenge found in the singing of Harry Emerson Fosdick’s God of Grace and God of Glory.  It was a time to recognize faithful service of the past, and to anticipate new service of the future. 

One of the most pronounced and well-known recognitions of past service was that of George Pickle.  Video testimonies by those touched by his many years of faithful ministry demonstrated what a life of faithfulness looks like.  It was only fitting to follow this presentation with this beloved servant sharing a role in the commissioning of new chaplains and pastoral counselors with Angela Lowe. 

Bo Prosser and Jim Smith commissioned church starters and field personnel.  The places of service for these varied from places within the U.S. (Texas, Illinois, and Florida), to locations that are hardly on most people’s radar (Malaysia, Japan, and Cambodia).  As the Fellowship heard each of the individual stories behind these servants, it became apparent that they are indeed going forth “with great boldness.”  From utilizing traditional partnerships among Baptist organizations, to working with other denominations and organizations, these personnel are on the forefront of the creative and thoughtful service that makes the CBF unique.

Wendell Griffin was not lying went he got up and told us that he only had one idea to deliver in his message: the idea that we are on a mission from God.  As this bi-vocational pastor spoke boldly, he admitted that it sounds “cheeky” to affirm that “God is doing something through us.”  However, that has been the simple belief of Cooperative Baptists from the start.  He recognized the need of audacity in our service to God’s mission, which only comes from the firm convictions that we are indeed doing God’s work. 

Following this inspirational message, there was no doubt among the assembly that those commissioned and celebrated were going forth to engage in the work of God, no matter how great and uncertain the challenges ahead may be.  The assembly response was the final refrain of Fosdick’s God of Grace and God of Glory, which appropriately captures the prayer and hope we have for all those serving in our Baptist family and in the body of Christ:

Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be

Armored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free. 

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor thee!

That we fail not them nor thee!

Will the Real Paul Please Stand Up?

The following was originally posted on the official blog of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  You can access it here. 

 

There was standing room only during Todd Still’s presentation on June 6^th during the 2013 CBF General Assembly.  The workshop’s title was “Will the Real Paul Please Stand Up?”  Still jokingly remarked that the inspiration for the title came from a 1956 television show where four panelists questioned and voted upon the identity of three contestants.  It was after choosing this title that he was informed by younger colleagues of its ability to grab their attention by calling to mind a song entitled “The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem. 

Perhaps due in part to the uniquely worded title, the diversity of age in those present was just as large as the size of the group.  The identity of this popular and controversial apostle seemed to have struck a chord with people across the spectrum.  Another reason is likely due to the understanding among Cooperative Baptists that Paul and his writings are not simple to nail down.  Interpretations vary among those that have tried, causing J. Albert Harrill to speak of “many different Pauls rather than ‘the’ Paul.”  It is this dilemma that Still tried to address with only an hour of time and a room full of people with various and questions and opinions.

 In an honest but sincere fashion, Still began by acknowledging the difficulty that comes with approaching the apostle.  While this acknowledgement might create frustration and uneasiness among some, the group that gathered responded with understanding head nods and knowing smiles.  He did not dance around source issues (disputable vs. indisputable letters), the complexity of Paul’s character, or the subjectivity one finds when turning to various opinions.  He admitted that Paul was a round character with multiple sides and dimensions (and that every other human being is as well).

The most compelling, and some might say the most “Baptist” part of his presentation, followed when he simply let some of Paul’s writings speak for themselves.  After several passages were read by various people, Still would comment on the particular aspects they brought to table of Pauline study.  As the overflowing group read scripture after scripture in a way that you might experience in a Sunday School class or a Wednesday night Bible study, I could not help but be thankful to be in a group that was willing to take these pieces of Scripture seriously.  In spite of the frustration, confusion, and uneasiness they have caused among us throughout the years, an attitude of reverence and respect for them also seemed to remain.

Following these readings, Still placed the proverbial ball in the court of his hearers, reminding them that when it is all said and done, each person has to decide who Paul is for themselves. 

Some have and continue to see him as a “Christian posterboy.”  The sheer number of his writings and those attributed to him that compose the New Testament corpus sometimes play a role in this tendency.  It seems, however, that this day is fading.  Unfortunately, in true reactionary fashion, some have gone to the opposite extreme and portrayed him as a “convenient whipping boy.”  Still referenced an assertion made by Tom Wright regarding the current state of Pauline studies: “a lot of noise is made on both sides by people that do not know what they are talking about.”  He reminded us that the loudest person in the room is not necessarily the correct one.  Finally, Still shared his preferred understanding of Paul as a “flawed, yet faithful servant-apostle.”

As he came to a close, Still admitted that if not for Paul, we would not have some of the more difficult passages that many have used to subjugate women, promote slavery, and justify damaging theology.  One the other hand, he reminded us, we would also not have the inclusive language of Galatians 3:28 and the affirmation that all believers are one in Christ Jesus.  It was a joy for me to see a room full of Cooperative Baptists that have not given up on Paul.  After wading in deep, scholarly waters for an hour, the group remained longer to further question Still about what he had presented and to ask about their own thoughts and struggles in wrestling with the Apostle. 

This willingness to listen, question, and to continually examine all of Scripture in spite of the way it has been used by those we disagree with is one of the hallmarks that makes me thankful to be a Baptist.  May we continue to hold Scripture in such high esteem and allow it to shape us as we seek to be the people of God in the CBF.