Alan Bean chides CBF for lack of "political preaching"

[Rvaughn]

In praise of political preaching
https://baptistnews.com/article/praise-political-preaching/#.WREY-PQrLrd

Is the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship speaking with moral authority on issues of the day? Click on the advocacy link on the CBF website and you will learn that the CBF’s approach to advocacy is “individual and systemic, global and national, state and local, relational and non-partisan.” And because it must be non-partisan it can’t have anything to do with politics. Which is why the next sections of the page explains why the CBF isn’t in the business of dictating morality to its constituency.

[William Thornton]

I like Bean's phrase "making a virtue out of grim necessity." This is the CBF's position, seems to me, although individuals identifying with the group take many partisan positions. Tough to do anything that would reduce the money flow. We all feel that at times.

...and the CBF is master (mistress?) of the grand statement of principle: "individual and systemic, global and national, state and local, relational and non-partisan.” A masterpiece signifying not a whole lot.

[Dave Roberts]

I like Bean's phrase "making a virtue out of grim necessity." This is the CBF's position, seems to me, although individuals identifying with the group take many partisan positions. Tough to do anything that would reduce the money flow. We all feel that at times.

...and the CBF is master (mistress?) of the grand statement of principle: "individual and systemic, global and national, state and local, relational and non-partisan.” A masterpiece signifying not a whole lot.

Part of the struggle of all organizational life is realizing that the prophetic edge can only be so far ahead of the masses. You cannot lead people in change if you get beyond where they can see your back. The protestant individualism in our heritage means that social concern is still played in a minor key in churches. The most prophetic thing in CBF right now is refugee resettlement which runs directly counter to the efforts to cut off all immigrants.

[William Thornton]

I agree with Dave.

[Tim Bonney]

Part of the struggle of all organizational life is realizing that the prophetic edge can only be so far ahead of the masses. You cannot lead people in change if you get beyond where they can see your back. The protestant individualism in our heritage means that social concern is still played in a minor key in churches. The most prophetic thing in CBF right now is refugee resettlement which runs directly counter to the efforts to cut off all immigrants.

While social action is a much bigger part of Methodist DNA, your advise is still good Dave. You can't get too far ahead.

[Rvaughn]

I agree with Dave.

I can't. I am offended by his insinuation against minor keyed music!

[Haruo]

I agree with Dave.

I can't. I am offended by his insinuation against minor keyed music!

I will stand with you and Jesus on this one, Robert!

[Jim]

I agree with Dave.

I can't. I am offended by his insinuation against minor keyed music!

I will stand with you and Jesus on this one, Robert!

I love the minor key and offer this as proof: http://clarkscorner.org/hymn83.pdf. Try it out and enjoy the minor third.

[Haruo]

But without the shapes, how can you tell where the la's are that prove it minor?!

[Dave Roberts]

OK, I used a faulty analogy. Not the first or the last. I like several minor keyed pieces of music.

[Jim]

But without the shapes, how can you tell where the la's are that prove it minor?!

Au contraire! I vote for mi as the vital ingredient turning things minor, but to each his own, shapes or otherwise.

[Rvaughn]

Maybe we could create a forum for musical debate to break the monotony!

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing "Hallelujah."

From "Hallelujah" by Leonard Norman Cohen