BaptistLife.Com Forums.

Actually Sandy, they'd be better off forming Presbyteries and becoming Presbyterians rather than electing Bishops. Reformed polity is a lot more controlling than Episcopal polity. Methodists (Anglican and Episcopalians) allow for a lot more diversity in interpretation of our faith statements than what is being posited here.

I have also been really surprised that clergy in the UMC have considerably more authority and freedom than Presbyterian pastors do. I really wonder why these Baptist pastors wants their Elder Boards, etc.

Yes, I can see their fear that any change that makes women less than second class citizens would eventually lead to women in the pulpit. Because it does. You have keep people thinking women are subservient to men otherwise they'll figure out that women are equal to me.

As to Calvinism, I believe strict Calvinist thinking is one of the worst things to ever happen to Protestant Christianity.

I think that the Baptists back in the coves and hollows of Appalachia came closer to getting it right when they said, "No book but the Bible; no creed but Christ." I give thanks often to have realized one day that I had not left the SBC but the SBC had long ago left me.

I’m not thinking that the rabid Cals are gaining in influence. The Founders organization, who produced the film, is diminishing in influence. They deserve it for stuff they’ve done recently. The gang that can’t shoot straight.

My mod friends get some things right. One is to eschew resolutions. The SBC has screwed up the resolution process two years running. It’s cost us.

Next year promises to be fun-filled for our Grand Old Convention. Churches have been soft on cooperative program support for decades. All this stuff feeds that.

I know several that set their CP support based on that of the church served by the SBC Presidents.