by Stephen Fox » Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:38 pm
Here is hoping Gushee will pursue conversations rumored to be in the hopper with the likes of Ben Cole and Burleson and shore up the right end of progressive Baptist movement.
Will be interesting to see if some common ground can be found with Burleson, Anne Lotz, McKissic and the Baptist World Alliance.
That would be something, some real statement by the likes of Burleson.
Until that time I think Johnny Pierce has Burleson's number in his review of Burleson's IMB book.
I have the sense folks like Burleson and Adrian's son David Rogers and Ginny Brant are trying to find a way to say the fundy takeover of the SBC was wrong but can't find the words.
Anne Lotz could do a big thing if with her family in the BWA she led the way with these folks.
Randall Balmer will be giving three lectures in the Buddy Shurden series mid April at Mercer. Here is hoping some substantive conversations will be held during that time discussing Graham Lotz, Burleson, McKissic and possible common ground with the BWA.
Ben Cole can help formulate a statement that says the best of Baptist witness in America rejects the political creedalism of Richard Land and the machinations of Karl Rove.
NT Wright himself says religious right groped for the right thing, but chose the wrong issues and went about it in the wrong way.
Some common ground in the BWA would incarnate such a course correction the likes of Brant, Lotz and Burleson seem to be groping for.
Johnny Pierce can act as a facilitator to help them articulate such a move.
Here is a Shout Out to Bruce Gourley and the forces at Mercer with the Buddy Shurden lectures.
Don't be shy. Invite Anne Graham Lotz down for the Balmer lectures and have two days of intense conversation about the topic chosen for Balmer's three lectures. Could make some real history there is they have the cohonas to invite Lotz down for such conversation.
Invite Ginny Brant as well.
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