For the last few days I have been attending the Georgia Baptist Convention. It's an interesting meeting where representatives of around 4000 Baptist churches get together to fellowship, worship, and most of all to conduct business. I signed up to serve as an usher: help people to their seats, give directions, take up ballots, etc. But I found out I was not needed, so with relief I took off my tie and sat back to watch. I've always enjoyed being an observer of human behaviour. I will give some personal, and trivial, observations of the 190th meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention:

I feel kind of badly that I do not more enjoy this kind of stuff. I know, for many of these guys, this is a highlight of their year. They travel from throughout the state to attend these meeting from open to close. With fervor they really get into all the meetings and politics. I attend, because it is expected of me as part of my job. I missed this afternoon's session to drive to Dahlonega, about an hour away, to be with an elderly lady who was dying and her family was in distress. The daughter called last night and we got the prayer chain to going. Then today I found out she had rallied; and quite often I see prayer work in such a direct way. So I was absent when the convention voted for officers. No big deal. And once again I was not elected as President.

At the end of the session last night, all of the convention participants were invited to travel, in awaiting motorcoaches, about a mile down the road to participate in the dedication of the newly constructed Missions And Ministry Center of the Georgia Baptist Convention. This is the nerve center for our church headquarters. Recently we abandoned what I consider quite sufficient buildings in downtown Atlanta to build here in the affluent suburbs. The cost? $46,000,000. That's right. We used the tithes and offerings of God's people, many of them faithful though financially challenged, to build a multi-million dollar facility in the most affluent County in the state, upon some of the most expensive property. And why did we leave the poor section of Atlanta to do this? I'm thinking the golf courses are now a lot closer, as are the mini and not-so-mini mansions of our employees. And so are the thriving churches that reflect the kinds of people we really want to reach (wink, wink). And, all of this really makes me upset. My church and family are aware that I have taken a vow to never step foot inside this new facility. Last night they were having a free barbeque as part of the dedication festivities. I love to eat, but I did not join in the celebration. Last night, I lost my appetite.

I heard some good preaching.

Conversed with some good friends.

Enjoyed some great music.

Picked up some nice Baptist keychains, inkpens, and Christian candy bars.  We all know Jesus prefers the tiny little malted milk balls.

Tomorrow, this curmudgeon will pass along some more observations.  I heard an interesting song. It made me discontinue my game on my Palm Pilot to sit up and take notice. It sounded good at first. And then it irritated me. More later.

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posted by: seochris (reply)
post date: 11.14.06 (8:06 pm)

U seem to really have some bad experiences in the past with this organization. I don't know. Plz correct me. Regarding u becoming the Prez I feel that u are also doiing a far noble work through your church leadership.

Since u have also taken the vow of not stepping in this kingly mansion, I believe urself again aspiring to becoming the prez is also a bit absurd. Suppose if u were present during the ballot and u win. Its required from u to step in the castle which u have vowed against.

One more thing....

Till this time I have not found a fantastic blogger like u though there are many which I do not want to name. But for me personally ur blog is a good resource. Thankyou and plz continue tha same for many years to come and also plz pray for me.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 11.14.06 (8:14 pm)

Reply to: seochris
Thank you, my friend. You are very kind.

I do not aspire to be President of my convention. I'm being facetious. Such positions of leadership are reserved for pastors of very large churches in our state, who baptize large numbers of people and who proclaim unwavering allegiance to a fundamentalist theology. I'm afraid all three are "strikes" for me, so I strike out. Oh well!

I'll pass along to you one more bit of trivia. My particular denomination has two great beliefs: (1) The autonomy of the local congregation - thus no larger church body can dictate anything to us. We choose to participate, or not participate, as we feel we should. (2) The soul-competency of the believer - meaning, no one can tell me what to believe or not to believe. We will all, as individuals, answer to God.
These two beliefs allow me to continue as a part of this denomination even as I strongly dislike some of the behaviour.

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posted by: mimi (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (3:50 am)

dave, i love it when you show your "human" side. i know your "calling" is valid, that you are one hell of a good "preacher" and your beliefs are intact, but to hear you voice your "concerns" about the greed and politics of your own church community assures me you truly do have your feet on the ground and your heart and head in the "heavens"...Thank you for being "genuine".
xoxox
p.s. your absence has been noticable. glad to know you and yours are ok and this is why you have been the reason for your absence.
xoxox

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (6:14 am)

Reply to: mimi
Very nice of you.
I heard a guy preach last night who is the kind of preacher I could never even dream of being. The words just seemed to roll of his lips. They all made so much sense. He was so good with voice inflection and communication of conviction. Obviously he is a highly gifted orator. What I am learning to do is to celebrate the gifts and accomplishments of others without belittling myself. At the heart of such a challenge is jealousy, but I'm working on it. I think of when Peter, after the resurrection, was told by Jesus that he would eventually be crucified for his faith. Peter looked over at John, the "beloved disciple", and asked of Jesus, "What about Him?" Jesus answered, "And if I choose to enable him to live until I come back, what is that to you? Follow me." The lesson, for me, is to rejoice when others are blessed and then busy myself following Jesus in my own way and with my very best.

Hope all is well with you and your family.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (6:17 am)

Reply to: seochris
I noticed your last sentence. Yes, I will pray for you. I pray for your wisdom, and purity in following God. I pray you would reflect His love in your connections with others. And I ask for the peace of God to rule in your life.

Have a good day, my friend.

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posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (7:54 am)

ahhhh dave. the vagaries of organized religion. i remember recently, as a confirmed espiscopalian and as senior warden of my little church (average attendance on a sunday - 10), i had to attend the state conventions. they quite turned my stomach as well. the more involved were committed to committees, and very little to doing anything at all in the way of helping the parishoners. even our illustrious bishop. i remember, in our little congregation of 10, there were TWO families who had heroin addicts. i polled others at the convention, quietly, as it were. turns out, (in the great state of west virginia) that there were LOTS of families who were affected by heroin and oxycontin). I approached both the bishop and the head of the family services committee, and was totallly stonewalled. i thought it would be in the best interest of the congregations to start something statewide for support, emotional, and christian like, for the families of addicts. but alas, they just didn't think it important enough.

sad isn't it?

dawn

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posted by: bawdy (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (10:35 am)

I'm sure they could use a president like you who is appalled by the excess and would focus on what really matters.

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posted by: radiohead (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (12:16 pm)

Well I do believe you make a good point that most people who are involved in a congregation don't voice for fear of beling looked at crooked. At any rate, I believe more churches should be built in poorer neighborhoods. It was never written to build on the richest mountain top, it was written to take the gospel to the people. Seems to me like the poorer the person a. the more faith they exude or b. the lack of faith they have. How great what it be to bring some revival and truth and light into areas society chooses to step over and leave for dead. Instead of a liquor store open till 2 am how about an all night revival. Turn the city into a miracle. But at any rate, this is why I love the church I go to, we built our church on the mountain in a city with one of the highest crime rates...we should all aspire to forget that money feeds the church, but bringing in lost souls satisfies our God. Just some thoughts I had when I read this. I applaud your convictions. - RH

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posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (4:06 pm)

How the heck did you know Jesus likes mini malted milk balls?

46 million huh? Another reason organized religions annoy me so. I think they could have done a damn nice job for 42 or 43 mil - or rebuilt where they were for what? 10?

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (5:41 pm)

Reply to: fractalmom
I guess the construction of a building is more important than the reconstruction of a life. I know that's a little harsh, but it does seem that we have forgotten the New Testament church has so little to do with bricks and mortar. I had a similar experience. I approached our Executive Director with the idea of an extensive ministry to the families of our ministers, providing professional help with wayward children. He did not see the need, since our Convention already offers three professional counselling sessions per incident. Three? How about three years?

I am reminded, however, that Jesus Christ never broke fellowship with the organized religion of his day. He offered lots of criticism, and angered them to the point that they crucified him, but he still attended synagogue and was always open for conversation with the same folk.

A church of ten? Do you need a Baptist pastor?

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (5:44 pm)

Reply to: bawdy
Our leadership has bought into the understanding, hook-line-and-sinker, that success is the only true evidence of God's approval upon a minister. So, I'll never get beyond the position of usher. Oh well, at least I don't have to buy a $500 suit for these meetings.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (5:48 pm)

Reply to: radiohead
My church is in an industrial, poor area of the County. One of the few such areas, really. We are small and struggling. Some of our people bemoan the fact we are in such an unpromising area. I think if another church who was similar to ours. They relocated to a booming area, and now the church is full. Location makes a difference as far as easy church growth is concerned. But this leads back to a supposition I considered in a previous post, that church growth does not always occur because of God's approval. Our calling, as individuals and as churches, is to be faithful. Faithful to our calling,a nd faithful to love others.

Thank you for being this way with your faith.

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posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 11.15.06 (5:51 pm)

Reply to: surrogate
A whole lot more good could be accomplished with 46 million dollars. Heck, they could have fully funded my Pastor's Retirement Fund. When you get a chance, please ask Jesus if the folks in Georgia called him before committing all this money. I think I know the answer.

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posted by: JOSEPHWAYNEFREEMAN (reply)
post date: 11.16.06 (8:41 pm)

We had a church that i went to for years in a poor low class mixed race section of Baton Rouge Louisiana. We didn't owe a cent on it, & it was worth a half million dollars because we did most of the work ourselves. A new pastor got hiured for the church when my pastor retired. He brought his friends in from his old church & got rid of the older board members @ the church. Then he sold the church he had nothing to do with building for a half million dollars & built a million dollar church in the suburbs. I know what you are saying. It seems most of the ministry now is like that. It's almost never in the areas of a city where the work needs to be done.

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posted by: Lordashford (reply)
post date: 11.17.06 (12:45 am)

Pastor Dave,
In my experience, Organized Religion is evil. As the old saying goes, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." But as humans, we all hope for that which can save us. Even one such as I, who holds no hope, but in his heart of hearts, does hope that salvation is possible, thinks that the power of the holy individual is more that that of the corrupted group. I cry into the unresponsive night for a sign or a palsied shadow of hope. Is there nothing for a scarred soul? Is there nothing for a seeker of truth? Is there nothing but clichéd and empty platitudes for someone who has spent his life in a stew of lies and manipulations?. --Lordashford--

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