Earlier today, Dennis McFadden (www.hisbarkingdog.blogspot.com) blew the lid off the beatific vision that had been reported at the ABC "Wait on the Lord" conference going on in Florida (where most of the American Baptists are retired and attending Southern Baptist Churches):
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS)-The Wait On The Lord Conference in Orlando, FL is still in progress but is already being heralded as a resounding success. Heralded as a "Spiritual Oasis" by ABCUSA General Secretary, Roy Medley, the conference is designed for ministers and lay ministers to foster Christian spiritual formation and rejuvenation...
McFadden comments:
. . . Reading the ABC press release, one would think that this year’s “Wait on the Lord Conference” in Orlando represents a new Pentecost come upon American Baptists. Even before it concludes, the ABNS has dubbed it a “resounding success.” With 275 attendees, Dr. Roy Medley describes it as a “Spiritual Oasis.”
But who are the people being held up as models for ministry in the ABCUSA? The keynoter, Dr. John Kinney, pastors Ebenezer Baptist Church in Beaversdam, VA. In addition to his reputation as a distinguished systematic theologian, Dr. Kinney has been claimed by the Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies in Religion and Ministry as leading one of the “African American Welcoming Churches” in the country (http://www.clgs.org/3/welcoming_churches.html).
Bible study leader, Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, holds ABC ordination and serves as “Scholar in Residence” at the multiply affiliated City Church of Dallas (http://www.citychurchdallas.org/index.php?About_CityChurch:Leadership:Jaime_Clark-Soles). City Church boasts of its “welcoming” stance and has on its Web site “A Biblical Affirmation of homosexuality” (http://www.godmademegay.com/).
So, let’s get this straight (no pun intended). The ABCUSA has declared that the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with biblical teaching.” So, when we assemble our pastoral leaders from regions all across the denomination to “Wait on the Lord,” we bring in a keynote speaker and Bible study leader who serve on staff in churches committed to the proposition that homosexuality is to be welcomed and affirmed? Does anyone else see a problem with this picture?I wonder why the right keeps saying that the national leadership tilts left? Could it be due to breathlessly enthusiastic complicity with the agenda of the AWAB movement if not open advocacy of its position?
I have to admit that I wondered where the conference leaders were "coming from" and in a sense, it's no surprise to me that no sense was involved in this nonsense (get my sense?).
Nice job Dennis; you deserve a Pulitzer for that one.
In other news, I was at a meeting today where people in a position to know indicated that a substancial portion of the churches in the PSW and available delegates have indeed registered. (The deadline was last Thursday.) Actually, I was given specific figures, but was asked not to publish them, a request I always honor. Bottom line: any concern that the delegates and churches meeting on 29 April will be a non-representative "rump congress" is unfounded.
3 comments:
Glenn,
Thanks for the nod. Since you quoted me, I have tightened up some of the wording. For example, the link to Godmademegay (aka A Biblical Affirmation of Homosexuality) comes in the midst of a list of core beliefs of the church where the hyperlink takes you to the affirmation site.
My final paragraphs now admit that one can have a "spiritual" experience (presumably even an oasis experience) without it being biblically grounded or even Christian. But, how can one have such a spiritual experinece in a group claiming to believe that the practice of homosexuality is "incompatible with biblical teaching"???
Glenn,
I want to give full credit to Pastor Scott Erwin who tipped me off to the identities of the keynoter and Bible study leader.
Dennis
Hello Glenn,
Here's some questions related to your post:
What is the attendance of this years oasis compared to two years ago?
Of the 275 people there, how many were Regional and Denominational staff and program personell?
How many were actual pastors for whom the event was origionaly promoted for?
When the answers are in it will be clear that numbers are down and the event was overpopulated by the people congratulating themselves (as staff) for creating such a terrific event for pastors. The few pastors that attended are the ones primarily who support the liberal agenda.
This really is an oasis. A small group of liberals in the midst of a moderate denomination have gained control and are congratulating themselves for how wonderful it is for them to be together.
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