peterlumpkins.com

Sexual Abuse, Darrell Gilyard and the Southern Baptist Convention: Part 2

In Part 1, I argued contrary to many internet sources, tweeter feeds, and what one might rightly dub "Patterson haters" that Paige Patterson was a key player in dealing with the sexual predator and church destroyer, Darrell Gilyard, in 1991, forcing, as it were, Gilyard to resign his church and leave the ministry. Mainly through Patterson's influence Gilyard left the ministry so far as the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was concerned. However, eleven days after Gilyard resigned, he started another church unaffiliated with the SBC,1 a move Patterson had little... Read more →

New Resource: articles from Baptist media sources concerning Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention by Peter Lumpkins

I just put up a new resource--a page containing articles from Southern Baptist media sources concerning the subject of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. Sources will include Baptist Press and all available state papers. No commentary is offered. Nor is the resource intended as a polemical tool. If the article was published by a Southern Baptist news venue, it qualified for the resource. Check out the page (click here or look on the sidebar for a link there). It obviously is only a beginning. When it is finished, I... Read more →

Mark A. Rathel on the Calvinist-Arminian divide in the Southern Baptist Convention by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Mark Rathel is Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida. Rathel is a graduate of William Carey (B.A.), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div, Ph.D), and Biola University (M.A.) >>> The Florida Baptist Witness plans to publish a 12 Part series by Dr. Rathel the purpose of which, in its words, is "addressing the always controversial theological issues surrounding how Southern Baptists understand the doctrine of salvation". Dr. Rathel adds his own vision he possesses for the series in his first installment of the... Read more →

Southern Baptists Move Away from Rigid Calvinism: The Influence of F.H. Kerfoot: by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Franklin Howard Kerfoot (1847-1901) though not a name widely recognized in Baptist circles today was, during the latter quarter of the 19th century, a formidable leader among Southern Baptists. He served as pastor, denominational leader and seminary professor. Dr. Kerfoot was born a Virginian but died a Georgian. After serving in the Confederate Army for a short period, he enrolled in Columbian College in Washington D.C. and excelled in his studies such that, in only three years, he received his M.S. and L.L.B. which normally took six. Afterward, Kerfoot... Read more →

Baptist Press Bias: Documented Reality or Disturbing Myth (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

I personally asked Dr. Gerald Harris, editor of The Christian Index (Ga), why he signed the letter Robert Simpson penned to the Executive Committee taking exception to the editorial written by editors James Smith (Fl), Marty King (IL), and Gary Ledbetter (Tx) . He responded: I am happy to respond to your question. There are several reasons why I signed the letter. First, I did not consider Baptist Press to be biased. I don't know that it was either for or against the GCR Task Force report. I didn't keep... Read more →

Welcome to the All New North American Mission Board: the Candidacy of Kevin Ezell as President (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Below is my continued questioning of the recent candidate for NAMB, Kevin Ezell. Part I, entitled, “Welcome to the All New North American Mission Board: the Candidacy of Kevil Ezell as President” should be read in conjunction with this part. Let’s continue with the questions: Does Kevin Ezell have a track record for missions involvement? According to Ted Traylor, “He [Ezell] is a loyal missions supporter.” Excellent! How could a missions entity president not be a loyal supporter of missions? What kind of missions does Kevin Ezell support? According to... Read more →

The Florida Baptist Witness & The Kevin Ezell Candidacy: An Interlude by Peter Lumpkins

Updates, by nature, are usually designed to clarify. When the Florida Baptist Witness first released Dr. Ezell's name as the NAMB presidential candidate, a brief but vague statement was made concerning Highview's missions giving. Mainly, it was a generic statement about how many dollars were given for "Southern Baptist causes," the new GCRR-speak we've all anxiously awaited. When the “update” was released--an "update" which should have clarified--it’s not too much to say, Highview's giving record as stated more than likely confused Highview themselves. Indeed it may rank as the most... Read more →