Good coverage on Tennessee Baptist Colleges

Since I have (again) been reprimanded for harsh remarks about the Tennessee Baptist Convention's Baptist and Reflector, I wish to be fair when the reporting on the three higher education institutions that the TBC claims as their own is fair and balanced. Congratulations to Belmont, Carson-Newman, and Union for increasing enrollment this fall. These are three fine institutions. They are unique in their own ways. I hope that the diversity they represent offers our Tennessee Baptist students good choices to match their particular calling.

By the by, I have been questioning what really makes our Tennessee, Christian colleges and universities "Baptist". In the most recent B&R articles regarding enrollment, Carson-Newman indicated that 55% of her students claim to be Baptist... if democracy has anything to do with it, I'd say that alone makes Carson-Newman a Baptist institution... perhaps there is more to it.

Pickled green bean salad! I haven't had that in quite a while, but it must be a Baptist dish: lots of variety, an interesting flavor, good color, and enough of a 'twang' to keep your taste buds a little off balance. Yes sir, it is a Baptist dish!!

Tennessee Baptist Convention giveth... and taketh away

Sorry, Union University and Carson Newman College... you are about to get the shaft. The Tennessee Baptist Convention is proposing a budget that reduces this year's budget allocation to its two higher education institutions by $375,000 each.

Debate centered around the $2,3330,304 that had previously gone to Belmont University. At last year’s annual meeting, the money was reallocated with the largest percentages going to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program budget (in an effort to send 40 percent of the total CP budget to the SBC) and the other two state colleges — Carson-Newman College and Union University.

The proposed budget leaves in the allocation for the SBC but reduces the money going to Union and C-N from $500,000 each to $125,000 each. Other entities which received extra funds last year also received less funds this year, including the Executive Board missions and ministry budget and Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes.

Added to the budget from the Belmont funds was $750,000 for the Belmont Study Committee.

The last time that I posted something to warn Carson Newman and Union University of the convention's intentions to exercise more and more control, one group on the internet accused me being a Belmont representative. It is clear to me from this budget cut that the TBC is continuing a course in reducing its overall emphasis on supporting the Christian educational opportunities for our church members. As for the the $750,000 of cooperative funds that were mentioned...doesn't that sound like expensive "mediation"? That sounds more like the TBC is willing to pay its lawyers more than it is willing to support our two Baptist schools.

Another interesting reference in the article is the mention of "Belmont funds"...how stupid is that? There are no TBC funds going to Belmont University either this year or last year. Be truthful, B&R, these are cooperative program funds, not Belmont funds.

To my friends at Carson Newman and Union, please give a little extra love to your development staff... the sooner you can ween yourselves of TBC funding, the better. And remember, when the vote comes at the TBC to cut your funding back from $500,000 to $125,000 that its "not about the money".

Boomer is Better

Belmont University's Boomer Herndon has been hospitalized for the last couple of weeks. Two pieces of news are worth noting: The mass in his chest is not cancerous...a collective sigh and prayer of thanksgiving surely followed that announcement. The other good news is the reaction of Lipscomb University coaches and players who among other things signed a card and visited him in the hospital. There is just something heartwarming to see fierce competitors come together as Christian brothers at times like this.

Sunday afternoon update: Rumors are floating around that Boomer is headed home on Wednesday. The growth in his chest may have been something resulting from his summer travels.

When good news is buried...

...somehow technorati.com finds it. In my desparate search to find even a hint of news about Belmont University and the ticking clock to a November Tennessee Baptist Convention implosion, I found this story from a new student in a blog:

"The first experience that left an impact on me was move in day. On August 19, my mom, brother, and I pulled up infront of my residence hall with an SUV and a sedan full of "necessities" (right....). And I kid you not, the only thing that I carried to my room was my pillow. There were so many students and faculty members ready to lend a helping hand that all the hard work was done before I could blink an eye. Now, my move in day was different from most because that morning my mom fell and broke her foot, but have no fear! Belmont's head of nursing was right there as we were unloading and took care of her until we could get to the doctor. That has basically been a theme of my life here so far. Whenever you have a need, it's met before you can even ask."

These Belmont people had better watch out. Someone in the conservative camp might accuse them of demonstrating Christian compassion and service. Or is this another case where, "It reveals the destruction that liberalism has caused in many Baptist colleges. This same damage has happened at Belmont University in Nashville, TN." (quoting directly from CTB) OK, that is harsh...but if someone doesn't shed some light on the good news that is happening at Belmont, then the only voices that Tennessee Baptists will hear are the distorted voices of those who seek control rather than what might actually be best for the university.

I had lunch in the Belmont cafeteria last week with an old friend and fellow Baptist, Dr. Herbert Gabhart. What an incredible jewel of Tennessee Baptist life is this man. I trust his insight as Tennessee Baptists trusted him with the reigns of Belmont for so many years. If you ever get a chance to ask him about his university and where it is headed, you will find nothing but enthusiasm and a sweet spirit. We as Tennessee Baptists would do well to learn from this wise and elderly statesman. I know without question that Dr. Gabhart is a true Baptist...he saved room for dessert!

And the winner IS...

There simply are no words to describe how excited I am that the Baptist & Reflector discovered that there are three universities in Tennessee associated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Congratulations to the PR departments at Union, Carson Newman, and Belmont for getting the good news about your U.S. News and World Report rankings in front of the editors at the B&R. Now, we have clear evidence of who the favored children are and who are the adopted children in our Baptist/Christian college ranks.

Here is the breakdown of the article*:

• Union's record of ten years worth of recognition as a top tier school, this year ranking 25th in the Master's category takes up roughly 60% of the space in the article.


• Carson Newman's recognition as the only Tennessee College in the Best Value for the money category received 25% of the space.


• In the also mentioned, Tennessee-Baptist, adopted-child category, is a token mention of Belmont University achieving a Top Ten ranking (Number 10), a mere 15 places above Union's ranking in the same category.

It is pretty obvious to me that Union University is the Baptist and Reflector's favorite child...and rightly so, Union's advertising in the B&R surpasses that of Carson Newman and Belmont by a considerable margin....my favorite Union University ad is the one in the last issue that included a nearly life-sized picture of Rev. Jerry Sutton, Union's poster boy for encouraging cooperative program destruction in the Southern Baptist Convention. With friends like that, Union may continue thier cheer of "We're Number 25!" Whoopie! As for Carson Newman, their teacher to student ratio and the low cost (after scholarships) makes them a great deal on the value-for-your-money list. I hope they can survive and prosper and maintain their course without (more) hassles from the TBC.

I have seen publicity for a number of Ice Cream Sundays in area churches...it is an idea whose time has come. If only the former Church Training Department from the Baptist Sunday School Board could have altered their Church, the Sunday Night Place promotion to say Church the Sundae Night Place, then we might still be enjoying good numbers in Sunday evening worship. Phil Harris would have liked that a lot. Here's to a double scoop of homemade, candy cane, ice cream...the perfect collegiate cooler for celebrating our institutions of higher education.

*Actual count using MSWord
Total Words in B&R Article = 550 Words
Union 320 - 58.2%
Carson Newman 135 - 24.5%
Belmont 95 - 17.3%

They ARE meeting, I was wrong!

In my impatience over the lack of Belmont University vs Tennessee Baptist Convention news, I speculated that no negotiations have taken place since the May scourging of Belmont's Board at the Two Rivers house of failed SBC presidential politics. As it turns out, good sources from within the TBC told me that the committee of 14 has met more than twice...(that count may have been an actual meeting followed by substantive discussion in the parking lot...it's the Baptist way). Although I was not able to get a positive confirmation that the committee had actually included Belmont representatives in the negotiation discussion, the committee has at least been meeting and talking. I was wrong in my earlier speculation. I apologize.

I'd recommend fried chicken, mashed potatoes, pink congealed salad, and sweet tea for the committee's next covert meal...that way they would know for sure that everyone in attendance was Baptist, and would be forced to talk about something besides the food! Can I get an A-men?

If Liberalism is Destroying Our Universities...How is Conservatism Doing in Our Baptist Churches?

My ultra-conservative friends over at CTB placed this quote in front of a full reprint of Alan Finder's July 22nd New York Times article (I'm sure they requested re-print permission, being the ethical group they are):

"...It reveals the destruction that liberalism has caused in many Baptist colleges. This same damage has happened at Belmont University in Nashville, TN."

Belmont is certainly suffering. Just this year: They still have a Board of Trustees...you know, the very same Baptist men and women that Tennessee Baptists' elected/approved, then summarily vacated back in May, but who are STILL running the university. They are suffering through a record enrollment of over 4500 students. They are suffering over a brand new dorm, two new parking garages, a new health sciences building, and an upcoming new theater facility. They are suffering over an unprecedented fifth consecutive year of academic success in conference athletics (not to mention an NCAA tournament milestone). They are suffering through growth in the School of Religion and their 7 new majors. They are suffering over breaking into the U.S. News and World Report's Top 10 list. Damn those liberals...see how they are destroying Belmont!

Meanwhile, the conservative leadership in our Baptist Convention is celebrating(?) yet another year of decreased percentages in Baptisms across the convention...and attempted to elect a convention president whose Tennessee Baptist Church didn't give a dime to the Cooperative Program in 2005. Hmmmm, perhaps conservative Baptist pastors and denominational leaders should do a little more work on their congregational flocks before throwing up smoke screens, diverting attention away from their own failings (bless their hearts).

Meatloaf sanwiches...now there's a dish that Belmont's cafeteria could use to support the suffering on campus. But then, they'd probably mess it up with a liberal coating of sauce.

Belmont ranks 10th... and Union's 10th Year

I know that "fundamentally" that 10 isn't the perfect number, but stay with me for a second. For the 10th year in a row, Union University has been listed as a top tier school in the U.S. News and World Report's rankings...this year holding up a 25th position. That is impressive!
And Belmont reached a number 10 ranking for the first time in its historically Baptist history...That, is incredible! A top 10 school that Tennessee Baptists could be proud of if they'd just stop squabbling long enough...doesn't that just beat all!

As a Tennessee Baptist, I am proud of both of these institutions. I look forward to seeing the conversion of Union to a fine, fundamentalist seminary...and Belmont to convert to something more Christian than Baptist (All right, lighten up. I'm kidding!)

Fruit tea. Yes, that's it! Let's raise a mason jar and salute these accomplishments. You have a good recipe for fruit tea by any chance that is fundamentally free of sour tastes??

Congratulations, Union University, You Made the B&R!

Miraculously, Union University's announcement of the opening of a new field house for their sports teams made the Baptist and Reflector. Congratulation! Lonnie stopped patting himself on the back long enough to squeeze in a tiny story at the bottom of an inner page for you. 'Sorry, but your story didn't make the online version...that would be a lot to ask.

Let's look for news about Carson Newman later in this decade. Have they been behaving again?

Vanilla ice cream with some of that great, rich, Mexican vanilla (via a mission trip, of course) would sure taste good right about now at Wednesday night supper, yummmm!. Oh dear, will that have to go into checked luggage next trip?

Why colleges are severing Baptist ties

I have not seen a more well stated case for what is happening between colleges and their respective Baptist state conventions than today's Anniston Star editorial, "H. Brandt Ayers: Faith of my father". It is well worth the time to read. Quoting from the editorial:

"Diplomatically or not, there is a great rending between Baptist body and soul that is tearing the best Baptist colleges and universities away from church officialdom.

This cleavage between faith and reason, between a doctrine of godly perfection and an intelligent, fallible Christian's struggle to find his way in a sinful world shouldn't be black-and-white choices.

But churches, like newspapers and governments, do want the world around them to conform to their views. And, if they have the means to enforce their way, it very likely will.

Despite that apparent triumph of Baptist fundamentalism, there is a growing realization among the membership that fierce conformity isn't winning converts. The denomination grew a tiny .02 percent in 2005 and declined again in its most important measurement, baptisms."

TBC and Belmont Negotiations? No. Apparently, Not Yet

BP News just ran a story that paints an interesting scenario for what Tennessee Baptists may witness later this year regarding the "Belmont situation".

The Georgetown College divorce from the Kentucky Baptist Convention is no surprise, but it at least looks like people spoke with one another before the break took place...and seem to be speaking, still. From a reliable source at Belmont, there has been no contact from the TBC with Belmont to begin/discuss arbitration, mediation, or other settlement since the May TBC meeting. That was three months ago. Call me impatient, but I would like to see and hear of some effort or progress to fullfill the wishes expressed in the motion that the TBC messengers approved. Let's at least pretend that something besides litigation is in the works and not dishonor the expanded committee members.

For my CTB friends, I have read the entire 1951 agreement between the TBC and Ward-Belmont and understand the wording completely. I have also read the subsequent changes in the TBC's constitution that relinquish claims of ownership of it's educational institutions to the respective boards. The historical and legal relationship has changed. The 1951 document is being defended by some like the innerancy of the scripture...that makes for good sermon material but not very good business, particularly in light of post-1951 documents.

I believe that it is in the TBC's best interest to view Belmont as a center where Baptists of diverse beliefs/opinions are welcome, missions will be a focus of service learning, and the TBC is welcome to be a part of Belmont's ongoing success. I would much rather have my TBC affiliation attached to Belmont, Carson Newman, and Union rather than the failed (or failing) ventures in Baptist Hospitals and one failed (previously) Baptist retirement center immediately adjacent Belmont's campus.

'Sorry, my usual reference to food at this point in the blog is missing, intentionally. The thought of using TBC cooperative gifts to line the pockets of lawyers is an appetite killer for me. I do have some sour grapes on order, however. *smile*

Tennessee Baptist Paper Shuns Good News at Belmont University

Tennessee Baptists should be proud of Belmont...however, you must look for the good things that are happening at Belmont these days somewhere besides the Baptist and Reflector. The editor apparently choses not to cover anything positive about Belmont. The latest story about Belmont features a retired professor dealing with his wife's dementia. It is a touching story, but it represents the sum total of anything positive printed in the Baptist paper mentioning Belmont University in over three months! I have been reading the B&R all summer looking for some of the news stories that I discovered on Belmont's News site. What is going on, B&R?

Why has there been zero recognition of the new Gordon Inman Health Sciences Center at Belmont? With a huge nursing shortage just over the horizon, Belmont has partnered with some great companies to make the future brighter for health care...not a word to the Baptists in our state from it's principal news source on a twenty million dollar facility for Christian men and women to study health care. The B&R had no problem covering the faltering east Tennessee Baptist Hospital, but can't bring itself to cover a successful project at Belmont...sad, really sad!

And where is the B&R news about Betty Wiseman and the student athletes who went to South America back in May? (it would have been "news" in May, June, or July) If I read things correctly, they were there as part of celebration/recognition of the 25th anniversary of TBC's partnership with Venezuela...and boy what a celebration it turned out to be. By the estimates of the IMB missionary who worked with the Belmont group, well over a thousand young Venezuelans accepted Christ during that two-week trip. So what has been in the Baptist and Reflector? NOTHING! Good grief, Lonnie, if that isn't news that Tennessee Baptists need to hear, what is??

News is slow at the B&R these days. I read in this last edition that Tennessee Baptist "overwhelmingly support abstinence from alcohol"...only to find out that the total number of online respondents to the survey was 36. Although I agree with the abstinence part, a sampling of 36 Tennessee Baptists is laughable, particularly to label the results "overwhelming".

What we need is an officially endorsed Baptist coffee: Bitter enough for fundamentalists, smooth enough for moderates, and weak enough for liberals. Then we could get an "overwhelmingly" supported creamer from a B&R poll..short on substance, easy to write about, and luke-warm journalistically. *meow*

Anyone Curious about the Belmont vs Tennessee Baptist Fracus?

I missed the two month anniversary of the historic Tenneessee Baptist Convention meeting over at Jerry's Home for Conserving Cooperative Program Giving. From the silence coming from both Belmont and the Baptist and Reflector, I'd guess that there hasn't been a lot of substantive conversation going on...if any conversation at all.

Should we start a friendly pool on when the lawsuit will be filed by the TBC?...say, a quarter per guess, with all funds going to buy Bob Fisher a book on how to overcome arrogance? Any receipts over $10 would go to Two Rivers Baptist to be used as their undesignated Cooperative Program gift. This could be a win-win!

If we could only find a Biblical justification for donuts in Sunday School...what a victory!

Influence of Southern Baptist bloggers

I know this is late in coming, but I have been giving some thought to last week's Tennessean article where Wade Burleson is quoted, saying that young Baptist bloggers had a significant impact on the convention's presidential election. The following is pulled directly from the Tennessean:

Burleson, among the best-known Internet bloggers who have criticized the current Southern Baptist leadership, said the computer bloggers were key to Page's selection. "Page may have started out as the underdog," Burleson said. "But I attribute the fact (he won) to young men and women on blogs."

The more that I have read in the blogs following the convention the more I tend to believe that the conversations going on between blogs and bloggers can be more powerful than the back room politics that have dominated presidential elections in the SBC for the last couple of decades.

I wonder how long it will it take for older Baptists (like myself), and particularly, older Baptists from the Pressler/Patterson side of the fence to build their own online communities of bloggers? I'd much prefer to hear what all sides have to say rather than having a group that proposes to represent my best interests to hide behind a login. Personally, I believe the more daylight that blogs can bring to all sides of an issue, the healthier the debate.

I've never seen a blender at a Baptist fellowship before, but I'd be willing to pass along my Mexican Vanilla, banana, and strawberry milk shake recipe...particularly if it will squelch some of the guilt-by-blender-ownership association. Then again, I haven't always taken my milkshakes in moderation...*gasp*

Why stay Baptist?

It is a question worth pondering...and not just for moderates. I've been there several times when disgusted with the politics, backstabbing, and innuendo that frequent the press and the back-room meetings on both sides of the Baptist political aisles. But then, there are voices of reason and hope. Here is one that I'd like to think that we could agree upon (from Bill Wilson on Ethics Daily):

"Why stay a Baptist? We have inherited an amazing heritage, and while it is messy, our current setting offers us an opportunity to create a future that is unlike anything we have seen or known to date. What we need is courage, vision and humility."
Bill Wilson - pastor of First Baptist Church in Dalton, GA

Courage, vision, and humility...all good qualities that I consider to be worthy of Baptists. I don't mind messy. As a matter of fact, I embrace that word as key to how Baptists relate to the God of the Bible. Stay with me for a second.

We encourage new Christains to read their Bible and find a fellowship of believers where they can grow in their faith and mature in their Christian walk. The Bible in the hands of a believer is not a static document...as many times as I have read the new testament, God reveals something new to me every time. It is not unlike getting those multi-folded directions in a box that has a picture of a completed bicycle on the front...the directions may not be perfectly clear and there may be more than one way of assembling things, but ultimately the intent is a (near) perfect bicycle. As a Baptist, I have enough faith to believe that God speaks to us, personally, through His word to lead us in a path of positive growth toward completeness (whatever that means). I do not have a problem when things get messy and people differ on what God is saying to them through the Bible...we talk about it, we pray about it, we love one another in spite of our differences and trust God to be faithful in His leadership in our lives. That last statement is key to my loyalty to the body of believers who call themselves Baptists. The God of my Bible makes no claim to be a Baptist. I am a Baptist by choice. I am a Christian by the grace of God, not the grace of my Baptist heritage...yes, it is messy, and there isn't anything wrong with that.

That deluxe brownie mix is enriched even more by adding milk chocolate morsels to the mix... the Baptist in me will take that to a pot luck dinner and call it my own recipe. The messy part of me has already received great joy from scrapping the sides of the mixing bowl and savoring every lick. (I feel a sermon comin' on)

They both call themselves Baptists...

How did I miss this? Jimmy, Bobby...both presidents, both retired from office, both with that affectionate 'y' ending to their first names. Am I the only one who thinks there might be reason to check the family geneologies??

Ultimate Baptist question for the two of them... "Did Broadman ever publish a recipe for peanut butter?" Perhaps it would have been a sequel, "Why not the best peanut butter?" (If you don't get the bad references/innuendos, forgetaboudit)

Blogging. Again. But differently

I have missed being able to rant and rave about what is going on in the world of Baptists...and there are so many recipes and dinner conversations among my Baptist friends that need to see daylight. My previous posts did not put folks like my friends at Concerned Tennessee Baptists in a very positive light (granted, they do enough to portray themselves negatively without any help) but they do have important things to say. My friends over at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship aren't off the hook either, I love their zeal for missions but wonder if they are not forming another political convention because they didn't like the idea of being part of a political convention. Those voices, as well as many other diverse Baptist voices do not get the kind of hearing that they deserve and that isn't right.

The odd part of being away from blogging and reflecting on the recent events in Baptist life here in Tennessee and on a national scale with the Southern Baptist Convention, is that there is humor to be found in all aspects of controversy in Baptist life. Baptists have become more engaged and antagonistically political since the era of the conservative coup, back when Paige Patterson and friends decided to save Baptists from themselves. Being more political means that people do stupid things in the name of doing good and/or with good intension and somehow, we have forgotten how to laugh at our own indignation.

I am blogging again. I intend to poke fun at Baptists, conservatives, moderates, and liberals. We were blessed with a sense of humor (well, at least some of us) and I believe that it is high time that we use it.

I'm off to make campaign signs for Rev. Jerry Sutton. Rumor has it that he plans to run, I mean be called, to the pastorate at the First Baptist Church and Conservative Vatican in Dallas, Texas. I do love the idea of being called to a church, it reminds me of a mom standing on her back porch yelling the full, first, middle and last name of a child to get them home in a hurry...but children were rarely called to a higher paying home.

One last poke...listen carefully: if you don't appreciate sarcasm or satire, please read elsewhere or get over it (you know who you are...now, go sit on it!). I intend to stir up thoughts that make us all uncomfortable. I became a refugee baptist when I saw my baptist friends become less and less Baptist and more and more focused on money, wrapped in pseudo-baptist banners of doctrinal purity... In the opinion of this Baptist, it IS about the money, do not let any one fool you into believing otherwise!

Green beans, yummmm...with a little bacon grease, I'd vote that they be approved as the official food of Baptists everywhere! Can I get a witness (or another recipe), please?