Tag Archive - baptist

Why I Wear A Clergy Collar

February 9, 2011 in clergy with 2 Comments

As many in my church know, I often wear a collar for hospital visits.  When I visit parishioners or when I’m asked to give an opening prayer at a fireman’s dinner, the collar goes on.

For those who are versed in denominationalism or protestant traditions, you know that vast majority of Baptist ministers do not wear clerical collars. Those funny looking white tabs or rounded white collars that ministers wear are most identified with Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions.

If collars are not required for Baptist ministers or not a part of the Baptist tradition, what is a Baptist doing wearing one?

Continue Reading…

A Vision For Chipotle

October 8, 2010 in vision with 2 Comments

Man, I love Chipotle.  Goodness wrapped in a burrito.  Chipolte has been very successful creating a niche for their products.  Chipolte started as a humble company, but it quickly grew into a national chain. They have a very simple menu, store, and concept:

“Food with Integrity” is our commitment to always look closer, dig deeper, and work harder to ensure that our actions are making things better, not worse. It’s our promise to run our business in a way that doesn’t exploit animals, people or the environment. It is the philosophy that guides every decision we make at Chipotle.

Chipotle shares a special place in the hearts of poor college students.  For only about $6, you can get something to eat that tastes great and is fresh.  Chipotle has turned this idea into a multi-million dollar business.

Why do some stores or brands fail and other succeed?

Continue Reading…

World Communion & Mission Sunday

October 1, 2010 in World Communion Sunday with 0 Comments

We have an incredible opportunity this Sunday to experience God in new ways at the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa. This Sunday, October 3 is World Communion Sunday.  What is World Communion Sunday? The National Council of Church explains:

The day has taken on new relevancy and depth of meaning in a world where globalization often has undermined peace and justice – and in a time when fear divides the peoples of God’s earth. On this day we celebrate our oneness in Christ, the Prince of Peace, in the midst of the world we are called to serve – a world ever more in need of peacemaking.

Churches from every denomination are taking part in this celebration of oneness in Christ. At FBC, we do communion a little differently this Sunday. We have four stations for communion, representing the four corners of the world, and we invite worshipers to visit one or all of the stations. The communion bread consists of different ethnic breads from around the world.

In addition, we have a special quest preacher from the American Baptist Churches International Ministries:

Continue Reading…

Early Baptist Use of "Sacraments"

July 8, 2010 in Baptists with 1 Comment

Sacrament or Ordinance (Part II) This is the second installment in this series.  You can read the first installment here.

Much to the ignorance of many modern day Baptists, the word “sacrament” was used by Baptist framers in their creeds and confessions.  Yes, I said it.  I used the words “Baptist” and “creed” in the same sentence.  Recent Baptist history upholds that Baptists are non-creedal, however it is clear that Baptists in the 17th and 18th centuries used creeds.  Later, Baptists called these creeds “confessions of faith” as did many other protestant groups.

Baptists affirm the theological statements in the creeds but do not use them to be  identified as a “Baptist.”  But, some Baptists used confessions of faith as creeds.  This is the paradoxical nature of Baptists and their confessions of faith because their statements were directed at excluding other completing theologies. That is exactly what the creeds do, among with affirm what people believe. We receive the word “creed” from the Greek word credo meaning “to believe.”  Clearly, the Baptists were using creedal statements and formulas, but many Baptists did not want to call these doctrinal statements creeds in reaction to the creeds of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church.

Alright, on to the use of the word “sacrament” in early Baptist thought and writings. William Joseph McGlothlin compiled a collection of early creeds and confessions of faith that our modern day Baptist life is modeled from.  McGlothin’s,  Baptist Confessions of Faith, was written in 1911 is a very helpful source book to understand how Baptists used “sacraments.”

The following are excerpts from, Baptist Confession of Faith, of the “English” living in Amsterdam in 1614, who desired to correct John Smyth‘s “errors” :

Continue Reading…

Haiti Hits Home

January 29, 2010 in Haiti with 1 Comment

The destruction in Haiti continues to sadden and compel people to give.  Over $50 million has been given from “text giving” and tens of millions of dollars continue to flow into relief agencies.  The Haiti earthquake had a personal connection for me and for the people of our church.  One of our members, Jude Pierre, was serving on a mission trip in Haiti when the earthquake struck.  The mission trip team was about 50 miles away from Port-au-Prince, but still felt the earthquake.  Jude and his team return safely a few days later and their return was reported on by NBC13 here in Albany:

Click for video

It was an incredible turn of events and this Sunday morning, Jude will recount his experiences during the 10:15 a.m. worship service at FBC Ballston Spa.   Jude will have pictures and information about his mission trip.  We hope you will join us.

In addition, FBC Ballston spa has given over $1500 to fund Haiti relief efforts through International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches U.S.A.  The American Baptist Women’s group aka “G-Unit” group at FBC also made medical kits with donated supplies that is being sent to Haiti.  Thanks be to God for the generous giving from the good people at FBC Ballston spa.  Also, our denomination has quickly responded to relief efforts.

Here is a summary of what the ABC has done:

Continue Reading…

Adventures in Denominational Leadership

December 14, 2009 in abc with 1 Comment

The ABC headquarters in Valley Forge, PA (The Holy Doughnut).

This past Sunday it was announced in church that I accepted an invitation to serve on the General Board of the American Baptist Churches U.S.A.  I will be one of three New York State American Baptist representatives that will represent our region on the denomination’s leadership board.  No, I’m going anywhere.  I’m still serving as the pastor of The First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa and my ministry here will not be interrupted.

This presents a wonderful personal opportunity and a tremendous opportunity for the church.  The church benefits from having a pastor serving as a voice on our denomination’s leadership board by representing the interests of New York State American Baptists.  In addition, being able to bring a young perspective in a mainline denomination is an exciting prospect.

Many of you maybe wondering, “What  is the General Board and what do they do?”  That is a great question.  In order answer some questions for my church and other interested parties, I have pulled together a quick FAQ on the General Board:

What is the General Board  and what do they do?

Continue Reading…

Pastor Prays for Obama's Death

September 2, 2009 in Obama with 2 Comments

In a truly remarkable news story, a Phoenix pastor gave a sermon in which he opening talked about praying for President Obama’s death.  His sermon was entitled, “Why I hate Barack Obama”.  This pastor, Steven Anderson, even said that his congregation members that God hates Obama, therefore they should hate Obama.  You can also her some of his sermon here.  (Warning, this is very offensive).  In addition, he also wished cancer on the president:

“I hope that God strikes Barack Obama with brain cancer so he can die like Ted Kennedy and I hope it happens today,” he told MyFOXPhoenix on Sunday. He called his message “spiritual warfare” and said he does not condone killing.

What is even more shocking is what he told his congregation next:

I’m gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That’s what I’m gonna pray… Look up the word hate. Look up the word abhor, the word loathe. You’ll see there are a lot of people that God hates, and so we should hate. But see, I didn’t write that, that’s in the Bible… I’m going to prove that tonight.”

Where does this guy get this theology?  He sounds like he belongs at the Westboro Baptist Church with Fred Phelps.  How convenient that this pastor can excuse his actions because he takes the easy way out and uses the old “the Bible says so” routine.   In his sermon he even contradicts himself by saying, “I love all of God’s creation.”  Doesn’t that include people?  Like the president?

If that was not enough, things got worse:

Continue Reading…

Dancing in Worship

July 10, 2009 in worship with 0 Comments

If you grew up Baptist there was one thing (among many) that you did NOT do: dance!  I remember my Baptist grandmother telling me stories of how people were reprimanded for dancing in public back in the day.   Baptists were known not to play cards or go to movies.  Wow, it must have been exciting to be a Baptist in the 1930’s.

In 2 Samuel 6:1-5 & 12-19, David dances with all his might.  Why?  David decided to move the capital city of the Israelites from Shiloh to Jerusalem. He wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to be in the new religious center of the nation.  It had been a long time since the Israelites had a specific location that would serve as a center for worship.  Now, the Israelites had this  symbol of God’s presence carried into the center of the Jewish people.  You can imagine the excitement.

Continue Reading…

Mission Crisis Update

June 26, 2009 in abc with 1 Comment

Day two of the Biennial was very productive.  The second day begun again with Leonard Sweet, but this time he spoke about how Jews prayed (and still do) the psalms.  He sought to bring to light the nature of Jesus’ words on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”  Of course, as most Bible students know, these are words from Psalm 22.  Psalm 22 begins will sad words, but ends with a glorified understand standing of God’s power.   In the ancient world, when you began a song most people would know the entire song.  Today, if you sing “Amazing grace how…” most people could finish that first line because they know the song.  Most Baptists will not understand the nature of a psalter, which many Christians sing on a regular basis in worship, because Baptists threw out any ritual that resembled Anglo-Catholic faith.  I have learned the value and beauty of singing the Psalms as they were intended at the United Methodist congregation I served at for 2.5 years.

At lunch time, I attend the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board lunch.  MMBB always does a great job of making an event nice.  The MMBB money is well spent… err, I mean managed.  Seriously, MMBB is one of the best retirement organizations for a denomination out there.  MMBB’s performance usually beats the major indexes.  I sat next to some International Mission people from the ABC and got the low down on the missionary situation.

Continue Reading…

Missionary Crisis?

June 24, 2009 in abc with 0 Comments

header01[1]

I just arrived in Pasadena, CA for the American Baptist Churches Biennial.  Every year, the ABC gathers as a national body to address important concerns, vote on pressing issues, worship, learn, and celebrate.  This will be my fourth ABC biennial that I have had the honor of attending.  This year’s location is fantastic.

Before I left, I heard numerous comments about a very concerning situation involving American Baptist missionaries.  It seems that that American Baptist missionaries will now be responsible for seeking to secure the majority of their funding sooner rather than later.  As I understand it, in the past, missionaries were not required to raise the majority of their financial support.  Now, due to a variety of reasons, ABC missionaries will now have the burden of asking churches for more money.  These reasons include lower support for missionary giving and lower returns in investments that support missions.

ABC of Ohio has made an appeal to their churches about it.  The letter can be read here.

Missionaries should not have to spend their time lobbying individuals, churches, and non-profits to support themselves.  One of the reasons for being a part of a denomination is to have the national body do some of this administrative/financial work.  I can understand the need to have missionaries to be responsible for part of their funding (say 10%-20%), but the majority?  Many of these missionaries have families and cannot raise enough money to support a family of four for a year or two.

If all this is true, this presents a crisis for our ABC missionaries.  More to be updated later.  I am sure that I will learn more from the denominational reps at the biennial.

Page 2 of 2«12