Rainer added, however, that "Southern Baptists continue to be a giving people, even in challenging economic times," pointing to $1.33 billion in reported total mission expenditures, a $26.2 million increase from 2010.

The Dublin Agreed Statement of 1984 says, "Further discussions on the Filioque led to the reaffirmation by both Anglican and Orthodox of the agreement reached in Moscow in 1976 that this phrase should not be included in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. Certain Anglican Churches have already acted upon this recommendation, whilst others are still considering it.

When he says or does something that offends or upsets you, tell everybody else, but make sure you don’t tell him until he has heard from the others you have told. Then tell him that you agree with them. Every once in a while, send him a complaining anonymous letter.

Thomas Currie, dean of the Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, said many faith traditions have been struggling with “forces in our society today that celebrate pulling away, that cause us to retreat among ourselves. In the absence of a compelling call by the church to work and live together, that’s what people will do. And that is what is happening now.”

In choosing ECO, Trinity’s session stated the new Reformed body has “much of the same ‘DNA’ (values, beliefs and practices) as the PCUSA at its best, but will be less likely to drift from them because its leaders will agree to a written statement of essential beliefs, which will provide clearly defined boundaries.” After bidding... Continue Reading

You could have eased your task by quoting some paragraphs of the Westminster Confession of Faith or the Philadelphia Confession. These at least, written in agreement with Calvin, would be more reliable than one statement plucked as by hazard out of Calvin's work by one manifestly hostile individual.

In its report, the presbytery’s resolution team wrote, “Team members have worked actively with the Denominational Relations Committee and session of First Presbyterian Church to reach an agreement regarding the sharing of personal property and assets of the congregation to provide for the continuing ministry of the congregation to be dismissed and the congregation which will remain. The team has also provided pastoral care to the continuing congregation. The team is delighted to be able to report that a settlement agreement has been reached.”

These verses teach that no unconverted person--regardless of whether he is predestined in any sense to any destination--has the spiritual ability to respond to the gospel by his own free will. This is at variance with the denial which necessarily implies everyone--and "not only a select few"--has the ability to repent and believe.

Pop culture has rediscovered serpent handling as well. A New York Times best-seller called A Land More Kind Than Home revolves around a snake-handling church. Its author, Wiley Cash, said people want a sign that God is real. “Everyone wants to believe that God has given them some kind of providence.”

In essence, I believe that those who have published “A Statement of Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” are concerned by the rise of Calvinism among Southern Baptists at all levels of convention life, from local churches all the way down to various institutions and agencies. PREAMBLE (PART B) Though I am... Continue Reading