Jim_Alaska

Well done. I have watched supposed "Christian" movies before that left a lot to be desired, or were just plain unscriptural.

The SBC has it's liberals and even heresy infecting their circles, such as Calvinism, just like IFB churches do. Calvinism is very heretical if you ask me and I can't, for the life of me, comprehend why either a SBC church or IFB one would associate with such who teach it.  But just like IFB churches can choose not to affiliate or associate with certain churches with teach false doctrine(and many do have networks of churches they associate with), the SBC can do things like "kicking out" churches with women "preachers". And an SBC affiliated church can leave the SBC any time it wants to. An example, by contrast, I know of a little country Methodist church we used to visit in our area (to play music) which recently pulled out of the United Methodist organization; the organization took their church building, bank accounts and all other assets. I know of an Assembly of God church which went through basically the same thing. But I'd be willing to bet my pastor would pull out of the SBC if they condoned women preachers, homosexual preachers, or any other junk like that, and we wouldn't lose our church assets for doing it. How is that not actually independent?

Brother Tony, I m aware of your position in this matter, and of course you are entitled to it. But, I respectfully disagree with your assertion in many posts that "all SBC churches are Independent, autonomous," 
I disagree for these reasons; if your church is listed as an SBC church, you are part of that organization, after all, it is an organization, something organized to exert some form of control over their membership churches. If your church uses SBC materials, supports their mission boards, or any of their programs or in any other way, toes the SBC line, you are not truly Independent. You may have limited Independence in that, your church membership votes and decides what other churches it will fellowship with. But if your church deviates from SBC guidelines, or if you break with their traditions you are no longer in good standing; that is control.
If the SBC has any authority to disfellowship or kick your church out of the SBC, your church is not truly Independent. This subject has been hashed over many times among Baptists and no agreement will result from this post at this time. But looking to scripture for justification of organizations in regard to churches will fail. Scripture is clear in its teaching that each church is to be Independent. 

This is kind of a tough question for me. This specific time period was shortly after I had been saved so by the time I began attending with my mother it's worship style was already transitioning.
This particular congregation had grown in attendance to the point that a second service was necessary because there weren't enough pews or parking spaces. While the first two services were basically identical the third service felt like a worship "experiment" that was completely a rock worship service. At the time it seemed like that third service that started at 11:30 was an attempt to appeal to the college students at Anderson University.
This was back in 2001 and I'm sure was partially influenced by Bill Hybels seeker friendly blueprint. Just from what I observed it seemed to me that decision was made to grow church attendance and the music was just part of the plan.
By the time I started attending the Pastor had switched from the NIV translation (apparent from the outdated pew bibles) to the New Living Translation that was projected on screens so no one had to be bothered to actually read the verse for themselves. They also bought a Starbucks type coffee and tea makers set from the library and set it up right inside the main doors. And as I mentioned earlier they did away with Sunday evening and the traditional Wednesday night services.
I had been attending there for about a year when the church began sending VHS tapes in the mail that explained why and where all these changes were headed. The video was a very emotional attempt to explain to everyone how the Lord had been telling the staff they needed to buy property on the other end of town and build a mega church like worship house. This was a project that at minimum was a several million dollar relocation so they needed the convince the members to jump on board and finance it.
The coffee machines, music, use of projectors instead of bibles and hymn books seemed to prepare everyone to worship in a auditorium as opposed to a sanctuary. Instead of bringing back Sunday evening and Wednesday services they decided to keep fellowship by having everyone join small groups and have those meetings everywhere but the church building I remember the first book they picked out for the church to read and study in these small groups. It was The Purpose Driven Life.
I began to drift away from that the church after the relocation plans were announced. By the time it was all complete I had left for a smaller congregation. 
I have some old friends on Facebook who attend there now...and I end up rolling my eyes when they post Sunday afternoons talking about how awesome and "spiritual" the services are with the guitars and drums and the seeker friendly sermons that resemble a Joel Osteen book more than the New Testament.

That I would agree with. Convention churches can probably offer better health & retirement plans due to the larger number of participants, but in our independent churches, that's often not feasible. 

I would be curious what the original salaries were. Our pastor emeritus had a very low salary, with rare increases. When his son took over, he had a mortgage to consider that required us starting him off at a higher salary. (Not an egregious mortgage, very appropriate and even insufficient for the size of his family).  Some salary increases could just be bringing pastors up to a living wage. A lot of churches don't necessarily provide benefits or retirement packages, so salaries (in the corporate world) would generally be larger to account for self-payment of those.
That study also says the scope of the study grew over the years. I wonder if they adjusted the 1996 salary study with numbers from the 23 additional conventions that participated this year? Otherwise you could be comparing apples to oranges with different states/costs of living/etc. 

Yes, Rick Warrens church, it's only good though to liberals

That agenda is being pushed by the homosexual community, not all Liberals are that way @TheGloryLand

Replace "Liberals" with the devil

I have been so ashamed of this university over the past 28 that we've lived here. Their continued slide towards being PC is over as far as I am concerned. There were several SS students there the past few years with no repurcussions directed towards those students. I have many friends who have graduated from there, and many more who are going there at the moment. We've discussed this, but they would rather go for financial expediency instead of going to more theologically sound institutions. It's sad...very sad. I applied to Belmont back in the 1970s. I'm thankful that the Lord led me elsewhere.

Let's put this in perspective, he was married with two children. It's sickening to me anytime someone cheats on their spouse, to willingly do it with someone that's a young woman is another level.
Don't get me wrong, I truly pray that he repents and turns from his ways. He has disqualified himself from the pastoral position. 

Working in pairs or more, like we do when dealing with two different sexes can be an effective means. Don't allow one on one situations.

Working in pairs or more, like we do when dealing with two different sexes can be an effective means. Don't allow one on one situations.

Not only that @BrotherTony but if he is the youth pastor, he should be called to that position, not appointed. The office of pastor, whether senior or youth is a calling by God, not an appointment by man.

Not only that @BrotherTony but if he is the youth pastor, he should be called to that position, not appointed. The office of pastor, whether senior or youth is a calling by God, not an appointment by man.

I don't necessarily agree with your assessment. If someone is hired as the youth minister, if he's capable, doing a great job, and there are no problems, he should be left in place.  I've been in many churches where the youth minister and workers have been in place for many years, and there have been no problems. Those that have been in the youth groups love, cherish, trust, and respect these people. And many churches aren't large enough or have enough people to do this. If they did as you are suggesting, the church would be in a constant state of disarray.

Working in pairs or more, like we do when dealing with two different sexes can be an effective means. Don't allow one on one situations.

Vivian and I are hoping to get a chance to watch it soon. Sounds like a good movie. 

Well done. I have watched supposed "Christian" movies before that left a lot to be desired, or were just plain unscriptural.

If this is what this "preacher" believes is true, I hate to say it, but, I don't believe he has any business in the pulpit until his exegesis of scripture is on track with what the Bible really teaches. He sounds to me like some of the IFB preachers I grew up under...dictators. The Bible nowhere teaches this....he's just flat-out wrong...period. 

These stupid GIF animations take up band width, someone has to pay for it...Pastor Matt.
This is a message board, people message on a message board, there is no need for endless animations.

These stupid GIF animations take up band width, someone has to pay for it...Pastor Matt.
This is a message board, people message on a message board, there is no need for endless animations.

Sorry, Morales, your assumptions don't make things so. Sad, really, that you continue to post these kinds of things. How about something positive for once? 

Once again; how do YOU know that anyone, Christian or not, is voting Democrat? HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW ANYONE IS VOTING?
Personally, I do not know of any Christians in my circle of people that voted for Biden. So, from my point of view you are just assuming and hoping no one will question what you say.

More presumptions, Morales? I know very few if any Christians that vote for these types of things.