To my Calvinistic friends who still have their Jerusalem blades drawn, please excuse me while I get sentimental for a few moments between skirmishes.
In the midst of all the political and theological tensions in Florida, I feel the need to offer a word of appreciation to my dear brothers and sisters in Christ who currently serve on staff of the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC). Others have retired or changed ministry assignments since my departure in June 2003, but I just want everyone to know that you are some of the finest trophies of God’s grace that I have ever known. It was a joy to serve the Lord with you, especially the men and women of the Church Planting Department and the Missions Division.
This may not be what some want to hear right now, but Dr. John Sullivan was especially supportive of my ministry, even though we parted under difficult and challenging circumstances. With full disclosure that I was a Calvinist, Dr. Sullivan hired me anyway and I know he must have received a lot of complaints and, probably ridicule, for doing so. He encouraged me to pursue the completion of my MDiv degree and he sent me occasional handwritten notes with a check tucked inside to offset my out-of-pocket tuition expenses, while the FBC picked up the tab for all of my travel, lodging, meals, and books. So, you see, John Sullivan means a lot to me, personally, in spite of recent events in Florida, and I just wanted to say that publicly on this blog. It does not mean that I agree with every one of his decisions—reading my blog ought to make that point obvious—but even when my FBC position was unexpectedly eliminated amidst a swirl of controversy, he graciously offered an extension of my notice to six months to ease the transition for my family.
I wish that I could list everyone by name and say a hearty “Thanks!” for welcoming me, even when word traveled quickly through the Baptist building (on the day of my final interview) in hushed tones that “Lollar is a five-pointer.” I was obviously not offered the position because of my denominational reputation and political maneuvering, but simply because one man—George Thomasson, director of the church planting department—recognized my passion for church planting and took a huge risk in making me part of his team.
There’s a special place in my heart for that initial “Dream Team,” as George used to call us: Billy Bob Moore, Bob Brown, Craig Culbreth and Phoebe Bryan, our fabulous secretary. Then came a new team: Mike Hoffman, Nevi Townsend, Charlie Koch, Rick Lawrence, Fred Hewett, and a new secretary, Brenda Singletary. In addition to those of us who worked as regional strategists, there were some really cool “strats” in the larger associations, like Steve Nerger, Ronnie Reynolds, Lewis McMullen, and I know I’m probably forgetting a few names. We had a blast working together, playing together on staff retreats, and praying together for God’s blessing in our respective fields of ministry.
I remember many of my friends in the Founders movement expressing absolute shock and amazement that I was working for the convention; obviously, it was part of God’s sovereign plan and I was greatly blessed to be there. My relative obscurity as a bivocational church planter from the Panhandle never made a difference in the way I was treated by my convention colleagues, either before or after I joined the FBC as a full-timer.
And the list of friendships just grew exponentially as I began working with pastors, Baptist association leaders, and church planters across the entire Panhandle region. I miss all of them terribly, though there were a few paranoid pastors who seemed to make it part of their life’s ambition to let Jacksonville know every time I sneezed to their dissatisfaction. Maybe I should share some of those stories, but not today.
I am trusting that God will give grace to Dr. Sullivan to do the right thing, so that his legacy of leadership in the FBC will not be permanently tarnished by questions of integrity. Perhaps a few more retirements are in order to give the FBC a fresh start, because I know some very capable individuals in Jacksonville who would take the baton and move this organization to bring even greater honor and glory to our King.
Bill:
Thanks for sharing about your personal experience and relatinships with the folks in Florida. On the one hand, it is encouraging as it demonstrates that the Kingdom is much larger than “Calvinists” / “Non-Calvinists” (or even “Baptists” / “Everybody Else”). On the other hand, it makes one sad when friends become “rivals” (for lack of a better term). On the one hand, some of my Calvinist buddies cannot understand my deep love and appreciation for Drs. Fish & McDow, who were my professors and mentors through both the MDiv and PhD programs. In fact, I was Dr. McDow’s graduate assistant for three years. On the other hand, I hate that the sermon “The C-Word” is still circulating in SBC life. I wrote a rather lengthy refutation of it while I was in seminary (when it was first preached) and invited Dr. Fish to talk about it. And you know what? We did. Dr. Fish preached for me during a “revival” meeting at a church I pastored in Texas.
These men are my brothers in Christ. That is why I have no desire for “war.” I am more than ready to dialogue and defend, but how can I shoot at my “own blood”?