Mary Branson's Book

I have read a number of Blogs concerning Mary Branson's book which purported to expose bad management and reckless spending by leadership in the Southern Baptist Convention, primarily at the North American Mission Board. In my opinion it is a vengeful, vindictive and vituperative piece of trash that belongs in the City Dump rather than on book shelves. It is designed to do nothing but hurt. It is obvious to this Southern Baptist that the primary objective was to sully the name of Dr. Robert Reccord. It is a combination of wild, reckless and irresponsible accusations coming mostly from disgruntled former employees who had an ax to grind. Many of the "Bloggers'" statements have been ill informed, uninformed or misinformed. No, "Bloggers" will never be a "force to reckon with" in the Southern Baptist Convention until they get their facts right and so much of what has been said about NAMB was not factual.

Most of what was written was vicious and designed to hurt and the "lead attack hound" was Joe Westbury of the CHRISTIAN INDEX who at one time worked for NAMB and who gives new meaning to yellow journalism. The situation at NAMB was unbelievably bungled by the Officers of the Trustees some of whom, in my opinion, have their own agendas. It is time for trash to be challenged and the truth needs to be told. That is the reason that I have posted the main body of a letter that I wrote to the Editor of the CHRISTIAN INDEX on my Blog (The Christian Advocate). The CHRISTIAN INDEX is the chief offender in this situation.

By the way, NAMB did not bear all the expenses of Bob's trip to England. Food and lodging were covered by a friend of NAMB and NAMB only covered travel. Bob had been working with Outreach Incorporated of San Diego in developing a strategy to help churches in using The Chronicles of Narnia evangelistically. He had given input on the making of a film concerning the life of William Wilberforce called AMAZING GRACE. He was one of the evangelical leaders invited to view and assess the finished product. It was a very, very good thing and I am delighted that the world of film making was seeking input from a Southern Baptist Leader. I only wish Hollywood did the same.

So, some have problems with a "media campaign"? That is what the RTVC was all about. It was to introduce Southern Baptists and our message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the Nation and the World. Any pastor who doesn't understand the need for promoting the work of the Kingdom needs to go back to school. It doesn't matter how good your program is if it is not promoted and no one knows about it, it is going to fail. I even heard of some who complained of "limousine services" that were used by Bob Reccord. Of course, people who travel know that hotels and airlines often furnish limousine service for passengers to the airport or from the airport to the hotel (many of these "limousines" are vans or buses with Limousine written on the side of the vehicle). As a pastor I used them many times but the accusation insinuated something else that was totally false. That is the kind of garbage that needs to stop. Yes, some agency heads in the Southern Baptist Convention have to rent large rooms and suites at the annual meetings of the Convention because they have to have room for important meetings while they are there. It is not a luxury.

Before the "Bloggers" complain too much about the lack of "transparency", you need to check Article 14 of the Business and Financial Plan of the Southern Baptist Convention which provides that any member of a cooperating Southern Baptist Church can receive any financial information concerning the operation of any agency or institution in the Convention. I know it works because I have received such information from every entity in the Southern Baptist Convention. The truth is that the Southern Baptist Convention is more "transparent" and accountable than any denomination on the face of the earth and, while we are not perfect, a lot of these petty criticisms can do nothing but hurt a great Convention that is doing a great job in the kingdom of our Saviour.