Thanks for the response. Hope Criswell is doing well.

I hate the fact that these bits of information are reported on and then broadcasted for all to see…and judge (in this case unrighteously).

The fact is this: Highview is sending out and supporting missionaries on a much higher level than most SBC churches. Facts are facts. Instead of folks using this against them, they should be thanking God for them.

Why Mohler’s credibility hangs on this I’ll never know. But I can say this about Mohler: His achievements speak for themselves. Just look at the fruit of his labor at Southern–historic enrollment and pastors committed to God’s Word and His Gospel. They went from a very liberal seminary to THE top conservative seminary– practically overnight. Who else, in SBC life, can match his resume? Who else can match him in cultural engagement and a passion for the Gospel?

Will he unite the SBC? Why is that even a concern? Are we concerned about all of those “Jimmy Carter” Baptists who might be offended by him? God forbid!

I’m all for shaking up the SBC. Mohler will certainly shake things up….he already is!

you said:
“Burleson’s characterization of Highview Baptist’s giving is inaccurate.”

I just wanted to note that Burleson is only quoting the numbers and figures and percentages that were published in the BP article here:http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=27124

A lot of people have been making statements to the effect that it is Mr. Burleson who was permeating these false numbers. But the truth is he was reportin what BP and ABP reported. The clarification is good, and since I’m voting for Al Mohler in Indy, I’m glad that Highview put their statement out, but to be fair…lets be fair.

Maybe you can shed some light on it because truthfully sometimes it seems people are just fighting over a name and its ultimately a big waste of time (especially when the fighting is so public).

Blessings,
Bryan L

I’ve read what Burleson has to say, and here’s my response.

1. The suggestion that Mohler is a fundamentalist is preposterous. He’s a conservative evangelical with theological convictions along the lines of Carl Henry. That’s hardly fundamentalism.

Burleson’s characterization of what happened at the convention last summer is totally off-base. I was there.

2. Mohler will not be the first seminary president to serve as president of the convention. The constitution and bylaws of the SBC allow for seminary presidents to be president of the convention, and it has happened several times before. Two of Mohler’s predecessors at Southern also served as President. If Burleson doesn’t like the way the convention is set up, then he can lobby for a constitution/bylaw change. Until then, there is absolutely nothing untoward about Mohler’s candidacy.

3. Burleson’s characterization of Highview Baptist’s giving is inaccurate. The church has released a statement to correct the record, and you can read it here: http://hershaelyork.blogspot.com/2008/01/statement-from-highview-baptist-church.html.

Thanks,
Denny

http://kerussocharis.blogspot.com/2008/01/al-mohler-right-man-for-wrong-job.html

I would be interested in your response.

All the best.