A question of leadership

When "it's the economy, stupid," I'm of little help. My understanding is limited to the School House Rock-type cartoon that shows the animated dollar bill bouncing more slowly between banks, businesses and individuals during a recession.

An economics class never showed up on my schedule in college — and I have not been burdened with a family inheritance to manage. So I have no idea what the power structure in Washington should or should not do in this time of financial crisis.

However, I am intrigued that several columnists and commentators this morning are talking about failed leadership. They point to a lame-duck, unpopular president and a house speaker who gave an untimely partisan speech.

Most politicians are just pointing toward each other to assign blame for a failed bailout proposal designed to get the economy back on some part of the track.

Leadership is an interesting concept. My earliest sense of a good leader was someone who made a big splash with their personality and possessed a strong ability to persuade.

Getting someone to follow you may make you a leader, but not necessarily a good leader. It depends on where you take others and how you treat them.

My current view of leadership is more focused on accomplishments than personalities. Leaders can come in all shapes, sizes and ages.

Strategic thinking is what I admire most in a leader. This is someone who listens to the many good, bad and mediocre ideas being bounced around and then pulls together the best of the bantering and shapes it into a plan that is clear, concise and widely embraced.

Whether it is in Congress or in the church, good leadership is needed. Without it, our messes seem to just get messier.

The downside to early rising

Going to school never bothered me. Getting up to go to school was always a challenge.

Even as a college student, making an 8:00 AM class — just steps from the dorm — was not an easy task.

But aging does strange things to the body. My internal alarm clock is set between 5:00 and 5:30. Six o'clock feels like sleeping in on weekends.

In more youthful days I was told that getting up early was full of advantages. At least it was full of adages.

"The early bird gets the worm." "Early to bed, early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy and wise."

But there is a downside to having the first feet to hit the floor. Television.

I like to catch up on the news while knocking off graying stubble with my Braun electric razor. But on the East Coast, when most of the nation is rolling over on their sides and snoozing, television stations offer the limited viewers their very worse.

Third-tier TV preachers like Jim WhittingTON — and other camera-happy salesmen — make their pitches. "Paid programming" (infomercials) dominate the airways.

Even so-called 24-hour news channels — like CNN and FOX — air reruns until 6:00 AM. I don't want to see/hear Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity live in prime time. I sure don't want to watch them in rerun before breakfast.

So I catch enough weather to know how to dress for the day and the scrolling scores of the games that ended after I fell asleep. I'll read the other news online at the coffee shop.

However, I really have taken to getting up early. In fact, 6:00 to 9:00 AM is my favorite and most productive time of the day.

It is not likely that this habit will make me healthier, wealthier or wiser. But I am among the first each day to know about Forearm Forklift Straps, Buying Homes for $300, and How to Get Slim in Six Weeks.

Oh, and Preacher Jim offered to "personally write (my) name on a prayer hanky" and send it to me for a few bucks. I'm sure he was talking directly to me. Most everyone else was still asleep.

Politics in black and white

Much speculation has arisen over how much race will play into the presidential election. Surveys show that even a significant number (around 40 percent) of white Democrats admit to some negative feelings toward African-Americans.

In the privacy of the voting booth, would such persons vote for their party's candidate who is the offspring of an African father and white American mother?

But another issue of color — that has nothing to do with race — may be a greater factor in determining the outcome of the November election. It has to do with whether voters like short answers that clearly divide all issues into black and white (right or wrong) choices — or welcome an exploration into gray areas.

During the Saddleback Civil Forum, Sen. John McCain seemed to answer every question with a brief statement or a phrase of few words. Then he would turn his eyes from the pastor to the crowd and give one of his "My friends,..." speeches.

Sen. Barack Obama — according to critics — came across as "too professorial." That is, he didn't attempt to capture the complexity of abortion procedures and politics (or other issues) in concise, sure statements.

Sen. Obama wrestled with the issues while Sen. McCain gave quick, sure and brief answers regardless of the question.

Heading into the presidential debates, both candidates are surely working with their handlers on what — and how much — to say when a question is posed. The right answer, I suppose, is the one that most of the electorate want to hear.

Some want black and white answers. Others don't mind a little exploration of gray areas. That more than race may color this election.

Vounteer, or else!

"Most Southern Baptists do believe that while husband and wife are equal, that in a marriage the wife is to voluntarily place herself under 'the servant leadership of her husband,'" said Richard Land, Southern Baptist Convention public policy head and Sarah Palin groupie, in a Baptist Press column Friday.

SBC leadership has no problem fully grasping the mind of God and the clear intent of scripture on all matters. Yet when it comes to the role of women in church and society the application of their proclamations often is uneven.

But Land wants the Southern Baptist herd to follow him into the voting booth without hesitation. So he makes this clear point: women can be anything they want to be (if their husbands approve) except a pastor or the leader of their homes.

OK, we get that. And, when it comes to the home, Land explained, "the wife is to voluntarily place herself" under the authority of her husband.

And if she doesn't? Then, apparently, she violates the clear male-female roles delineated in the Bible and is an affront to God.

That not something most good Christian women want to do. Sounds a lot more coercive than voluntary.

Some schools and courts require community service. If the work is required, it is not voluntary. Call yourself a community servant but not a volunteer.

That may be why the Apostle Paul talked about mutual submission for marital partners — just one of the many Bible verses and biblical concepts that fundamentalists choose to ignore.

Shared needs build community

This current economic crisis makes us nervous. We feel less secure — which we are financially.

Politicians and economists blame everyone but themselves. And silver linings are hard to find.

Perhaps one ounce of good in a pound of bad is that the loss of self-sufficiency draws us closer to one another. It is a result of vulnerability.

Financial insecurity was a part of college life for many of my friends and me. Paychecks from our on-campus jobs came every other Friday.

It was hard to make the meager funds last through two weekends especially if we blew a big chunk on a dinner date at Western Sizzlin' or Shoney's on payday. Without a weekend meal plan in the dining hall, creativity and cooperation were required.

My roommate, Joe Purcell, a United Methodist PK, and I made good meals out of 10-cent muffin packages from the discount grocery on occasion. And scraping up $2.06 between us provided a delightful Sunday lunch for two of soup, fruit drink and donut at Dunkin' Donuts.

Three decades later, the memories are good from having to pull together in such creative ways. Friendships, community, trusting relationships were built.

Classmate Byron Littlefield was a good shade-tree mechanic from Adairsville, Ga. He helped me surgically remove a used windshield wiper motor from a junked car and put it on mine.

The owner of Martin's Auto graveyard agreed to take my last couple of bucks for the part if we removed it ourselves in the rain.

Byron helped me out and now uses those transferable skills as a physician in his hometown.

Like everyone else, I hope the bleak financial situation makes a speedy recovery. In the meantime, we might look for better ways to lean on each other.

(Photo: Berry College's Historic Oak Hill, home of founder Martha Berry and setting for the film "Sweet Home Alabama.")

Is disaster relief still news?

Deadly floodwaters overtook parts of Central and South Georgia in the summer of 1994. Representing the state Baptist newspaper, The Christian Index, editor Bill Neal and I headed out of Atlanta quickly to give thorough coverage.

A levee had failed in Macon causing extensive damage. Americus had gotten the most rain in the shortest period of time — causing some mobile homes to be swept away.

The sudden rise of the Flint River left Albany, Ga., looking like one big lake. A Dept. of Natural Resources officer took me in his small boat to get a photo of the Calvary Baptist Church steeple poking through the water.

We covered the event and corresponding relief efforts in great detail.It became a pattern for news coverage of disaster relief responses to future floods, tornadoes and hurricanes.

What Baptist congregations, associations, conventions and other groups do in such times of need is most impressive. Cooking units, mud-out teams and chainsaw crews are everywhere.

Medical volunteers are also an integral part of Baptist responses to natural disasters. The total impact of disaster-related volunteer work is immeasurable.

However, there have been so many natural disasters in recent years that it causes an editor to wonder: "How much of this is news?"

The question has nothing to do with the importance of these significant contributions. But news is supposed to have something "new" in it.

No question, some "new news" emerges from disaster relief work. For example, in March 2006, 19-year-old Trista Wright made headlines.

While tearing damaged drywall from a house in New Orlean's St. Bernard Parish, the student from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah saw some $100 bills poking out of the wall. She soon turned up more than $30,000 that had been stored there.

The owner was unaware of the new-found wealth and assumed her father had stored it there. Raised in the Depression, he was probably fearful of banks and investment firms, she surmised.

(Stock market experiences like yesterday makes the man's actions more understandable.)

My admiration for Baptist disaster relief efforts (by all kinds of Baptists) remains very high. But, as an editor, I struggle with how much coverage to give to each and every situation.

Would another photo of a chainsaw-wielding or soup-dipping Baptist draw interest?

Volunteers do their work for a purpose more noble than getting their photos in a Baptist publication. But, on the other hand, their contributions should not go unnoticed.

And the truth be known: Baptists tend to be better at working together in disaster relief efforts than adopting resolutions and doctrinal statements. One tends to unify while the other tends to divide.

Perhaps that in itself is newsworthy.

A lesson in self-focus

The school parking lot has adequate spaces for parents and grandparents who pick up students in the afternoon. When I was there one day this week, it was obvious that not everyone wants the inconvenience of pulling into one of those spaces like everyone else.

Instead the Chevy Suburban came to a halt in the driveway. The rest of us had to walk around it.

Then after rounding up our offspring and pulling out of the convenient parking spaces, we had to wait. The woman in the super-sized vehicle that blocked our departure was now busy loading up her kids and their gear.

As we waited, I pointed to the super-sized vehicle and gave my daughters an after-school lesson.

"Were you to ask that woman if she is a self-centered person, she would be offended," I said, pointing in her direction and pleased that she could see that I was. "But she is only concerned about herself."

I'm sure it was more proclamation than my daughters wanted to hear from me. They just wanted to get a smoothie and go home.

"Most everyone else uses one of the parking spaces and doesn't clog up the driveway," I added. "But this person obviously thinks only about what is convenient for her."

Finally, the Suburban was loaded, the doors were all closed and the driver departed — freeing the blocked driveway.

"Look at the back of the SUV when it leaves," I said to my daughters.

Sure enough, there was the "Jesus fish" symbol prominently displayed.

Some lessons get passed on in the classrooms and lecture halls. Others are more subtly conveyed (often unintentionally) by daily acts of self-focus and self-service in places like parking lots.

Are pew-sitters responsible for what preachers say?

By all accounts, this is an odd political season. Since the rise of the Religious Right it has not been uncommon for preachers (Robertson, Falwell et al) to grab a little more spotlight during this time. But this is something entirely different.

Suddenly political candidates are being held accountable for what preachers in their churches have to say. Blame it on the Devil or YouTube, depending on your theology, but it is a modern political reality.

It started with video of Sen. Barack Obama's pastor making comments that incensed many outside the UCC congregation on the Southside of Chicago. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright seemed to enjoy the new-found attention and made even more offensive comments that caused his Oval Office-seeking parishioner to distance himself from the preacher and church.

Two candidates have drawn less attention in religious matters. Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden is a Roman Catholic. Republican presidential candidate John McCain is an Episcopalian who attends North Phoenix Baptist Church where other family members are church members.

Sen. McCain's pastor is not a good place to look for startling sound bites. Dan Yeary (a Baptist campus minister turned preacher) is not an extremist — except for that extreme tan that comes from being a pastor in Coral Gables, Fla., and Phoenix, Ariz.

Now attention is being focused on the past and present pastors of Gov. Sarah Palin. No longer are they tucked away in Alaska.

The preaching heard by the current vice presidential candidate over the years at an Assembly of God church and now a non-denominational Bible Church reflects very conservative, and in some cases Pentecostal, theology. Only those unfamiliar with such religious traditions and doctrines would be surprised by pulpit pronouncements that Jesus is the only way to heaven, that homosexuality is a chosen sinful lifestyle and that the return of Christ is just around the corner.

However, one of her pastor's claim that thousands will come to Alaska en route to the climax of history was new to me. Interestingly, another former pastor interviewed recently is named Tim McGraw. (He is the one with faith, but not Faith.)

There is also video of Gov. Palin speaking to her former AG congregation. She asked them to pray that God would deliver a new pipeline.

I hold the Gov. responsible for her own words at the church. But should any person be responsible for what they heard from the pulpit?

If these new "rules" had been in place earlier, I would have approached church life differently.

First, I would have interrupted a few sermons over the years. I have been blessed by excellent pastors. But I don't want to be held responsible for everything they — or especially guest preachers — have said from the pulpit.

Second, I would have been more careful in my own preaching. Perhaps a disclaimer could be offered at the beginning: "This sermon, though hopefully a proper rendering of the Word of God, is solely the opinion of the presenting preacher and no one on whose ears these words fall should be held accountable for any foolishness that might result."

How much a candidate's church involvement and theological leanings matter in a political race is up for debate. But if pew-sitters keep getting blamed for everything their preachers say, it will be even harder to get anyone with political leaning into a church — except during re-election.

Dellanna O'Brien led WMU in tough times

Dellanna O’Brien, who led WMU in tough times, died Sept. 7
By John Pierce

FRISCO, Texas — Dellanna West O’Brien died September 7 at a Dallas hospital. She was executive director of the national Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) from 1989-1999.

WMU, as an auxiliary of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), has struggled to retain its autonomy and broad missions focus since the onset of the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC. Announcing her retirement in 1999, O’Brien confessed: “WMU has faced some of its hardest days during this decade.”

In addition to raising record mission funds through promotion of the Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong offerings during her tenure, WMU launched several new initiatives including the Christian Women’s Job Corps.

“Dellanna led Woman’s Missionary Union through difficult times, and she faced opposition and personal difficulties head-on and successfully,” said Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler, noting that O’Brien continued to lead the organization after suffering a stroke.

Crumpler, who preceded O’Brien as WMU executive director, described her as a “true friend” as well as “wife, mother, missionary, educator, mentor, leader and over-comer.”

“After retirement from WMU, she and Bill made significant contributions to the needs of people in Southeast Asia, where they had served as missionaries years before,” Crumpler added.

Dellanna and her husband Bill were missionaries in Indonesia for 10 years following their appointment in 1962. He later became a mission strategist for the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) before going to Samford University when Dellanna worked at the WMU national office in Birmingham.

A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Dellanna was a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, Texas Christian University and Virginia Tech — where she earned a doctor of education degree. She worked in various capacities as an educator.

Dellanna authored or co-authored several books including Timeless Virtues: Lessons in Character for Women. The O’Briens were parents of three children and six grandchildren.

In recent years the O’Briens directed Compassion Frisco, an effort to assist survivors of the tsunami in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

A memorial service is planned for Sept. 10 at Preston Trail Community Church in Frisco, Texas, where the O'Briens were members.


(Photo from compassionfrisco.org.)

Sarah and Southern Baptists: Part 2

In an earlier blog I described the dilemma in which Southern Baptists find themselves over the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican choice for vice president. I'll not rehash the case that can be read below.

My observations have been verified by the continued silence from most well-known SBC leaders (except Richard Land who is forever positioning himself for political influence). Following Gov. Palin's selection and rousing acceptance speech there was still that odd Southern Baptist silence.

Now, finally, we get one article from Baptist Press related to Gov. Palin. But it is not from Paige or Dorothy Patterson, or other outspoken SBCers. It is a little known church history professor at Southeastern Seminary named Nathan Finn.

Finn opines: "The Baptist Faith and Message does not address the question of women in secular leadership, only spiritual leadership. Looking to Scripture, there are reasons we should use caution when applying biblical principles about gender roles in the home and the church to secular government. The Bible nowhere offers an unambiguous rejection of female governmental leadership as it does female spiritual leadership in the home and church."

Now I get it. Women can command a military offensive that could annihilate a large segment of the world but can't offer spiritual insight and guidance from a pulpit or have an equal voice in choosing a family vacation spot.

What is really amazing is that some good Baptists in the pews and students in the classroom actually buy this nonsense. But here's the upside: at least fundamentalists have finally discovered Judge Deborah in the Old Testament (whom I'm sure only offered "secular leadership" in her day).

Sarah and Southern Baptist silence

Vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin stirred up a lot of noise last night. Yet this highly-talked-about story during this most unusual political season seems to be getting the silent treatment from most Southern Baptists who typically weigh in on such issues.

Google up "sarah palin southern baptist" and one name dominates the screen. Richard Land, who purports to represent some 16 million fellow Southern Baptists before the Washington machinery, has expressed great glee since the Alaska governor was picked as Sen. John McCain's running mate a few days ago.

Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, is "ecstatic" according to Christianity Today and other sources.

His single measuring stick for politicians has always been a strict anti-abortion platform while ignoring, if necessary, other concerns that apply only to candidates who do not favor his narrow "family values" definition.

On the other extreme is Voddie Baucham, an African-American pastor and a popular speaker among Southern Baptists. Bob Allen, at ethicsdaily.com, reports that Baucham has called Gov. Palin the "anti-family pick."

Baucham, pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, charged that "Mrs. Palin is not even supposed to be the head of her own household." It is a position that resonates with many current Southern Baptists, but is rejected as sexism by others — especially those outside the fundamentalist stream.

But where are the voices in between the full embrace (endorsement?) from Land and the sexist dismissal by Baucham? Why is Baptist Press, the SBC public relations arm disguised as news service, not carrying stories about Gov. Palin's reception by key Southern Baptists?

Clearly the reason is that the Republican candidate for vice president creates a dilemma for most Southern Baptist leaders who embrace her ideology (her anti-abortion stance) but can't imagine her assuming much more demanding professional responsibilities at this stage in life.

Of course, that "stage in life" is being the mother of five — including a special-needs child born in April and an unwed teen daughter who will deliver a baby in December. Such ambition doesn't square with the definitions of "biblical manhood and womanhood" being heavily promoted within the SBC.

Yet for Southern Baptist leaders to publicly criticize the choices of Sen. McCain or Gov. Palin would be tantamount to promoting the candidacy of a Democratic ticket that is not aligned with Southern Baptist ideology and theology.

So, for once, and with few exceptions, the SBC leadership is strangely silent. Holding one's tongue may be the only response to a real dilemma.

The old men were cool after all

Our daughter just turned 15 and requested a trip to Atlanta to celebrate her birthday. Some cash had fallen out of greeting cards in recent days and she had shopping on her mind.

So we drove up to Lenox Square Mall for Labor Day — primarily so she could visit a store known as Urban Outfitters. Fulfilling an agreement with me that the first stop would be for a cup of hazelnut creme coffee at the Corner Bakery, we marched toward our primary destination.

Passing the display window at United Colors of Benetton, I pointed to a solid brown suit with a solid burgundy shirt and a solid, skinny brown tie. It looked liked something the older men would wear to a family reunion in the late '60s or early '70, I commented.

"It's retro, Dad; vintage is in," I was told. It was just the beginning.

The vintage look was the hallmark of Urban Outfitters. Most fascinating to me were the hats like my older cousins and uncles wore with their brown suits to the Nuckolls family reunions on Sunday afternoons in the late '60s and early '70s.

We all enjoyed our day at the mall together, but I came home empty handed. As the second of four sons raised on a low budget, "vintage" looks a lot like "hand-me-down" to me.

And I tried on one of those "retro" hats. The reflection in the mirror looked way too much like the old men at the family reunion.

I just never knew they were so cool.