Ralph Carter

@Norma5387953815 1353

99.9% will fail..!! Tell me the number that is bigger than this..??

@dandarling I’ve never thought membership was a good metric anyway. The church I last pastored reported a membership of 300 with an attendance of barely 30.

Yes, SBC has had a decline in membership which tracks with overall church decline in the nation. But we need analysis that considers two HUGE factors in SBC life: churches are way more circumspect with membership and many big new churches don’t report. Our church just cleaned up old rolls and shed quite a few. And in the last few years across the SBC: attendance is up!

@KrisFreemanPA It did my friend. Never the rat birds

I almost felt sorry for the Ravens. Am I sick? Am I ok? I’m confused. Like this should be as enjoyable as the Mets or San Francisco Giants losing. It’s supposed to feel good.

@AdrielTweets @AmyMantravadi I believe his response actually answered your question. He won’t confront for fear of being offensive.

@AmyMantravadi I thought so😆! I think my face turned red when he called me offensive because I was so surprised.

Several years ago I confronted a pastor in my neighborhood who had just published a book arguing that the Bible doesn’t condemn homosexuality as a sin. I had read his book, and we ran into each other at a coffee shop. In God’s providence we were the only two people in the cafe, and he sat right by me! I introduced myself and after some initial dialogue told him that while I appreciated his desire to make a biblical case, I disagreed with his assessment. We didn’t actually discuss any exegesis, but stuck with pastoral implications. I asked him a question I had been curious about, “Given your affirming view, do you think that I as a minister who holds to the traditional interpretation of the Bible on gay relationships can truly love gay people?” His response was, “I don’t think so, but more importantly if that’s your view they won’t feel loved.” There’s a lot to unpack there (the triumph of the therapeutic in action), but I responded, “As a pastor, how do you disagree with your congregants and challenge them if they’re doing things you do believe are sinful when they can just respond with, ‘I don’t feel loved when you do that.’” His whole demeanor changed, and he ended our conversation, “I can’t believe you asked me that. You are an offensive person.” When I tried to deescalate, he interrupted me and repeated, “No, you need to understand that you are offensive, and you need to own and accept that that’s who you are.” He got up and walked away. Believe me when I tell you that I wasn’t being snarky, or playing a “gotcha” game. I was truly curious, and disappointed with how the conversation ended (having read the book, I had hoped we could actually talk about the Bible). I think I asked him a question he didn’t have a good answer for, and rather than say so chose to label me offensive so that he could dismiss whatever else I might have to say. In our day, if you can label a person a bigot, or fundamentalist (or lib or woke from the other side), then you can just dismiss everything they have to say without engaging. Nothing kills dialogue like tribal excommunication. Beware of dismissing honest questions as insincere just because they’re coming from someone with whom you radically differ, or who has been critical of a position you hold. Poisoning the well is never good, regardless of who is doing it.

@erichoke I pastor a church of approx 50 ppl/week. Our budget is 148k. I'm full time. We also pay music, children, pianist, and janitor, all part time but average what a church our size pays in our area.

Ok, riddle me this: Average church size in America is 65 people. Average family size in America is 2.53 people. That would mean the average church has ~25 families. The median household income in America is 68k. Reports vary, but the average church-going Christian tithes 3.75% of their income. 68k*25*.0375 = $63,750 How can a church of this afford a FT pastor + cost of operating a local church? In my view, there are 5 options (and likely more). 1. Reach more people. 2. Disciple people to give more. 3. Reach richer people. 4. Consolidate smaller churches 5. Have a part time or volunteer pastor. What do you think? What did I miss? What am I not seeing?

@philipnation Not going to make it this year. Guess we will need to meet in Nashville for that hug. Coffee's on me.

Hey #SBC24 friends: I've written & deleted so many posts about our current state of affairs. But the online scuffling that such posts produce is not worth the pugilism that ensues. Instead, I look forward to seeing you in person. My aim is to encourage you so be ready for a hug.

@Rusty__Rushing @erichoke I think he means normative sized meaning most churches are this size. That is the terminology that is being used today for the under 250 attendance church instead of calling it a small church.

@erichoke What is a “normal-sized” church? We need to remember congregations come in all shapes and sizes. Numbers don’t make them “normal” or “abnormal.” We need to quit defining them as such.

One of my biggest mistakes in leading a normal-sized church was having a communication strategy that was for a larger church. Let me explain: We’re holding a back to school block party. Post it on social media. Pay someone to make a flyer. Hand out said flyers by the subway. Pay for AdWords for our immediate neighbors. Block party happens. New people come, they never return. You send them generic emails hoping they return. They ignore you when they see you in the bodega or laundromat. The better way (for a church of our size): Hold a meeting for everyone post service to talk block party. Pray for people in our lives who might be interested in the block party. Commit to invite those people with us to attend the block party. New people come, and are more likely to come back because they have a connection. Individually thank people who brought friends, and schedule time for you all to grab dinner or coffee together. Build relationships, grow. Basically, more high touch. I get how this isn’t doable as the church gets larger (at least not by the pastor only) but it’s one of my biggest regrets about my time leading a normal sized church and I hope someone can learn from my shortcomings.

@pj_schreiner Congratulations!!!

My new book releases tomorrow. If you are looking for a short biblical, narratival, theological, and practical textbook, check it out. Here are a few more endorsements. amazon.com/Four-Gospels-J…

@erichoke Pastor here who went to a church in TN making mid 40s total pkg at 57 yrs old. Wife had a good job that picked up insurance. It is possible. Been here 7 years.

If you're looking to hire a full time pastor in 2024 and the best you can do is 40k-50k with no benefits, you're actually looking for an intern. Someone who is early to mid 20s, on their parent's insurance, likely single and will stay for 2 years. And that is OK.

@philipnation Romans 13:11-14 - Transformed Priorities

🔥🔥 PASTOR ROLL CALL 🔥🔥 What’s the scripture text and topic for your sermon? Tell me how I can pray for you.

@PaulKuharskyNFL When you, Frank, and Mark worked together was, in my opinion, the best sports talk this city has ever seen. Not been topped since.

ICYMI The Good Memories Start With Frank Wycheck's Head In My Garage #Titans I forgot to include that Frank convinced Peyton Manning to call me Pete at a press session once. But Peyton is such a good guy he couldn't stick with it for more than three seconds. paulkuharsky.com/news/the-good-…

Using a gif, give me one of your Top 5 Favorite TV Characters

@claysmith79 Glad I got my MDiv. Wish I had known that after receiving a 30 hour masters degree I could have begun work on a DMin. Possibly make it like other professions. Taking admissions test get into doctor program. Can’t pass admissions get masters then doctor.

I keep hearing from our SBC seminaries about the declining number of students pursuing the M.Div.. We need to find a way to make this the gold standard of a seminary education . And, while seemingly impracticable for many, find a way to make the on-campus experience the norm.

@CarlosHappyNPO You mean “theological disagreements” like the resurrection? Not or Both/and.

What parts of the Bible do you take LITERAL? Theological disagreements that help no one? Creation story, Jonah inside the whale, parting the Red Sea? Or the invitations that could transform people’s actual lives? Forgiving debts, feeding the multitudes, welcoming foreigners?

@mhenslee Baseball is what you watch when you find golf too exciting

@TrevinWax @roddreher @nathanafinn I was thinking the same thing

@roddreher @nathanafinn I try not to judge friends based on food preferences, but y'all are making it very difficult.

@rgummere @erichoke I ask “What are you unwilling to give up to grow”

Here’s the problem with hiring (churches and otherwise): Most organizations say they want a leader to bring change. They don’t. They want someone to manage the status quo and get mad when they try to lead and bring change.

@pastordmack It really is!

Must admit, this is funny.

@TGC I have learned to use focus on the iPhone. I have a focus cycle study. It allows only weather app alerts and my wife and daughter through. Everything else is silenced and no notifications.

The pull of the phone toward multitasking—that urge to check Twitter or Instagram, or scroll past the incessant notifications that still arrive even when your phone is silenced—makes it nearly impossible to give undivided attention to God.

@marcminter @9Marks @SEBTS Would be there if budget allowed. @9Marks is my go to for ecclesiology.

I don’t buy that the low registration numbers for the @9Marks conference at @SEBTS mean that there’s less interest in the ecclesiology of 9Marks. The twitterverse may hate 9Marks, but I talk to pastors all the time who thoroughly appreciate 9Marks and the stuff they produce.