This forum was part of the Ministry with the Small Rural Church Workshop. Quentin Lockwood was Director of the Rural Missions Department of the Home Mission Board. Robert E. Wiley Robert E. Wiley was Associates Director of the Rural Missions Department in the Associational Missions Division of the Home Mission Board. Sara Ann Hobbs was the Director of the Division of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The forum begins with introduction from all the speakers and the students participating (0:00:00-0:09:46). The moderator opens the forum for questions and topics for discussion, and he gives an opening talk about the importance of the church (0:09:47-0:16:55). Throughout most of the forum, the speakers and students discuss various topics of which include the definition of a small church, the needs of small churches, and the future of small churches (0:16:56-1:59:21). The conversation begins to wrap up, and the moderator thanks everyone for coming and contributing to the forum (1:59:22-2:02:23).
Catherine Allen was Executive Assistant to the Director of the WMU. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Romans 10 and a word of prayer (00:00-02:48). A community announcement is given, and Catherine Allen is introduced as the Missionary Day chapel speaker (02:49-05:17). The choir sings a song of worship (05:18-07:50). Allen begins her sermon with a short summary of the life and missionary work of Lottie Moon and the impact of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (07:51-16:55). Allen centers her sermon on Romans 10:12-17, and she shares stories of missionaries to encourage the audience to take the call to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth (16:56-37:21). Allen ends the service by giving the audience a resource to help them consider the call to missions, and she give a word of prayer (37:22-39:35).
Walter B. Shurden was Professor of Church History at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-00:50). Walter B. Shurden is introduced as the Carver-Barnes Lecturer (00:51-06:25). Shurden’s lecture is entitled “The Southern Baptist Synthesis: Is it Cracking,” and he begins by stating that Southern Baptists have built a synthesis that began in the eighteenth century that is starting to erode (06:26-11:12). He states that the Southern Baptist tradition began in Charleston, SC, and that tradition had five characteristics: pietistic puritanism, Calvinistic confessionalism, quasi connectionism, church liturgicalism, and a commitment to theological education, all defined by order (11:13-18:10). Shurden then moves to the Sandy Creek tradition of Southern Baptists which was defined by its ardor, and it had four characteristics: revivalism, charismatic ministry, rugged independence, and strict biblicism (18:11-25:04). He then speaks about the Georgia tradition of Southern Baptists which was defined by local color, and this tradition was characterised by denominationalism and sectionalism (25:05-31:10). He then speaks about the Tennessee tradition of Southern Baptists which was defined by questionable honor, and this tradition gave Southern Baptist a sense of identity based on a fallacious history (31:11-33:18). Shurden believes that denominationalism won out and brought these four traditions together, but denominationalism is under attack (33:19-40:17). He believes there have been four stress points that is bringing cracks to the Southern Baptist synthesis, and these stress points are cultural stress, denominational stress, and financial stress (40:18-45:14). Shurden concludes his lecture by stating that the Southern Baptist synthesis is not breaking, but it is being reshaped (45:15-48:05). The service ends with a word of prayer (48:06-49:01).
Linda Morgan was a Master of Divinity student who went on to become a United Methodist minister. The service opens with a word of prayer (00:00-01:01). The first speaker reads a prayer of confession, and the second speaker reads from Isaiah 4:2-6 and John 14:15-31 (01:02-06:19). The choir leads in a song of worship (06:20-08:47). Linda Morgan opens her sermon by giving two examples of people she knows that confuse the character of God with the character of their parents to demonstrate that personal relationships are not perfect (08:48-10:36). She says that Jesus knows our personal flaws and confusion when it comes to knowing him, yet he shows his kindness to us by desiring to have an intimate relationship with us (10:37-12:40). She tells the story of her son going off alone in the store with the promise that they will me back up at the register counter to explain to the audience God’s and reliance and kindness towards us (12:41-15:55). Morgan states that God’s kindness and kinship toward us is given through Christ (15:56-19:25). She concludes her sermon by discussing how God’s kindness and kinship is currently present with us through the Holy Spirit (19:26-23:56). Morgan ends the service with a prayer (23:57-24:57).
Samuel Simpson was the pastor of Bronx Baptist Church and Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church, both in New York. The service begins with organ music (0:00-9:14). The choir sings a song of worship (9:15-12:02). There is a moment of prayer (12:03-13:43). Samuel Simpson is introduced as the chapel speaker (13:44-15:54). The choir sings an anthem (15:55-18:16). Simpson speaks about being called to be spokesman of God and begins his presentation in prayer (18:17-20:26). He congratulates those in attendance for sharing the gospel and shares about all the mission, teaching, and learning opportunities in the area (20:27-27:25). Simpson turns his attention to a conversation between God and Jeremiah at the beginning of the book of Jeremiah (27:26-34:05). He argues that no one can do God’s will unless one has a relationship with God (34:06-40:21). He also says that to do God’s will, one must have experienced His love (40:22-41:00). Simpson states that Jesus used the familiar to show the unfamiliar (41:01-44:37). He shares that in doing the will of God, one must trust and obey God and serve (44:38-57:25). The service closes with a word of prayer (57:25-58:26).
Audio quality becomes poor near the end of the recording. Dr. Brevard S. Childs was a leading Old Testament scholar during the 20th century and Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:05). The speaker gives a word of prayer (05:06-05:45). Brevard S. Childs is introduced as the Spring Lecturer (05:46-09:00). The title of Child’s lecture is the question "Is Biblical Theology Still Possible?" First, Childs addresses the side-lining of biblical theology for historical, philosophical, and dogmatic concerns and evaluation of the Scriptures (09:01-33:54). Second, Childs addresses two new approaches in using the Bible theologically, a sociological model and a philosophical model, and he argues that all these models fail because the Bible shapes the church, not the other way around (33:55-44:44). Finally, Childs admits that Biblical theology is not possible at the present time, but he has hope for the future that Biblical theology can once again be profitable through grassroots faithfulness of the church (44:45-54:55). The speaker gives a benediction at the end of the lecture (54:56-55:35). The service ends with organ music (55:36-59:54).
The service begins with a reading from Matthew 1, and a word of prayer is given (00:00-02:33). The speaker states that the service will be in celebration of the Virgin Mary (02:34-03:02). A song about Mary and Jesus is played (03:03-08:34). A speaker tells the story of Roman Catholics in South American celebrating the Virgin Mary (08:35-10:00). A woman sings a song about the Virgin Mary on the piano (10:01-12:52). Powell begins her sermon by giving a word of prayer (12:53-13:41). Powell reflects on the story of God’s call to Mary and the birth of Christ, and she speaks about her own struggles in life and her reasons to celebrate with hope every day (13:42-37:41). Powell concludes her sermon with a word of prayer (37:42-38:48).
Thomas H. Graves was the Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion. The service begins with organ music (0:00-4:35). There is a call to worship from Isaiah 40:28-31 and Psalms 13 (4:36-6:25). There is a moment of prayer (6:26-7:27). A woman sings a song of worship (7:28-12:13). Graves reads a Psalm and discusses the trouble and hurt that runs through the pages (12:14-15:22). Graves shares how to approach the unpleasant aspects of the Christian life, which he calls “the winter of despair” (15:23-18:37). He speaks about the “summer,” being assured of God’s presence and finding joy by knowing that all of life is brought before God, (18:38-27:00). Graves closes the service with a moment of prayer (27:01-27:30).
