The Church in Black and White: Recent Episodes
Braylon Harris and Michael Linton
Over the summer, Braylon celebrated 10 years at Mt. Olive, and Michael celebrated 5 years at First Sulphur. On today's podcast, they discuss what they've learned, what's gone on, and other interesting aspects of above average tenures at one church.
Due to various events in our lives, we've been unable to record for over a month. Coming back, we discuss what we've been up to and our big topic, Resolution 2 from the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.
SBC21 Resolution 2 https://www.sbc.net/resource-library/resolutions/on-the-sufficiency-of-scripture-for-race-and-racial-reconciliation/
In this episode, our special guest is actually the interviewer, not the interviewee. Matt Parker, Youth Minister at Lee's Summit Baptist Church in the Kansas City area, asked to interview us for a video that would serve as an informational video for his youth workers. In it, he asks us about our history with race, the origin of our friendship and podcast, and how we navigate racial differences in a cross-racial friendship.
On this episode, Braylon and Michael discuss the upcoming 2021 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Don't think this episode isn't for you if you aren't SBC. All of our groups have their dysfunctions, so you'll hear how we're all similar. Plus, we also discuss Critical Race Theory and women's roles in the church, as well as how the SBC functions and the SBC presidential candidates. We think you'll find it valuable.
As we explain in the podcast, another natural disaster in Lake Charles cancelled our previous week's podcast and made this week's a few days late. Listen to see what's going on after the FOURTH natural disaster in our area in less than a year, what Braylon is specifically doing through SWLA Responds, and what you can do to help our area out.
One aspect of a pastor being above reproach is how he treats women. Liz Evan shares with us today how a bill in Tennessee, that she wrote, will hold pastors accountable for abuse. Another aspect of that is how pastors protect the abused and handle abuse situations. We also talk about that.
There's been quite a bit of discussion about preachers stealing sermons lately, so we decided to take up the topic. What constitutes sermon-stealing? What motivates it? What are other questions about it?
Adoption is often tough, difficult, and scary. It can be fraught with disappointments and setbacks, but is also wonderful and rewarding. Many of those emotions and situations can be exacerbated in transracial adoption. Our guests on today's show have done it five times.
When we ask what's necessary for good church, we're asking what's necessary for a good worship service, and how is that even defined. Isaiah 6 gives us some ideas, tragedy gives us some ideas, but the full answer might just be simpler than you think.
What is a good general guide for planning how someone of a particular age should be engaged in the life of the church? Braylon and Michael discuss one possible rubric that, though it isn't static or strictly biblical, can offer a place to begin discussion.
What's too young to be a pastor? What's too old to be a youth minister? Are there best ages? Limits? Restrictions? Braylon and Michael discuss their views in this week's episode.
In today's episode, Braylon and Michael discuss the need for the church to consistently stand for speech that is gracious and builds up. We all have times where we're dismissive of the command of Ephesians 4:29, but the call is clear: let no corrupt speech come from your mouth.
Dr. George Yancey, our guest today, is a sociologist at Baylor University. In his writings, lectures, and seminars, he supports neither "antiracism" nor "colorblindness." His is a middle way that he calls the "mutual obligation approach." We discuss with him what that would look like in a church context.
You can find his book on the topic here: https://smile.amazon.com/Beyond-Racial-Gridlock-Embracing-Responsibility/dp/0830833765/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=george+yancey&qid=1616430103&sr=8-1
When someone leaves the church, it's always difficult, no matter the reasons for their leaving. In today's episode, Braylon and Michael talk about some of the realities, good and bad, of those situations.
In today's episode, Braylon and Michael talk with Dr. Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Mobile, AL, and co-originator of the "Deep South Joint Statement on the Gospel, Racial Reconciliation, and Justice," about how a community of churches can move toward racial harmony and friendship.
For more information about how you can lead out on bringing unity among your community of churches, go to www.shrinkthedivide.com.
In today's episode, Braylon and Michael discuss the different sermon styles between the black and the white church, and the most important characteristics both must have.
Having pastored through FOUR federal disaster declarations of our community this past year, Braylon and Michael talk about the opportunities and pitfalls of this trying time on churches. Our friends in Texas are at the beginning of dealing with some of this due to the recent winter storm in their area, and we pray they find this helpful.
In today's podcast, we talk about the decisions we were forced to make for pandemic lock-downs, and those things that we were prepared for and need to be prepared for next time.
In today's episode, Braylon and Michael introduce themselves, talk about upcoming topics, and their hope for this new podcast.