In a few weeks, I’ll be down in my old stomping grounds of New Orleans for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Each year in advance of my convention’s annual meeting, I teach a class in tandem with the event. In year’s past, folks have had to come to Louisville for the lectures, and then travel to wherever the meeting convenes.
This year, though, I’ve decided to have the whole class in New Orleans. I think it’ll be great fun, and I’d love for any of you students to come join me. Here’s what we’ll do. We’ll read together and talk about some important issues in Baptist history and denominational cooperation and we’ll attend together all the sessions of the convention, thinking through actions and resolutions and the like, how they fit in Baptist history, and what they mean for the Baptist future.
While we’re there, if weather permits, we’ll take a quick walking tour around Jackson Square. Then, I’ll point out some important places, and all the while I’ll be lecturing on the banks of the Mississippi River on the denomination and the ins and outs of its annual meeting.
It’ll be like a gumbo of a discussion, lots of things to mull over, and, hey, if you don’t like okra, there’s always some stuff in there you will.
After, as many as want to, we’ll go have coffee and beignets at the Cafe Du Monde, which is (as we’ll see) itself a significant site in Baptist history. I can’t promise that my mother will fry shrimp for us, although I can always ask.
You don’t have to be a Southern Seminary student to take the class. I’m glad to have folks from other places with us.
I hope you’ll be able to join us!
Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez.
