Monday, August 13, 2007
WikiCovenant
What ought a Baptist congregation's church covenant to contain in this day and time?
With an equal admixture of eager anticipation and sheer terror, I announce the WikiCovenant project. It is a wiki page containing, at this moment, the text of J. Newton Brown's church covenant from his Baptist Church Manual of 1853. This is the text that has become the most popular church covenant among Southern Baptist Churches.
A wiki is a web page that is fully editable by those who view the page. So, I'm opening Bro. Brown's text to you for editing. The interface is the same as that of WikiPedia. I invite the Baptist web community to produce a new Baptist church covenant.
I believe that it would be helpful for Southern Baptists today to give some increased attention to the matter of church covenants. I inaugurate this project in the furtherance of that cause.
Glad your back Bro. Bart. I figured your hiatus would end in a new and improved look! Now how about those podcasts you promised?!
ReplyDeleteBart,
ReplyDeleteI tried the link & it said 'this page doesn't exist yet'. I created an account but still got nothing. Can you offer any advice to the less technologically astute readers among us?
This may sound radical, but I think every church member (if physically able) should covenant to have an active, weekly church ministry. Examples: Bible study leader, greeter, visitor to homes, etc.
ReplyDeleteSean,
ReplyDeleteSorry...don't know how to help you there. It works for me, logged in or not.
BT, I like some kinds of "radical"! Mosey on over and put that idea into the covenant.
ReplyDeleteSean,
ReplyDeleteThe podcasts are coming, as is everything else promised in June.
I've tried the WikiCovenant site from different browsers, different user accounts, and different computers (even one based in Arkansas). It keeps working for me. Sorry, but I don't know how to help further.
I added the following to the second paragraph:
ReplyDelete"to actively participate weekly in an officially recognized ministry of this church unless physically unable to do so"
Bart,
ReplyDeleteI tried it early this morning from home & it didn't work, but worked fine from the office.
Thanks. I'll try to work out my bugs at home this evening while I'm babysitting. Cool idea.
What are you podcasting anyway? Sermons, history, juicy baptist tabloid stories????
Just what we need--more things to force others to agree to. :(
ReplyDeleteBennett Willis
The link that works is the one in the body of the text--at least it worked for me. The one at the bottom of the page seemed to reference the page itself and not the Wiki.
ReplyDeleteCould we put things into the Wiki in italics for a while--just to sort of see what has been added?
Bennett Willis
Bennett,
ReplyDeleteIf you'll click on the "History" tab at the top of the page, you'll find a UI for comparing the current version against any other version of the page. It is even better than italics—it's color coded!
Don't miss the Discussion tab over at WikiCovenant. That's where a lot of the work will take place. I've proposed a couple of questions to begin with.
ReplyDeleteBrother Bart,
ReplyDeleteI may have messed up. I just went into the article and changed some things. Is that ok?
Also, in your new format see if you can change the color of the font on your links. I just drug my cursor across the page until I saw the arrow change to a hand. Then I knew it was a link.
Blessings,
Tim
Bart,
ReplyDeleteSorry to interrupt, but I asked you a question in your "Keeping Watch Over the Establishment" post. If it would not be too much trouble, I would love to have an answer. You can email me if you like: alancross@charter.net.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteI have responded in the appropriate thread.