When: June 9, 2021, 2:45 pm - Wednesday

Where: Ezell 205

Session 2

Session Abstract

Christian business leaders face a unique set of challenges as they guide organizations that face competing goals in the 21^st century.  This session brings a diverse set of speakers to address topics including wealth, diversity, employment law and business as mission.

 

Paper Abstracts

Wes Mckinzie, Oklahoma Christian University, “Career Supports and Barriers for African American Leaders in Sports”

African Americans are underrepresented in sports leadership roles. The percentage of African Americans in decision-making positions is less than 10 percent across NCAA Division I and the major professional leagues. At the highest levels, that percentage languishes to near zero. These realities exist despite the lack of explicit race-related specifications for sports leadership roles. Sports management scholars have sought to identify career supports and barriers. This presentation synthesizes the prior findings through the lens of Bonilla-Silva’s racialized social systems theory. This research can provide insights for overcoming structures, practices, and other barriers to African Americans’ career progression in sports.

 

Brad Lemler, Howard Payne University, “A Biblical Perspective on Creating and Accumulating Wealth”

Is the creation and accumulation of wealth biblical?  If so, what are the biblical parameters that govern creating and accumulating wealth?  Is the creation and accumulation of wealth a legitimate biblical end?  Or, from a biblical perspective, does the creation and accumulation of wealth serve a higher purpose?  If so, how does this higher purpose provide a biblical context for creating and accumulating wealth?  These enduring, timeless questions are profitably considered by Christian business students and professionals.  This paper examines selected Scripture passages that provide a framework for addressing these questions.

 

Lauren Pinkston, Lipscomb University, “The God of Mission and Business: How the World’s Unreached People Groups are Engaging the Gospel Through Organic Relationships with Strategically Located Christian Businesspeople”

As models of communication, management, and global trade evolve, so do models of mission and evangelism. Countries with opposition to Western religious influence are reluctant to partner with faith-based humanitarian efforts from developed nations. On the other hand, these same nations receive foreign business investments.  This paper discusses a theological framework for business as a catalyst for social justice. The author also presents field cases of missionaries granted access to unreached people groups through business transactions and employment. Finally, a case will be built to recommend a fresh perspective on effective Christian missions to also include the marketplace.

 

Dutch Kendall, Indiana Wesleyan University, “Navigating Employment Law for ‘Christian Owned and Operated’ Businesses”

Tens of thousands of individual businesses across the United States fervently profess they are “Christian owned and operated.”  By making a public faith statement, owner-operators fear they are inviting attention from activists who object to their religious stance.  One area of particular vulnerability is employment law.  Navigating employment law while still staying true to their Christian identity presents a unique challenge to so-called Christian owned-and-operated businesses.  This study synthesized lessons from the latest academic literature and case law to develop basic principles all Christian owned-and-operated businesses should follow to prepare for legal challenges.

Speakers

Andy Borchers, Lipscomb University, Convener

• Wes Mckinzie, Oklahoma Christian University, “Career Supports and Barriers for African American Leaders in Sports”
• Brad Lemler, Howard Payne University, “A Biblical Perspective on Creating and Accumulating Wealth”
• Lauren Pinkston, Lipscomb University, “The God of Mission and Business: How the World’s Unreached People Groups are Engaging the Gospel Through Organic Relationships with Strategically Located Christian Businesspeople”
• Dutch Kendall, Indiana Wesleyan University, “Navigating Employment Law for ‘Christian Owned and Operated’ Businesses”