By Editor Bob Terry
What happened during the 159th annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 14–15 may mark milestones in the life of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination — milestones on Baptists’ approach to national social issues and milestones on the internal life of the convention itself.
Perhaps nothing was more dramatic than the overwhelming vote to oppose the display of the Confederate battle flag. The resolution enthusiastically approved by messengers was not couched in temperate language as proposed by the resolutions committee.
Instead the messengers adopted an amendment from the floor that removed references to the historical meaning of the flag to many Southerners and called on Baptists to discontinue the display of the Confederate battle flag. The resolution went beyond calling for the flag to be removed from public property like state capitols. Instead it called for the total cessation of displaying the flag.
For the first time the SBC acknowledged the battle flag is “perceived by many as a symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism offending millions of people.” In other words, the flag’s historic tie to slavery is as offensive to some as the Nazi flag is to most who are familiar with World War II.
About 11,000 cooperating SBC churches are primarily non-Anglo. One speaker noted the vote shows Southern Baptists march under no other flag than the Banner of the Cross of Jesus and the grace of God. That declaration is a sea change in attitude and actions for Southern Baptists.
Discussion on race relations
Judging from what happened on the convention floor it is likely the resolution would have been adopted even if the morning session had not featured a discussion on race relations. No doubt the strong words of National Baptist Convention President Jerry Young calling for the Church of Jesus Christ to live by the standards of her Lord and be salt and light to the world played a part.
But messengers responded enthusiastically to the effort from the floor to strengthen the proposed resolution so there would be no mistake where those participating in this annual meeting stood on this issue.
Another milestone may be the way messengers addressed the issue of homosexuality. There was no change in the convention’s opposition to homosexuality’s various expressions but a different tone was evident.
After expressing support for traditional Baptist positions related to human sexuality, the messengers added: “We reiterate our love for our neighbors who identify as transgender, seek their good always, welcome them to our churches.”
As if to illustrate that concern the messengers said in a resolution about the deadly shooting in Orlando: “We regard those affected by this tragedy as fellow image-bearers of God and our neighbors.” The Bible teaches God created all men and women in His image, the resolution continued, and pledged “love and compassion to those devastated by this tragedy.”
Southern Baptists have not always been as careful to distinguish between sin and sinner when addressing sexual sins. Sometimes our rhetoric has been harsh, even mean. This time there was an attempt to build bridges over which both sides can walk toward the other.
Baptists wrestled with themselves over concern for refugees and religious liberty. Concern for public safety was acknowledged but messengers added, “We affirm that refugees are people loved by God, made in His image and that Christian love should be extended to them as special objects of God’s mercy in a world that has displaced them from their homelands.”
In resolution and in convention debate messengers came down on the side of religious liberty for all, not just for ourselves. This is where Baptists have stood through the centuries. If Caesar has the power to advance or prevent the rights of one religious group, he holds that power over all.
Again, in this confusing time in our nation’s life, it is a milestone to affirm care for the stranger as well as to insist that those with whom we differ enjoy the same rights as we do.
Perhaps the most surprising outcome at the recent annual meeting was the way the election for president was resolved. The contest between former Alabama Baptist pastor Steve Gaines and J.D. Greear of North Carolina was described by a Christianity Today blog post as a contest between “business as usual” (Gaines) and a fresh, new approach (Greear).
In his nominating speech for Greear, Florida pastor Jimmy Scroggins continued that theme saying Greear’s election would signal the passing of the leadership mantel to younger pastors in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
Majority of all ballots
Still, Gaines topped Greear by 104 votes in a run-off election but a ruling by parliamentarian Barry McCarty prevented Gaines from being declared the winner. McCarty ruled the winner had to have a majority of all ballots cast, even the 108 illegal ballots — wrong or improperly marked ballots. That left Gaines three votes short of victory.
In a private meeting both men offered to withdraw and let the other be SBC president rather than have a third vote that could leave the messengers divided. In the end, Greear insisted that Gaines serve as president. He not only withdrew his name but moved that Gaines be elected by acclamation.
The magnanimous move by both Gaines and Greear electrified the messengers. It modeled unity in the body of Christ. Men with different outlooks and priorities worked together for common good of the whole. The incident was an example of the annual meeting’s challenge for Southern Baptists to “Agree, Unite, Pray.”
Again, it is a milestone when unity of the whole body is a more important value than personal prominence of a portion.
Only God knows the future but it is likely the way the election was resolved determined the SBC presidency for the next four years — Gaines this year and next followed by Greear for two years.
God’s Word teaches us to prefer one another in humility (Rom. 12:10) and to love one another — even our enemies (Matt. 5:44). This convention marked milestones of loving with words. Now it will be interesting to see how those words are translated into actions and become milestones indeed.
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