A Glass Half Full or a Glass Half Empty?

A Glass Half Full or a Glass Half Empty?

The 7,868 messengers registered for the June 19–20 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) made several important decisions, even historic decisions. The question is whether these decisions indicate the Southern Baptist glass is half full or half empty. 

For example, when outgoing president Bryant Wright called for a name change of the SBC late last year, he believed it would serve as a rallying cry for missions. He hoped the Great Commission Resurgence, with its renewed emphasis on evangelism in the neighborhoods of this country as well as the nations of the world, would cause Southern Baptists to be willing to change their name to something more appealing to those living outside the Deep South. 

The resulting recommendation kept the historic name of Southern Baptist Convention but added a descriptor — Great Commission Baptists. The compromise was thought to satisfy those attached to the historic name but give those wanting a different identity an approved alternative. 

It did not. Only 53 percent of the messengers supported adding the descriptor. While that was enough for the new phrase to be adopted, it meant that nearly half the messengers did not want the name changed in any way. The vote reflected what an earlier poll by LifeWay Christian Resources found — Southern Baptists are split right down the middle on this issue. 

What was supposed to be a unifier became another point of tension in Baptist life. Those who want to use the term may do so (as if they needed permission). Others view the whole debate with suspicion, asking “Is this just the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent?” Those suspicions were not abated last February when speakers noted that if 20 years from now Baptists wanted to change the convention’s name, approving the recommended descriptor now would make the process easier and less expensive.

In February some entities indicated they would move immediately to use the Great Commission Baptist phrase if approved by messengers. Since its use is voluntary by churches and SBC entities, as emphasized repeatedly during the recent discussion, and since the vote was so close, it will be interesting to see how quickly the new phrase is used. Few churches would build a new building or make other major changes with only 53 percent of the people approving. 

The whole debate leaves one asking if the new descriptor is a glass half full or a glass half empty.

The election of African-American pastor Fred Luter Jr. as president was the single most moving moment of the convention, judging from the reaction of the messengers. When the vote was cast messengers cheered with several waves of prolonged applause and shouts. Tears welled in the eyes of many. It was a historic moment as messengers tried to say something about the future of the SBC and about themselves as well as express their confidence in the New Orleans pastor. 

While the percentage of African-American messengers will never be known, there were certainly a higher percentage of African-Americans participating in the annual meeting than in any recent time. Even Luter’s announced nomination for the SBC highest office sent positive messages to people about Southern Baptists. 

At the same time private conversations often referenced the racially charged words of Richard Land in the days leading up to the annual meeting. Land apologized for his statements and was disciplined by the directors of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. But Land kept his job of representing Southern Baptists on the national stage about moral and ethical issues. 

Some African-American pastors asked if anything had really changed among Southern Baptists. They said that in the secular world statements like those made by Land would result in immediate termination. Among Southern Baptists, Land is slapped on the wrist and the statements are “swept under the rug.” 

Is this whole episode a sign the Southern Baptist glass of race relations is half full or half empty?

Messengers celebrated that both the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions grew in the number of dollars received over the previous year. The growth was small in percentages but the total dollars were up.

At the same time, messengers adopted a 2012–2013 Cooperative Program (CP) budget that is about 2.2 percent smaller than the current CP budget. Since CP is the cornerstone for Great Commission Giving, does that indicate support for missions at home and around the world is a glass half full or a glass half empty? 

Messengers tried to sidestep increasing conflict over the role of Calvinism. Wright courageously tackled the issue in his president’s address and called for traditional Southern Baptists and Calvinistic Baptists to step away from conflict. 

Messengers approved a resolution declaring the Baptist Faith and Message statement of salvation provides sufficient parameters to allow both groups to work together in convention life. 

Yet SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Frank Page announced he would call together a group of influential Southern Baptists to help find a way for traditional Southern Baptists and Calvinistic Baptists to work together. 

During elections, one of the authors of the recent statement of traditional understanding of salvation was defeated for convention office by a candidate whose nomination emphasized trying to keep Southern Baptists unified in missions efforts. 

Does all of this signal the glass of cooperation is half full or half empty? 

Even the number of participants raises this question. For the first time since the end of World War II, Baptists failed to break the 8,000-messenger mark when meeting in a Southern city. And that in a year when a new president was elected and a controversial recommendation (the new descriptor — see story, page 3) was on the agenda. Either one of those items normally ensures a large attendance. Only 610 Alabama Baptists registered as messengers, a surprisingly low number. 

The election of an African-American president drew national attention from news media but a surprisingly low participation of messengers. 

Again, is this because the Southern Baptist glass is half full or half empty? 

Many good things came out of the recent convention. But only time will tell if the actions point that the glass of denominational life is being filled or being drained. My prayer is that it is being filled.