Southern Baptist Convention Taking A Positive Turn

With the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention last week, the prospects for the future are improved.

A president– Willy Rice– was elected who has conservative instincts and good communication skills. A constitutional amendment was passed to rule out female pastors.

Recall that the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) had removed its leadership last year; and it appears its new leader will be an improvement over what we had seen in the recent past. The ERLC is the Southern Baptist Convention’s lobbying arm.

Note that the annual meeting took place in Florida where Willy Rice also happens to pastor. He had an extensive network of pastors and churches in that state that he could rely upon for support in Orlando. Those kinds of favorable conditions will not be present during future years when the annual meeting moves to locations outside the southern United States. The meeting next year will be in Indiana, for instance. The constitutional amendment on female pastors must be voted upon a second time there in order to become effective.

Overall, the trajectory is positive. That is the first time we can say that during recent years. The scourge of Russell Moore and JD Greear is receding. We need continued progress– and Willy Rice needs to make some excellent appointments to committees and boards in order for that progress to continue.

Rhett Burns has some additional perspectives.