Frank Page, Newly Elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention
I am a Southern Baptist. Frank Page of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C. was elected today to lead the Southern Baptist Convention. There is an unknown future for the denomination in that in 1979 a Conservative resurgence began to elect Conservative leaders of the denomination, electing leaders that believe in the inerrancy of the Bible. Ronnie Floyd of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark. had the backing of Paige Patterson, a well known Conservative movement figure within the denomination. Jerry Sutton of Two Rivers Church in Nashville, TN was a contender as well.
Page, 53 years old is somewhat of an unknown commodity in that he is and was supported by some younger pastors, who, as bloggers have pointed out Page's church's commitment to Missionary support. That is a good thing. The unknown commodity is his public statements advocating more openness and inclusion.
In today's edition of the USA Today was published story about other denominations and their struggle with ordination and acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. Keep in mind that Satan continues to seek and devour those he can destroy across the land.
To the Brian's Blog Prayer Warriors; Pray for President Page and the Southern Baptist Convention, also, thank God for the leadership of Dr. Bobby Welch and his vision and implementation of the Everyone Can campaign.
Dr. Bobby Welch of First Baptist, Daytona Beach, Florida
I am a Southern Baptist. Frank Page of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C. was elected today to lead the Southern Baptist Convention. There is an unknown future for the denomination in that in 1979 a Conservative resurgence began to elect Conservative leaders of the denomination, electing leaders that believe in the inerrancy of the Bible. Ronnie Floyd of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark. had the backing of Paige Patterson, a well known Conservative movement figure within the denomination. Jerry Sutton of Two Rivers Church in Nashville, TN was a contender as well.
Page, 53 years old is somewhat of an unknown commodity in that he is and was supported by some younger pastors, who, as bloggers have pointed out Page's church's commitment to Missionary support. That is a good thing. The unknown commodity is his public statements advocating more openness and inclusion.
In today's edition of the USA Today was published story about other denominations and their struggle with ordination and acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. Keep in mind that Satan continues to seek and devour those he can destroy across the land.
To the Brian's Blog Prayer Warriors; Pray for President Page and the Southern Baptist Convention, also, thank God for the leadership of Dr. Bobby Welch and his vision and implementation of the Everyone Can campaign.
Dr. Bobby Welch of First Baptist, Daytona Beach, Florida
Brian -
ReplyDeleteI would probably feel a bit better if Sutton had been tapped.
The least socially conservative candidate won, huh? I hope that isn't a sign of things to come in the Senate race...
Cheers,
Rob
I sincerely hope that y'all are able to continue to choose theologically conservative leaders.
ReplyDeleteI am spending some time investigatig what the "bloggers" are saying. I like bloggers, you know.
ReplyDeleteIt is critical that if there is a shift in "philosphy" that the Conservative Resurgence of 1979, not allow one term (two years) get out of hand.
A few promising things that I have seen this evening, is Page is referred to as a young fundamentalist, that's not bad. Also, Joyce Rogers, the widow of Adrian Rogers the first SBC President as part of the Conservative Resurgence spoke last evening and may according to the blogger been leaning toward the young fundementalist. I have not total confirmed that, yet.
This is a work in progress. In the past since '79 all SBC presidents have been a proven comodity. Not the case on this one. We just need Gods wisdom and direction on this one.
I truely hope the election of Frank Page can bring the needed change we need to our beloved convention. Not conservative or mainstream or liberal change. But a true change at all levels of Southern Baptist Life. I believe myself to be very theologically conservative, but I do not feel theology is the issue in the SBC. Our image and our unity is the issue. Only the Holy Spirit take the convention in the direction it needs to go. and that direction is "Saving the Lost at any Cost" as Paul writes in 1 Cor. 9:22 and doing htis in an Act 1:8 format--from our local Jeruselem to the ends of the Earth. If frank Page wants a more open and inclusive Convention then lets be more open and inclusive. Everyone needs Jesus, not just those who sin a little, but those who sin alot, sin bigtime. We need a big banner ad on sbc.net {Sinners Welcome} [click here] The rhetoric of telling folks what they do wrong is doing more to shrink the Convention than anything else in my opinion. I truely feel the SBC has had a big part in creating the Emergent Church Movement. We have driven our members and pastors and lay people away. And this has nothing to do with the Bible. It has everything to do with hypocracy, and complacency. The Convention is here to serve the churches in helping them serve the master. The convention itself has no biblical mandate other than that which is given to it by the churches of which it is comprised. This being the Great Commission......what a wonderful resource the convention is....with namb and imb and lifeway and all of our missionaries and pastors and educational institutions. Lets all work with our new president to make this year the million baptism year. Lets see all the power of God work to grow the kingdom. Then we can get Josh Hunt to write a book "How to Double Your Convention in Two Years or Less"
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