Southern Baptists will remain Southern Baptists – indeed, after a lively
debate, Southern Baptist Convention messengers voted last week against forming
a study committee to consider changing the conventions name.
Southern Baptists will remain Southern Baptists – indeed, after a lively
debate, Southern Baptist Convention messengers voted last week against forming
a study committee to consider changing the conventions name.
The proposal to create a study committee was the only motion to make it to
the floor for debate out of a record 29 offered.
It was defeated on a vote of 1,731 (55.4 percent) to 1,391 (44.6 percent).
“I brought the motion to this body … because we have gone beyond our
southern regional characteristics, …” Claude Thomas of Texas said. “It
is wise to appoint a committee to study our present name. Does it communicate
who we are and serve us well, or would there be a better alternative?”
Southern Baptist messengers lined up on both sides of the issue and were still
lined up at microphones to debate the matter when time for the session expired.
Those opposing formation of a study committee questioned the cost, both to
study the name change and to implement it.
“We dont know the cost of (the study),” SBC President Jack
Graham of Texas, said. “It will require an investment.”
Byron Ingles of Georgia said the money would be for the committee better spent
on seminaries and missionaries.
“Youve come to us asking for a study committee but have no idea
what it will cost,” Dottie Selman of Ohio added.
“That is not good business.”
Others disagreed.
“I would rather spend the money than have a name that … has become an
impediment to sharing the gospel,” John Flint of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.,
said.
Herb Stoneman of Salt Lake City, noted that the SBC now exists in Canada and
the United States, so, it needs a name “that would better reflect who we
are.”
However, Ed Taylor of Virginia said, “It is a waste of time to study because
no matter what we change our name to, the media will let the secret out that
we really are Southern Baptists.”
George Pettington of Ohio said he had spoken against the name change before
and will say the same thing now. “There is no need to change the name,
so there is no need to study it, …” he said.
“All that the name Southern Baptist means to people of other
denominations and no denomination is the fact that youre a Bible-believing,
Bible-preaching, Bible-teaching church. We are identified in the most positive
manner we could be.”
However, Rob Zinn of California called on messengers to approve the study.
I am appealing to you to see if God would raise up a better name for all Southern
Baptists, …” he said. “It is just possible there is something better
to reach people for Christ. … If we cant find anything better, then
we will stay what we are.”
Meanwhile, in other matters, Wiley Drake of California appealed to the messengers
to overrule the chair when two of his motions were ruled out of order.
He had asked that new SBC President Bobby Welch write letters of commendation.
One would go to Walt Disney Pictures for producing the movie “Americas
Heart and Soul” and an accompanying Bible study material. The second would
go to Rick Scarbourgh and Vision America for calling American Christians to
prayer and fasting.
In ruling the motions out of order, Graham said: “A clear distinction
is made between a resolution, which is a concern, and a motion, which calls
for an action. … We felt your motion fell more in the category of resolutions.”
Drake responded: “I want a specific action commending them for what they
are doing. If (the committee is) going to rule things out of order because they
dont want to do anything, then, we are getting back to the way we were
years ago when us conservatives were having our (microphones) turned off on
us. I will appeal to the body to overrule the chair. Let the messengers vote.”
The messenger voted to support the decision to rule the motions out of order.
Other submitted motions either were referred to a convention agency or ruled
out of order as well.
These included a motion to reconsider the requirement that Southern Baptist
military chaplains be ordained by a local church. The motion was offered by
David Crosby, pastor at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. It also asked the
denomination to endorse women as well as men as chaplains. The motion was referred
to the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.
Meanwhile, a motion referred to SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
and the SBC Annuity Board called for considering a boycott of Carnival Cruise
Lines and for selling any stock in the company as soon as possible. The company
has come under fire for hosting “Gay Days” cruises.