Louisiana Baptist pastor Tommy French gained a second term as state convention
president last week – but not in customary fashion.
Instead, it was deja vu all over again.
Louisiana Baptist pastor Tommy French gained a second term as state convention
president last week – but not in customary fashion.
Instead, it was deja vu all over again.
Traditionally, Louisiana Baptists have granted first-term convention
presidents a second term unopposed. The only time it is believed that did not
happen was in 1996, when President Michael Claunch survived a challenge to his
second term on a vote of 61.5 percent to 38.5 percent.
Likewise, French also was forced to survive a challenge from
fellow pastor Perry Sanders in order to gain his second term. He did so by a
margin of 389 votes. French is pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.
Sanders is pastor at First Baptist Church of Lafayette.
The challenge was not unexpected.
Just days prior to the annual convention, the Mainstream Louisiana
Baptists group announced in its publication that it would nominate persons for
all three denominational offices. However, no names were released by the group,
formed within the past year by those dissatisfied with the current leadership
of the state convention.
At the same time, the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship urged
persons in its publications to support French against any expected challenge.
In addition, French received a word of support during the annual Louisiana Baptist
Pastors’ Conference just hours prior to the convention.
During his opening remarks, a leader of the Southern Baptist
conservative resurgence praised French as a “wonderful” president.
Judge Paul Pressler of Houston acknowledged some would like to “cause difficulty
in different places” and urged Louisiana Baptists to “stay the course”
undertaken in recent years.
The following morning, convention messengers voted to do just
that as far as the office of president is concerned.
Phillip Robertson nominated French for a second term, praising
the sitting president for his passion for lost souls and his unashamed affirmation
of the authority and inerrancy of the Bible.
“I thank God that you, the convention, gave us leadership
that affirms Scripture,” said Robertson, pastor at Philadelphia Baptist
Church in Deville. “I thank God that I can stand and say to anyone that
I’m proud to be a Louisiana Baptist and a Southern Baptist. … Our state
has made it clear – we believe the Bible, and we believe all of it.”
Robertson pointed out that state convention baptisms are up
and Cooperative Program giving is setting records. Such trends demonstrate trust
in the current denominational leaders and in the direction of the state convention,
he said.
“Thank God and you, Louisiana Baptists, for taking our
state in the right direction,” Robertson asserted in urging persons to
support French for a second term.
Jon Stubblefield then nominated Sanders, praising his commitment
to missions and evangelism. “Some talk about winning people to Jesus Christ,”
said Stubblefield, pastor at First Baptist Church of Shreveport. “Perry
Sanders actually does it.”
Stubblefield praised Sanders’ record of denominational
service, his commitment to the Cooperative Program and his stands on moral issues
in the state. He cited him as a “peerless preacher” and a man of impeccable
moral character.
“This is a critical hour for Louisiana Baptists,”
Stubblefield warned messengers. “We are moving in a direction that is fraught
with danger. The future of the Louisiana Baptist Convention hangs in the balance.
The choice is clear.”
Stubblefield warned that historic Baptist principles are in
danger of being trampled, including the authority of the Bible, the priesthood
of the believers, the competency of every soul, religious liberty and separation
of church and state – are in danger of being trampled.
He pointed out that Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship General
Chair Leon Hyatt once nominated Perry Sanders as state convention president.
At that time, Hyatt presented Sanders as one who could bring all of Louisiana
Baptists together.
“I believe he can do the same today,” Stubblefield
concluded in calling for support for Sanders as state president.
However, in subsequent voting, French easily outpaced Sanders
– 1,188 votes (59.8 percent) to 799 votes (40.2 percent). Only 14 ballots
were disqualified.
Announcement of the vote was greeted with applause and some
loud “amens.”
However, French then told messengers, “I have been instructed by the parliamentarian
that the chair declares President French has been reelected.”
Messengers responded with standing applause and shouts of approval.
Just about an hour later – even before the presidential
vote had been announced – convention messengers turned to the task of selecting
leaders once again.
Bob Galloway nominated Bobby Bonds for first vice president,
praising his record of service in denominational life. Bonds is bivocational
pastor at Mt. Hope Baptist Church in Oakdale.
“I’ve been his pastor,” said Galloway, pastor
at Rapides Station Baptist Church in Boyce. “I know him. … He believes
in the Word of God. He stands for biblical truth.”
In turn, Scott Shaver nominated Lee McGlone, pastor at Parkview
Baptist Church in Monroe. He praised McGlone as a family man and for his commitment
to the Cooperative Program and to missions.
“(He is) a bona fide principled Baptist who needs no creed
but the Bible,” said Shaver, pastor at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches.
In subsequent balloting, messengers once again chose the nominee
endorsed by the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship. Bonds was elected on a vote
of 1,261 (63.7 percent) to 720 (36.3 percent).
A few hours later, the third nominee endorsed by inerrancy
group was elected – but without opposition this time.
James Carson nominated Lloyd Whitman as second vice president,
praising his record as a bivocational pastor and his commitment to church growth
and the Cooperative Program. Whitman is pastor at First Baptist Church of Dry
Prong.
Whitman is a proven leader who preaches and teaches the Bible,
said Carson, pastor at First Baptist Church of Jonesville. “(He is) conservative
in his theology but liberal in his love for the people (and) one who loves our
convention,” he said.
No challenger was presented – and Whitman was elected by acclamation.