By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members, during a June 12 meeting, elected Philip Robertson, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, with a second campus in Alexandria, as the next chairman.
After two votes (36-35 in favor of Russ Barksdale and 35-35) did not produce a winner by the needed majority, Barksdale of Arlington, Texas, withdrew his name.
Robertson said in a news conference after the vote that he was humbled at the confidence his fellow EC members placed in him.
“Just to have this opportunity is very, very humbling,” Robertson said. “But also I realize it’s by the grace of God that we are where we are. I‘ve always had a desire to serve as faithfully and effectively as I could.
“I think I speak for every [EC member]: We are not looking for extra things to do,” he continued. “So, we value the privilege and the responsibility to serve. I’ve always wanted to do that in the best way that I felt I could, so therefore I allowed my name to be place in nomination and here we are.”
Robertson said several individuals approached him about submitting his name for the position. After much prayer he agreed, but only when David Sons, pastor of Lake Murray Baptist Church, Lexington, South Carolina, decided not to serve as chairman again. Sons became chairman in April after then EC chairman Jared Wellman resigned to be considered for CEO and president of the Executive Committee.
“Once David shared with me that he was not going to do that, after much prayer and consideration I said, ‘Yes,’” he said. “Was it a surprise that it happened? Yes, because you never know. But for me, if I became the chair, I want to serve diligently. If I am not the chair, I want to serve equally as diligently as I can.”
Robertson acknowledged that the last few years have produced challenging moments for the EC, but he said he believes the entity is in a much better position moving forward.
“My predecessor, Dr. Wellman, said that his desire was to make the Executive Committee boring again,” Robertson said. “I understand what he means, but I also feel we also need to seek to make the Executive Committee reliable again. We have been entrusted by the messengers of the Convention to serve an important role. I think our Convention is looking for an Executive Committee that is reliable and ready to do what it’s commissioned to do.”
When asked about the financial state of SBC entities (such as Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, whose trustees recently reported serious financial difficulties) and if those entities are being run properly, Robertson noted he has served on the Committee on Finance and Stewardship.
“I am in the weeds, so to speak, when it comes to the financial details,” he said. “I am absolutely confident that our committee has all of the information. I have no concerns. I am absolutely confident that our committee has all access to the numbers, the audits, the transparency that we need.
“On the Executive Committee we do have an opportunity to review the audits from the other entities but it’s really not our job, so to speak, to oversee [the other entities]. I would just encourage the trustee members of those other entities to make sure that they are doing their fiduciary responsibilities.”
Robertson was asked how the SBC should respond to those sexual abuse survivors who feel the SBC is stalling, or backsliding, on abuse reform.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Robertson said. “I’ve had the opportunity to hear stories of a number of those survivors. We have to address the issue and I’m grateful that we have. We can disagree on how maybe that will happen, and possibly moving forward we have some work to do. I’m very grateful for the work that the [Abuse Reform Implementation] Task Force is doing and the direction we are heading. I just very strongly feel like we need to continue that work to make sure every person in every church in the SBC is protected and safe in every reasonable way.”
Robertson noted that while division exists within the EC, and the SBC, he believes those members he serves with are godly people.
“Therefore, we have an incredibly strong common bond and that is: We are brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said. “The same Holy Spirit that lives inside of me lives inside of them. Our ultimate objectives are the same. I think there is far more that we agree on than we would ever disagree on. Those disagreements are real. We are going to see that this week as a Convention. We have to work through those things.
“But my desire has been and continues to be that we can do that in a collegial manner, loving one another in Christ, respecting one another even if we have different opinions. I really do feel like that is the prevailing climate with the EC now.”
