SBC Annual Meeting: Controversies Addressed Out Of the Gate

The first session of the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Lousiville, KY is over, and the next one is about to start. Although this writer is not attending the meeting this year, the following comments are made based on observations of the meeting over the Internet. Throughout the annual meeting, comments will appear on this blog.

During this morning's session, two of the most controversial issues leading up to the convention were addressed. The first motion was presented by Dr. Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, serving as a messenger from Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Dr. Mohler moved that the SBC create a task force to study the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) and bring recommendations to next year's annual meeting. It was not surprising that the motion was made; however, it is interesting that it was the first motion presented during the annual meeting. The messengers will likely vote on the motion later today. Dr. Morris Chapman, President of the Executive Committee of the SBC, and Dr. Johnny Hunt, President of the SBC, presented their arguments against and for the GCR in their respective addresses to the convention. Dr. Chapman has openly opposed to the GCR for some time. Although his motives are to protect the SBC, it appears he wants to keep the status quo, believing further changes to the SBC are not needed and are perhaps dangerous. Statistics released by LifeWay on numerous occasions would indicate that the SBC has been in decline for some time. Clearly, some big changes need to be made for the good of the SBC. To do nothing would be dangerous. Besides, no one knows what the outcome of the study will be. The task force may side with Dr. Chapman after all. Why be so defensive?

The second controversial issue was the action to end cooperative fellowship with Broadway Baptist Church (BBC) in Fort Worth, TX. BBC has been the subject of several Baptist Press articles because the church reportedly allows homosexual members, and has placed them in positions of leadership in the church. After interviewing leaders from the church, the Executive Committee of the SBC brought the motion today to end cooperative fellowship with BBC. Critics will likely argue that the SBC has overstepped its authority and violated the autonomy of the local church. Critics who make such claims must remember that the SBC is autonomous as well, and may choose to associate with churches as it sees fit. To try to force the SBC to associate with churches or entities that violate its values, is to violate the autonomy of the SBC. The SBC acted correctly in ending fellowship with a church that is clearly in violation of SBC teaching and practice.