Church Family,
Last week Cole and I participated in the annual meeting of Great Commission Baptists. The Southern Baptist Convention met in Anaheim, California, on June 12-15, 2022. I am sharing a few of the highlights and my reflections. If you are looking for more detail, here is Baptist Press's summary: SBC Wrap up
For the first time in over 25 years, the convention met in California. 8,100 messengers gathered for preaching and singing at the Pastor’s Conference, hearing reports from SBC entities, and conducting business. The days were long—starting at 8 AM and finishing after 10 PM each day.
The most noteworthy occurrence at the SBC is always the updates on our cooperative mission efforts through IMB, NAMB, and our six seminaries. We do other things, but these are the primary expressions of our cooperation. We commissioned 52 missionaries to serve among the nations through the IMB. One of whom will be joining the team we support in Africa. The current total is approximately 3,600 missionaries serving internationally.
Since 2010, NAMB has helped churches to start over 9,400 church plants. At our current rate of starting new churches, by 2030, one-third of the SBC churches will have been planted since 2010.
All six of our seminaries affirm the inspiration, authority, and inerrancy of the Bible. They are focused on developing church leaders who will fulfill the Great Commission. Those leading and teaching at our seminaries affirm The Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Several well-known evangelical seminaries in the US struggle to keep their doors open. Still, our seminaries are growing, well-funded, and strong.
The pastor’s conference was a particular highlight for me this year. Twelve pastors preached consecutively through Colossians. Al Jackson, who preached at Crestview this past April, delivered the closing sermon from Colossians 4, "No Insignificant Saints." He reminded pastors that there are no unimportant ministry locations. Every local church needs faithful shepherds. Additionally, Kem Jackson was honored at the Pastor's Wives Luncheon for her distinguished service alongside her husband.
The most noteworthy item of business was the overwhelming approval of the recommendations of the Sexual Abuse Task Force. The support of these recommendations is the first of many steps by the SBC to address abuse. This issue is not behind the convention, but it seems that we have turned a corner and are taking appropriate measures.
There were several officer elections. Bart Barber of Texas was elected president of the SBC over Tom Ascol of Florida (60/40). I liked that both brothers serve as pastors of regular, normative size churches. Both affirm the inspiration, authority, and inerrancy of the Bible and support the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. Barber is a well-known Baptist leader who ran on a platform of charity toward those who disagree, supporting the sexual abuse task force and encouraging unity across the SBC. Let’s pray that Barber serves our convention well.
Daniel Dickard of North Carolina was elected president of the 2023 pastor's conference over the well-known Voddie Baucham. Baucham is a good brother, preacher, and writer, yet he lives in Zambia, Africa, and is not a member of an SBC church. Therefore, inevitably most found it inappropriate for a non-Southern Baptist to lead the SBC pastor’s conference.
In quite a humorous moment, Rodolfo Diaz-Pons, a pastor of an eight-member church in California, nominated himself for Second Vice President with a rousing speech. He then qualified for a run-off by one vote. He ultimately was not elected to the post. That's the SBC for you!
For the second convention in a row, there was a motion to close the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. For the second year, the messengers overwhelmingly defeated the motion. During the discussion, Richard Land, the long-time leader of the ERLC, spoke to the convention from the floor. He reminded the convention of the vast good done by the ERLC and that there will always be a few ERLC actions that will be unpopular in some circles. Such does not mean that the convention should shut down an entity. The vote by the messengers revealed their agreement.
Probably the most significant lingering issue relates to Saddleback Church (Rick Warren, pastor) and the issue of women pastors. Article six of the BF&M 2000 states, "The office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Saddleback has ordained women as associate pastors. Last year, a motion referred the issue to the credentials committee to investigate whether the church's practice is within the bounds of SBC cooperation. This year, the committee recommended asking the president to form a study committee about the issue of women pastors. After some discussion, with Albert Mohler and Rick Warren notably speaking from the floor, the committee rescinded the recommendation, which is therefore unresolved.
While no SBC churches have women serving as lead, senior pastors, some, like Saddleback, use the title for female associate ministers. However, as I see it, this is an unbiblical use of the title. To be clear, I am convinced that the Bible teaches that the office and function of a pastor, elder, bishop, or overseer are limited to qualified men (whether senior or associate). This conviction is why we do not assign the title "pastor" to anyone not serving as an elder in our church. Based on my observation in the room, most of the messengers believed that Saddleback's practice was unacceptable. If we had voted, I expect the convention would have dismissed Saddleback. This issue is unresolved, so I will be watching what transpires.
Resolutions were approved by the messengers supporting rural ministry, condemning the prosperity gospel, addressing the war in Ukraine, and several others. There was little controversy surrounding them. I appreciate that the resolutions committee brought to the floor statements around which the convention was united.
I always return home from the annual meeting encouraged by what we are doing as Great Commission Baptists. It is exciting to see how our mission efforts are making a difference. It is wonderful to renew friendships with fellow partners in ministry from around the country.
The SBC is not heaven, so things are not perfect. Some issues are of concern to me. I am concerned that the convention resolves the issue of women pastors in a way that honors the Bible and the convention’s statement of faith. I wish SBC churches were not preoccupied with pragmatism, technique, and numbers. Instead, I hope our churches will become more committed to faithful word-driven preaching, evangelism, and discipleship (as promoted by Juan Sanchez in his convention sermon!) I long to see stronger relationships between sister churches and their pastors. I want SBC politics and social media to be more Christ-like and less worldly. I fear that the Cooperative Program’s best days are in the past as a denominational funding mechanism. Yet, I rejoice in record offerings for International and North American missions (Lottie and Annie). I am bothered by personalities who generate heat by asserting that the SBC is becoming theologically liberal. I do not see liberal drift occurring across a denomination that so resolutely affirms the truth and sufficiency of the Bible at every turn. As you see, I have my concerns, but this is part of the nature of cooperation with a larger body of churches. Let us lean into our partnerships, attend conventions, and be a voice of influence. I agree with Albert Mohler: "Southern Baptists may take a while, they may not take the most direct route, but they eventually get it right."
It was a long trip and several hard days. I enjoyed the time with Cole and am thankful for the blessing he is to our church. It was good to eat Indian food and catch a game at Dodgers Stadium the last night. I am thankful for our convention of Great Commission Baptists and glad Crestview plays a small yet not insignificant part in it.
For His Glory,
Pastor Thomas
