BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Discussion, debate mark 2007 SBC meeting

For a number of years, I have evaluated the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, allowing a period of time before making my assessment. As usual, the 2007 SBC in San Antonio was “normally different.”

Much discussion took place over the definition of the Cooperative Program as proposed by the Cooperative Program Ad Hoc Committee and the SBC Executive Committee. The definition read: “The Cooperative Program (CP) is Southern Baptists’ unified plan of giving through which cooperating Southern Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated receipts in support of their respective state convention and the Southern Baptist Convention mission and ministries.”

Despite the discussion, the definition was approved without any revision. I believe it is a good definition.

This summer, the CP Ad Hoc Committee plans to tackle the next piece of the puzzle--to discuss the historic precedence of what State Conventions can define as cooperative ministries.

To the surprise of some, the Baptist Faith and Message gained unusual attention at the meeting. In response to a request by messengers at the 2006 SBC meeting in Greensboro, N.C., the Executive Committee proposed the following definition of the purpose of the Baptist Faith and Message. “The Baptist Faith and Message is neither a creed nor a complete statement of our faith nor final or infallible. Nevertheless we further acknowledge that it is the only consensus statement of doctrinal beliefs approved by the Southern Baptist Convention and as such is sufficient in its current form to guide trustees in their establishment of policies and practices of entities of the Convention.”

Intense debate followed the motion to adopt this definition. At the end of the debate, the adoption was carried by a 57 percent to 43 percent vote.

In my opinion, the debate was confusing to many messengers. When I left the platform after the vote, I was met by a messenger who said, “I voted for that, but I’m not sure I voted correctly.” I assured him, “if you vote your best understanding that is a correct vote.” I may have walked 30 yards when another messenger approached and said, “I fouled up, I voted against that.” I gave him the same counsel.

For me, the debate was healthy. Others did not agree.

To help clarify the intent of the parameters of the Baptist Faith and Message, Dr. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., addressed the convention in his report, concerning the hiring of theological education professors in light of the Baptist Faith and Message. It was an excellent presentation. Of course, some agreed and some disagreed. In essence, with the new definition, the Baptist Faith and Message is a framework for hiring practices. Trustees of SBC institutions are responsible for developing personnel policies in light of the statement of faith. To do less would negate the value of the trustee system.

Some however, chose to disagree with that concept. One preacher used his “blog,” as reported in the Dallas Morning News, June 13, 2007, to criticize Dr. Mohler. He wrote: “Dr. Mohler and other SBC seminary presidents ‘gave to our convention the proverbial finger’ by resisting the idea that they need to stay within the faith statement’s boundaries.”

If Dr. Mohler gave a “proverbial sign,” it was in the shape of a “V!” This will prove to be a defining moment in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention because it maintains the integrity of the messenger system and the trustee system.

The Baptist Faith and Message discussion affirmed again the essential responsibility of the Committee on Nominations to put in place trustees who will assume the authority and exercise the confidence placed in them by Southern Baptists to give oversight to the institution and its doctrinal integrity.

It was good to see friends in San Antonio. It was good to be reminded of the goodness of God. It was good to see some “preacher-boys” who are making a difference for Christ. The Southern Baptist Convention is not perfect, but there is more right with us than there is wrong with us. Evangelism is still the up-stroke of our heartbeat and missions is still the down stroke of our heartbeat. I rejoice!

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