Convention Finale: Does the SBC Have a Future?

I have written a great deal about the SBC over the past few days because I had a sense that what would be decided and discussed would have significance for the long term. I was pretty gloomy last night (Tuesday) about the overall tone of the convention, primarily because nothing was done about the IMB policies. But, after listening to Al Gilbert's covention sermon, hearing from the other speakers, seeing the passage of the resolution on regenerate church membership, and hearing the idea of a Great Commission Resurgence mentioned again and again, I am of the belief that the SBC leadership is moving in the right direction. Here's why: They are finally publically saying that they believe that there is something dreadfully wrong and they are taking steps to address it. As Dr. Frank Page said in his sermon, we have to see ourselves ae we really are and go to Jesus for change. On some levels, it appears as though we are doing that.

Apart from Dr. Patterson's claims that the SBC will be rescued by swarms of Southwestern graduates beating back the vultures attacking the SBC, the triumphalistic tone that has marked so many of our meetings was missing. There was a great deal more humility and recognition that we are in trouble. There was an awareness that all biblically conservative, BF&M affirming Baptists need to be mobilized to reach a dying world for Christ. It was the tone that Dr. Frank Page promised us when he became president two years ago in Greensboro. He has delivered. 

When I went to my first convention two years ago, I was a part of a small group of Baptist Bloggers calling for reform. I met up with guys like Marty Duren, Art Rogers, Todd and Paul Littleton, Ben Cole, Wade Burleson, Kevin Bussey, CB Scott, Micah Fries, Tom Ascol, David Phillips, and others who were saying that we were facing dramatic problems and that we had to reform and become missional or we would die. The reform group changed by adding new people and losing others, but the basic message stayed the same.  The small movement was initiated by the IMB policies that overstepped the BF&M, but it tapped into the truth that the SBC is losing members, young leaders, and ground. We are declining in baptisms and our churches are aging. We knew that something had to be done and so we hit on multiple fronts. My main focus was the IMB policies, because I felt that if they were rescended it would keep the door open for missionaries to get to the field and it would also send a message to the SBC that we do not need to narrow the doctrinal parameters of cooperation. My vision did not exceed that because I thought that getting the whole convention to move in a missional direction was a hopeless cause. Others, like Ben Cole, saw the main problem as being Dr. Patterson at Southwestern. Others, like Marty Duren, focused more on bringing a missional perspective to the SBC, and we all watched people like Steve McCoy and Joe Thorn who did more than talk about it. Then, you had the Calvinist perspective from folks like Tom Ascol and Timmy Brister. We never all agreed with one another and there were many parts of the reform movement that that some of us rejected. But, all of this came together to provide an unending, and I believe, God provoked push for change.  Unfortunately, those calling for change did not always do so in a God-honoring way and the movement sometimes struggled because of that.

It seems that the reform movement of bloggers, however it was defined, is dead. It ran out of gas and imploded upon itself, largely because it was constantly reacting against the problems of the establishment. And they were many. Few of the original most prominent leaders are blogging about the SBC anymore. I stopped writing on Downshoredrift.com on SBC issues almost a year ago, although I continued commenting on a few other blogs. But, even though the unorganized movement of passionate young pastors has died, it seems that many of the ideas that were espoused have made it from computer keyboards to the very platform and back room decisions of the SBC. No one can look at this convention and compare it to Greensboro in 2006 and not see the ideas and dreams of the reformers all over it. As Nathan Finn said when I called him for his impressions of the convention, "The Convention has come together in consensus around a Great Commission Resurgence." Contrary to what many might think, this change in direction from triumphalism about how great the SBC is to an awareness that we are in trouble and either need to change or die, has nothing to do with politics. There has been no conspiracy. There has been no attempt to grab a seat at the table and control things. People are just beginning to wake up and see the truth. Statistics about declining baptisms, dying churches, and a large portion of pastors who disagree with the IMB policies/guidelines has caused many in leadership to begin to step forward. We had SIX people run for SBC president this year!  Four years ago, we only had one, pre-anointed "candidate." Times have changed. Love for our churches, the lost, and the SBC has caused many who were willing to either ignore the obvious or stand silently by while others put their stamp on the future of the SBC to step forward and begin to lead.

In my opinion, the Baptist Identity movement has lost any significant influence in the SBC. The forces that stacked the trustee board of the IMB to deliver those horrendous policies are seeing the beginning of the end of their influence. The SBC is moving in a different direction and it is leaving them behind. This is happening because people all over convention leadership are able to see the truth of the challenges that we are facing and they are well aware that the Baptist Identity group out of Southwestern has no real answers. We need Biblical truth and Spirit given power for trying times, not extrabiblical restrictions that put us under the dominion of man's tradition instead of God's Spirit.

While I see a lot of good signs and I believe that the yeast of the reform movement has spread throughout the dough of the leadership of the SBC in an organic, unpredictable, and unexpected way, it is just a beginning. Recognizing that you have a problem is only the first step and it's taken us a couple of years to get to this point. We need leadership who can now assess what needs to die and what needs to live. How do we begin to address the problems that we face? How do we reposition ourselves to quit fighting one another and turn to face a dying world? How do we reclaim a missional theology that leads us outside of ourselves to appropriately engage those who do not know Jesus? How do we reconnect our churches with the power of the Holy Spirit and intimacy with Christ? After we have addressed how to do these things, doing them is another matter entirely. That is yet another step. Then, we must actually come to the point of renewal and effectiveness so that we can bear fruit for the Kingdom. The leaders who have brought us to this point may be unable to bring us further. So many of our current leaders have compromised themselves because they have been trying to maintain what we already have and have served the SBC rather than serving God. But, what we have is dying. New leadership is needed to birth what God has for us.

Overall, I am more encouraged about Johnny Hunt as president of the SBC than I was Tuesday. But, his position really is irrelevant at this point. The change that is coming will not come from convention leadership. It will not come from our entities or denominational leaders. No, the change that is coming is going to come from the local churches. Many will die, but many will emerge to lead the way into this new reality. Pastors and churches networking together to become more effective in reaching their communities and world will be the future of the SBC. The large, top heavy, money sucking, bureaucracy that the SBC has become is going to begin to be dismantled if we are serious about a Great Commission Resurgence. This will happen because one of the biggest things that keeps the SBC from being relevant and effective is the SBC denominational apparatus. Effective leaders with more fidelity to Christ than the SBC will realize this. Churches are paralyzed because they are waiting for the denominational structures to tell them what to do. For Baptist churches to awaken, they have to become Baptist churches again - vibrant, autonomous, spirit filled, life giving outposts/communities of the Kingdom. Local churches do not exist to make the SBC strong. If the SBC is to exist at all, it must be to serve the churches.

So, does the SBC have a future?  I still don't know.  The fragmented vision of the reformers is, in part, beginning to be realized. But, there is still a long way to go. I will predict that the future will likely be a mixture of all facets of Baptist heritage and life. A diverse array of churches, leaders, and common people will come together to define the future of the SBC if we are to have one at all. They will be biblical conservatives. That battle has been fought and won. But, if we are to truly believe the Bible, then we will have to be a people who care more about the expansion of the Kingdom of God than we care about our own size, strength, and glory. We must decrease and Jesus must increase. Positive steps toward that were taken this week. I hope we start running in that direction in the future.

Comments

[Dorcas Hawker]

Alan –

This quote spoken by Frodo from the Lord of the Rings third movie comes to mind in response to your post:

"And thus it was. A fourth age of middle-earth began. And the fellowship of the ring... though eternally bound by friendship and love... was ended. Thirteen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey... we found ourselves looking upon a familiar sight. We were home. How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on... when in your heart you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend... some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold. Bilbo once told me his part in this tale would end... that each of us must come and go in the telling. Bilbo's story was now over. There would be no more journeys for him... save one. My dear Sam. You cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy, and to be, and to do. Your part in the story will go on."

Dorcas

[John Stickley]

You just knocked that pitch clear out of the stadium.

Excellent thoughts, Alan.

[andrew jones (tallskinnykiwi)]

thanks for the great post. its been 9 years since i have attended a SBC convention (atlanta) and its great to hear what is happening while i have been overseas. interesting about the bloggers also.

[Camel Rider]

Thanks for the updates. Checking your blog is soooo much cheaper than flying from Africa...plus I can know about the convention without having to hear the Gaither Vocal Band!

It sounds like there is the potential for positive change...but is it too little too late. The bigger question is, is the denomination worth saving? Or are we simply holding on to a previous tool...when in fact there may be better options in our future? I'm not sure the answer but it'll be interesting to see if we actually make any changes or simply move on as usual.
::: Camel Rider

[Kevin Bussey]

Good post. I'm not as hopeful as I once was. But I met some great friends like you out of all of this. I guess it makes it worth it.

[Alan Cross]

Dorcas, very poetic. I see what you're saying. It is hard to see things the same way after the last couple of years. Hopefully, some good will come out of it.

Andrew, it would be a lot of fun to go to the Convention with you. You would definitely provide some different perspective! It's hard for me to imagine Andrew Jones at the Convention, but then again, you've been around the SBC for a long time now in one way or another. Thanks for stopping by and for continuing to challenge us.

Camel Rider, I am asking the same questions. I don't know if it can be saved, at least in an effective way. But, I am at least encouraged that people are recognizing that we have a problem. That is a good first step. Is it too little too late? Maybe so. But, I want to make sure that I am pointing out the good that happens.

John and Kevin, I am glad that I met you guys a couple of years ago. I wish that there was a way to keep up in a more personal way. Thanks for being an encouragement.

[Wayne Smith]

Alan,

Great insight and analyzes of the SBC and what is happening. The Pastor need much prayer as they put forth the New Resolution, as many of the People in the Pews are not Regenerate Christians. These church members will not want to be Accountable for Church Discipline for themselves and others. I pray that Dr. Johnny Hunt gets behind this Resolution and Preaches Church Discipline in support of these Pastors.

Pastor Jake Porter has a great Post on the Blog Here:

http://jakeporter.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/church-discipline-affirmed-how-the-sbc-made-me-cry/

Wayne Smith

[andrew jones (tallskinnykiwi)]

alan. i thought of doing a fringe event this year at the convention but couldnt get there. hey - 15 years with the southern baptists, thank you. how long does it take to get baptist cred?

[Alan Cross]

Andrew, with some Baptists, you have to be Baptist at least 30 years before you were born to be considered the real thing, and even then, there might be doubts. These Baptists aren't like the ones at Golden Gate. But, we'll take you and give you all the cred you want.

By the way, the Convention is becoming a fringe event itself - numbers are dropping every year. I went the last two years but watched it online this year and got the same thing out of it as those who went. Plus, I saved a ton of money and I got to hang out with my family and church and sleep in my own bed. Not bad.