Orlando, A Defining Moment

by   T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                   Vol. XIII, No. 6, June/July 2000
 

11,918 messengers from 46 states and D.C. met in Orlando 11-14 June for the SBC Pastors' Conference and the 143^rd Southern Baptist Convention. Every annual meeting is important, but revision of the Baptist Faith and Message marked this year as especially important. Because of its significance, the BFM action is covered in a separate article.

Officers: James Merritt, pastor of the 12,000 member FBC, Snellville, GA, since 1985, was elected SBC president by acclamation. During his tenure 7,826 people have been baptized and SS attendance has grown form 800 to 3,250. He is a graduate of Stetson University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has served churches in Georgia, Kentucky, and Mississippi. In 1999 FBC, Snellville, gave $300,000 to the Cooperative Program, about 5% of undesignated giving.

Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive BC, Pensacola, FL, defeated Brad Hoffman, pastor of FBC, Tuscawilla, FL, for first vice president by 3,054 to 892. For second vice president, Tommy French, pastor of Jefferson BC, Baton Rouge, LA, defeated Paul Russell, pastor, Sunridge BC, Sebring, FL, by 1,349 to 1,102. Olive BC gives 11% of undesignated receipts to the CP, Jefferson BC gives 10%.

At the customary post-election press conference Merritt, 47 and the first baby boomer to be elected SBC president, said, "There has never been a greater need for the gospel nor has the gospel ever been more relevant to the world than in the year 2000." He said it is imperative to bring young people into the SBC and involve them, not only in churches but also in convention activities. Further, "We must, as a denomination, never let anything become a greater passion than evangelism and soul winning. Far too many churches have plateaued and gotten away from their first love. Too many Baptists have substituted giving for going. Every Baptist pastor and every Baptist layperson who is physically able should go on at least one mission trip before they go to heaven."

"I am infinitely proud to be part of a denomination that is willing to stand in the face of the sharp winds of political correctness and stand for the absolute truth that is found in Scripture. If you believe in the Bible, that people need Christ and the gospel, then the best place to be is in the Southern Baptist Convention."

Merritt also addressed the issue of relationships with state Baptist conventions. "I am a champion of the Cooperative Program. It grieves my heart to see any state convention take action to weaken the CP."

Resolutions: Messengers approved ten resolutions. Several focussed on liberty including: the right to proclaim the gospel of Christ in the United States; religious freedom in China and Sudan; elimination of sexual trafficking in women and children; and the right of the Boy Scouts of America to determine its own leadership and membership in the face of pressure to include homosexuals.

The only resolution opposed was one supporting capital punishment, and even that one was approved overwhelmingly. That resolution affirms the use of capital punishment "by civil magistrates as a legitimate form of punishment for those guilty of murder or treasonous acts that result in death. The death penalty should be used only when there is "clear and overwhelming evidence of guilt", the resolution states. It also calls for "vigilance, justice, and equity in the criminal justice system" with capital punishment "applied as justly and as fairly as possible without undue delay, without reference to the race, class, or status of the guilty." it cites several biblical passages, including Genesis 9 and Romans 13, in providing support for capital punishment.

This apparently is the first time the SBC has voted in favor of such a recommendation. In 1964 messengers rejected a call to abolish capital punishment but passed other recommendations of the Christian Life Commission (now Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission) affirming the sanctity of human life and urging legislation to clear up abuses of the death penalty.

Also passed were resolutions: (1) expressing gratitude to God for the Cooperative program on its 75^th anniversary and encouraging churches to consider increasing by one percent their budgetary giving to the CP; (2) condemning the recently revealed trade in unborn baby parts for research and asking public officials to stop it; (3) encouraging the federal government to protect the family and national sovereignty amid the rise of New Age globalism; (4) supporting the traditional method of calendar dating with the designations B.C. and A.D. instead of the revised BCE (before common era) and CE (common era); and (5) expressing appreciation to the city of Orlando and Southern Baptists in the city for their efforts on behalf of the annual meeting.

The resolution on religious liberty follows the May release of the Chicago Declaration on Religious Freedom, which affirmed the freedom to proclaim one's faith and was authored by Southern Baptist and other evangelical Christian leaders. That document was written in response to criticism of an SBC evangelistic outreach in Chicago. Some religious leaders in the city described the effort as a "hate crime." See a separate story in this Banner on the Chicago Declaration.

Motions: Messengers made 26 motions of which six were ruled out of order, two came to the floor for action, and 18 were referred to one or more convention agencies for reports at next June's convention. One of those passed by messengers was commendation of Dr. Laura Schlessinger for her staunch opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. It called for the new SBC president to send her a letter on behalf of the convention. Schlessinger, who is Jewish, has been the recent target of death threats and ridicule due to her outspoken opposition to homosexuality expressed on her popular nationally syndicated radio talk program. She is scheduled to have a nationally televised show in the fall, but homosexual activists are pressuring companies not to sponsor it. Proctor and Gamble has announced its withdrawal of sponsorship.

The other motion brought to the floor called for creation of a reconciliation committee to focus on rival organizations competing for favor among state conventions. "Our beloved Southern Baptist Convention is currently fractured and fragmented by groups forming subgroups and even competing conventions," said Paddy O'Connor of Brooksville, FL, who introduced the motion. "Surely it is the will of God that goodwill exist between these autonomous groups." But Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee, urged messengers to defeat the motion recalling how the convention-appointed Peace Committee in the 1980s had already completed the action called for in the motion. The motion was overwhelmingly defeated on a show-of-hands vote.

Convention Sermon: Evangelist Bailey Smith brought a super sermon, touching on many vital issues and giving us much food for serious prayer and thought. You can buy an audio tape of his sermon for $7.00 shipping included by calling 817-656-1258. You can also purchase tapes of any or all the sermons given at the Pastors' Conference from the same source.