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Another Tear is Shed, or Maybe TwoOkay, so I don't actually cry about anything that goes on within the Southern Baptist Convention. I'm an outsider now. I read about things that transpire within the SBC ranks, not from some voyeuristic stance, but because of the ramifications for North American Christianity in general.Were I to actually cry over the events that transpired at the recent SBC Annual Meeting meeting in Greensboro, the emotions would be mixed. First, I would cry tears of pain when I read about this amendment which now vies for total abstinence from the consumption of alcohol. In reading the transcript from this debate, I was not surprised about the way in which a few over-zealous messengers and committee members can so manipulate a crowd that they will utterly ignore common sense arguments. This reminds me of a scene from Gladiator, which I will reappropriate for this situation: "I think they know what the SBC is. The SBC is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of the SBC is not the grey matter of the messengers; it's the vocal chords of the ignorant few. --adapted from GRACCHUS - FROM THE MOVIE GLADIATOR (2000) Next, I would cry tears of joy for the hope that I see emerging from the younger generation of SBCers for voting Frank Page into the SBC presidency and not this man or this man. Although I have significant points of disagreement with Frank Page, especially over the fact that he avers the abominable doctrine of biblical inerrancy, I appreciate his desire for a more amicable SBC. He mentioned in another article that he seeks to "clean house" with regards to current SBC leadership and that his election signifies a "turning point" in the denomination. Page attests his victory to the many SBC bloggers who have expressed their disapproval of the direction that the SBC and its daughter institutions (like the IMB and NAMB) were heading. This victory was one of only two points in the history of the SBC, since the fundamentalist takeover in 1979, where an "unapproved" candidate defeated one who tows the conservative power-brokers' party line. Page seeks to create a more "open and inclusive" Southern Baptist Convention (but don't read into this what you think it means). I am interested to see what transpires this year. Peace. posted by Jake at 6/16/2006 08:55:00 AM  
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Did you notice that there are two women "ministers" on the staff at his church (thanks, Blake)? While they are in education, one is minister of adult education, and the fact that they're called ministers is a step along the way.