My good friend, JUSTAMOE (Just a Minister of Education), posted in my comment string several predictions for the SBC. I value his opinion a lot and think that some of the things he said were probably accurate. One thing with which I disagree is the outcome of the voting. I am seeing a lot of young faces in the crowd. It looks about 50/50 at this point. Still, who knows?

My real issue is one of attitude. While Justamoe’s attitude was relatively positive, if not optimistic, I have read several very defeatist comments from bloggers and younger leaders. At this point I would like for everyone to understand that this convention is not a referendum on the resurgence; Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler; the IMB issues; Ronnie Floyd, Frank Page or Jerry Sutton; or even the younger leader movement. We are simply going to express ourselves as Southern Baptists and find out who we really are, after all.

The fact is, we have already won the right for the convention to reflect us. It does now more than ever before and it can only get better from here. Let me show you…

Wade Burleson is still a Trustee at the IMB. Yes, he is in the penalty box, but keeping him there does the “Inner Circle” more harm than good. They continue to give him credibility by attacking him. Have you ever heard the story of Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby? In times past, a Trustee stepping out of line would have gotten his character questioned publicly and they would have moved on. Or maybe just the threat of such would have kept them in line. Nevertheless, Wade has more influence now than he ever did before. In fact. he has far more hits daily on his blog than he had for weeks at a time before the January move to have him removed.

The Dobbes are going back to West Africa. In times past, this, too, would have gone unnoticed. A few years ago, some IMB missionaries who were part of our church were fired. The pastor at the time cautioned everyone to trust the IMB and not ask questions, lest it hurt our Lottie Moon Offering or our tithing. They came home hurt and moved away. I don’t know if they deserved to be fired. After what was happening to the Dobbes, though, I think a few questions were in order. Only the WOM directer stood up for them by writing a letter, which was never answered. To my shame, I never said a word.

There are now contested elections at every level, which hasn’t happened in decades. At last count, there were 3 for President, 6 for 1VP and 4 for 2VP. These are numbers I heard from others and while I know a name or two that might be unannounced, even I don’t know them all.

Young Southern Baptists are active and present in abundance.

Information is reaching the masses without it being filtered for content.

The tide has already turned. It may not be fully expressed at this convention, but it is just a matter of time.

Let me give you an example.

Wade has published a motion that he intends to bring to the floor of the convention. It has been rumored that there is a plan to block Wade from getting to the Microphones. This is old school politics they just keep trying to run in the new world.

What do you think will happen if the motion is prevented from coming to the floor? It will be like throwing gasoline on a fire. Can you imagine the fuel that would provide for the bloggers? For the standard media? The two possible outcomes are that more light is shed on the controlling nature of the Inner Circle and therefore more Southern Baptists become even more determined to ouster the Inner Circle OR vast numbers of Southern Baptists – the future of the convention – decide that the SBC is not a welcoming place and they leave, taking their churches, members and Cooperative Program gifts with them.

Lose, lose situation. Leave the Tar Baby alone. The SBC is what it is and attempting to control it is like attempting to scoop the ocean with a butterfly net.

No matter what the vote or whether any significant motion or resolution hits the floor and receives a vote, we have already won.

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