12 Witnesses

Politics. The dirty little part of life with which every soul on this earth will deal. Why do I say that? Because politics is about dealing with people. Navigating the reefs and shoals seeking a safe port of call in which you can find rest personally. Politics is about you working with people to get what you want. Everyone will do it in their life, if they make it to toddlerhood. Think being a toddler is too young to be a politician? You haven’t been around many toddlers lately.

Sometimes, what we want is not even a selfish thing. It may be a good thing that we desire. Senators and congressmen are lauded when they are able to rise above their peers and produce meaningful and beneficial legislation. Still, these leaders among leaders are called one of the most vile epithets in the English language: Politician.

Why is the name so foul? The butt of so many jokes? Because politics lends itself to narcissistic motives and actions that reveal a lack of character. If you lack character, it will come out when you attempt to get people to do certain things so that you can benefit.

What about politics within the church? Either the local body or the universal body? Unfortunately, we deal politically with one another far more than we should. That is to say, we attempt to move one another around to gain things for ourselves when I think that dealing with each other honestly, speaking the truth in love, is what we ought to be doing.

Christianity is made up of things that should be the end of politics among us. Self sacrifice. Honest speech. Kindness. Gentleness. Self control. Against such things is the political agenda.

I could go on forever about local church politics, about a friend of mine who eschewed politics recently for prayer - and God moved - but I need to get to the SBC. The SBC is the heart of this post.

Three years ago, politics as usual took a hit on the floor of the SBC. A messenger nominated his friend, a pastor at a small church, for president, running against Bobby Welch. He received a sizable portion of the vote, but not enough to make it close. Still, it was a moment for those who would pay attention to such things to take note. Something significant had happened.

Let me say that Bobby was not the choice of the “inner circle.” It was Johnny Hunt’s turn, but Bobby bucked the trend and threw his hat in the ring. Then somebody bucked that. I say all of that to say that I don’t think it had much to do with Bobby, one way or the other, but that we were allowing a handful of folks to pick the President of the SBC every two years. In other words, the messengers were tired of being handled politically - moved around by a certain group in order that the group could get what it wanted: a Convention that reflected their hopes, dreams and desires. Not necessarily bad goals, mind you. The method, though, became a burden to those who were being navigated.

Two years later, a chain of events begin that culminated in a three person race for the presidency and the only one of the three that was not endorsed by one of the architects of the Resurgence won the presidency. The chain is long, but goes like this: the advent of the internet, blogs - giving anyone a voice to the world, IMB issues & Wade Burleson starting a blog to voice an opinion about those issues, the IMB BOT responds by seeking to remove Wade, many others - myself included - begin their own blogs, other issues within the SBC begin to be discussed on the internet and this affects the traditional media by offering alternative views (sometimes) of these issues. Among the issues discussed, two will play a major role in the election of Frank Page: 1) dissatisfaction with a one person slate of candidates & 2) the involvement, or desperate lack thereof, of previous convention presidents and two of the three candidates in the Cooperative Program - in combination with a request (later altered) from the Executive Committee to have positions filled by folks whose churches gave at least 10% to the CP.

Long story to a short one, the CP takes center stage and Frank Page, despite quite a bit of politics against him, is elected on a first ballot over the two other candidates, Ronnie Floyd and Jerry Sutton.

Allow me, if you will, to postulate that Frank Page’s presidency is the anti-politics reaction of the SBC. Some will say that the advent of the bloggers and the ruckus raised last year was what got Frank Page elected. Honestly, I don’t think the blogosphere had that much impact. I’m not saying that there was no attempt made by blogtown to influence virtually everything in the SBC last year. I just don’t think that there was much movement because of them (us) - especially with the election.

With one exception: Wes Kenney produced a set of tables that showed the record of CP giving for each candidate and his church. Frankly, this wouldn’t have made much impact, but the giving of the churches pastored by Ronnie and Jerry was dismal. This is especially true compared to Frank Page. The reasoning for such low participation that was often offered - that the money went to missions within the church - didn’t hold water when compared to Frank’s church either, since they are very engaged in missions (planting one new church per year) in addition to the significant percentage amount given to the CP.

So what did the blogosphere and the counter politics of the last year accomplish? Not that much, really. Not in the realm of moving people to get a desired result. Frank Page? Honestly, I think we simply were saying something about the CP and the convention’s leaders that most of the messengers already believed. The blogosphere didn’t lead them. It turns out, we were merely a vocal part of that group.

Frank Page doesn’t owe his election to the bloggers. Any blogger, other than Wes, who claims to have had a significant impact on that vote, has delusions of grandeur. Wes, you already have a big enough head. Don’t let this feed it.

The convention, tired of the same old thing, and motivated to promote the CP (a common value among most small churches that make up the SBC) elected a president that reflected that sentiment.

So what’s my point? I have two observations. First, the blogosphere is not capable of “herding the cats” that make up the messengers of the SBC. No voice or group of voices can move that boulder any significant distance. Second, the change, or “revolution” within the SBC is already well underway. It was taking place before the advent of the blog and is not going to be stopped, altered significantly or even sped up by anyone.

At this point, we might just take a moment to observe the phenomenon. Realize. Revolution is upon us.

I promised to follow the story breaking in the SB Texan and now at Baptist Press that Dwight McKissic’s trusteeship was under speculation from Chair, Van McClain, with commentary. I am sorry that I did not follow up as I had hoped.

I am following the story on several levels. I have queries out to several places that will impact this story significantly. I hope to be able to share them with you soon.

In the mean time, I would like to give you Pt. 2 of The Organic Revolution later today. As we are in the midst of a special week of meetings, it may be that I am unable to do so.

Regular readers of my blog will note that I often write articles in the evening and set them to “drop” about 5:45 am the next morning. This article is being written at a very real 1:00 am, cst. My normal blog time has been eaten up with evening meetings, and I don’t regret that a bit. Still, I hate to promise and not deliver. If I am able to write in the early morning or at a break after our noon day Bible Study, I will post it this afternoon. Otherwise, it will probably be tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Sorry again for the delay. I beg your patience.

Southwestern officers to consider conduct of Arlington trustee

I know more about this than I can write at the moment. It is breaking news and I will follow up with commentary later today.

This week is a focus on our personal relationships with the Lord at our Church. Paul Burleson is visiting with us and speaking to the saints. We are having a great time, just as Kevin Bussey predicted.

For your perusal, I will be posting, with Paul’s permission, the Power Point outlines of his sermons. Here are yesterday’s:

A New Focus… On Who We Are

A New Focus… On Who We Are Together

——

Later, I’ll be posting Pt. 2 in the Organic Revolution series, dealing with political agendas and the election of the president - with a look back at Frank Page’s election and a look forward to San Antonio. Later installments will look at the future of the SBC and exactly how we will all - everyone of all opinions - influence her future.

Also, this is an early bird invitation to sign up for the SBC Blogtown NCAA Men’s Tournament Pick ‘Em bracket that I have set up with Yahoo Sports. You need an account with yahoo to participate, but it is free otherwise.

The link is: http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/ The Group is SBC Blogtown (Group ID# 37321) and the password is “fellowship” and that is what it is about, ok? Rules for comments and posts in this bracket are the same as for my blog. Be an encourager and enjoy the fellowship.

Remember, this is an early bird announcement. The official invitation will come later, but everyone interested is welcome to sign up now.

It seems that Marty and Micah both got the right word through the grapevine on NAMB’s Search Committee recommendation for the office of President:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2007

Geoffrey A. Hammond recommended as president-elect
Of North American Mission Board, SBC

Full board of Trustees to vote at Special Called March 20-21 meeting

ALPHARETTA, GA.—The President Search Committee of the North American Mission Board trustees today recommended that Dr. Geoffrey A. Hammond become the agency’s next president. Hammond is Senior Associate Director of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.

NAMB’s full board of trustees will vote on the recommendation at a March 20-21 special called meeting in Alpharetta. If approved, Hammond would become NAMB’s president-elect, officially beginning his duties at the May 8-9 Board meeting and starting full-time on May 22, according to committee chairman Greg Faulls.

“Dr. Hammond has proven himself to be a successful leader, strategist, and practitioner in church planting missions and evangelism throughout his ministry career,” Faulls said. “NAMB is a Missions agency in need of a strong leader with the mind of a missiologist and with a vision to strategically mobilize an army of missionaries who will spread the gospel and plant churches throughout an ethnically diverse North America.”

Hammond, 49, was born in Nigeria to missionary parents serving with the Foreign Mission Board, SBC. He earned the equivalent of a Business Degree in Administration in Zimbabwe, passing the final examination of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (UK). He is a graduate of Spurgeon’s Seminary in London, England, as well as earning the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, majoring in Evangelism and Missions.

He has served throughout his career as pastor, church planter, staff member of mega-churches, IMB missionary to Brazil, seminary professor, director of missions, NAMB appointed missionary, church planting strategist, and for the past five years as a Senior Associate State Executive. “Hammond understands missions at every level. He has proven skills and experience planting churches and strategically directing church planting in associations and a state convention. He is gifted in leadership and adept in the areas of business administration. He is bilingual and has a grasp of the complexity and diversity of the harvest field and clearly understands the importance and dynamics of NAMB’s relationships with her state partners,” said Faulls. “In addition he is fully supportive of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.”

Hammond and his wife, Deborah, have two sons: Timothy and Nicholas.

“Our president search committee has been thorough and prayerful in seeking God’s man for NAMB,” said Bill Curtis, Chairman of the Board. “I can say with confidence that the search committee has worked diligently on the behalf of Southern Baptists and the Board throughout this process, and they look forward to bringing a report on the journey and to presenting Dr. Geoff Hammond at the March Board meeting.”

Curtis also said, “I wish to express my gratitude to every member of the NAMB staff. During the past year I have observed our wonderful staff rise to every challenge with faith and cooperation. As we prepare to move into a new phase of NAMB’s history, I am confident that the staff and our committed missionaries will continue to rise as they work together in advancing evangelism, church planting, and the strengthening of churches throughout North America.”

“As a third generation missionary, my heartbeat has always been reaching people with the Gospel no matter where they live,” said Hammond. “I believe the North American Mission Board is the greatest missionary agency for reaching North America for Christ and it is the greatest honor of my life to be nominated for this position.”

The recommendation of Hammond follows an intense ten-month search that began with the committee’s commitment to continually pray, follow a thorough, patient process, and resist outside political maneuvers. “We determined what we were going to do was seek God’s man. There was never a predetermined person. We were faithful to follow our process and allow God to reveal His choice,” Faulls said. “We considered a wide variety of candidates from all corners of Southern Baptist life: pastors, seminary professors, state executives, missionaries, evangelists, as well as staff members of denominational agencies.”

NAMB, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, is led by a 60-member board of trustees. Last April 2006, after the resignation of former president Dr. Bob Reccord, then board chairman Barry Holcomb appointed a nine-member search committee: Chairman Greg Faulls (KY), Vice-Chairman David Crump (OK), Dennis Culbreth (VA), Ellie Ficken (AL), Terry Fox (KA), Barbara McCormick (SC), Michael Palmer (ID), Ryan Palmer (MD), and Jeff Shirley (TX).

NAMB is the largest Missions Agency commissioned to reach North America. In partnership with State Conventions the agency appoints over 5,000 missionaries throughout the United States and Canada for the primary purpose of evangelization and church planting. Southern Baptists support the work of NAMB primarily through Cooperative Program giving and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

There is much conjecture about the future of the SBC. I just read, on Bart Barber’s blog, where a student at SWBTS had called a certain group, “radicals.” (*Side Note - I thought this morning that the reference may be to Ben Cole’s series entitled, Rules for Radicals.) I assume I am one of them, from the way he wrote. The “Younger Leader” talk of last year that has morphed into “missional” talk by now seems to dominate the minds of many when talking about our future.

The questions being raised seem to center around whether or not a certain group or another will be able to subject the SBC to its vision for the future. From one perspective, we are asking the question, “Will we be able to stop a small group of people who are dangerous in both their theology and their practices from controlling the SBC?”

From the other perspective, we are asking… well, pretty much the same question.

Over the last year, I have become so tired of the political wrangling going on. It is so wearisome. In many ways, I admire guys like Kevin Bussey, Nathan Finn and others who have stopped blogging about the SBC. I think that it is just the realization of how futile it is to try and herd an organization as big as the SBC. That’s just not going to happen - by any of us.

Let me be more clear: Paige Patterson cannot herd the SBC. Marty Duren cannot herd the SBC. Bill Harrell cannot herd the SBC. Ben Cole cannot herd the SBC. Roger Moran cannot herd the SBC. Art Rogers cannot herd the SBC. Etc. You know. Ad nauseum.

No matter what the stature of the person in the SBC, there will always be someone that will listen to them, and someone that will not.

Last year, in the time leading up to the Memphis Declaration, Steve McCoy made an observation that he did not think such political maneuvering would bear fruit, but was a waste of time. Let me hasten to say that I don’t think Memphis was political. Just the opposite, we chose to eschew politics in favor of self evaluation and a commitment to higher standards as Southern Baptists. Not all agreed with what we did, and some still seem to suspect that we are lying about it to this day. All are welcome to their opinion, and it is foolish to argue with those who are determined to be convinced, so I won’t bother.

Still, Steve has a point that I must now concede. The gist of Steve’s comment was that (this is a paraphrase) by being missional, we will gain spiritual success and influence whom we influence. The SBC is bound to come along for the ride. Or if not, then we will still be where we need to be. If I am mistaken, Steve, feel free to correct me.

I went to Steve at the Baptist Identity Conference and told him that, after a year, I thought he was right. He asked me what I had seen that made me say that. I responded that it was what I hadn’t seen that drew me to that conclusion. I had not seen the majority of the SBC clamor for the ideas and practices of the young missional leaders. I haven’t seen them reject it, either; nor have I seen them clamor for a return to the 1950’s, nor reject it wholesale.

Frankly, I see the SBC going through the changes and dealing with the issues that we are all dealing with on a local level. Sure, some are more committed than others to a particular viewpoint, but that is no different than the voices you currently hear (or read) at a national/international level.

Am I now saying that the future is not in the balance? Should we just go on about our business? No involvement in the SBC or it’s politics?

Really, I am saying just the opposite. The future is in the balance. We should be involved. I’ll tell you how and why in the upcoming installments of this series.