Page actually meets criteria of Executive Committee's recommendations

By Steve Long, Greenville

Published May 31, 2006

I have read with great interest lately articles from both the Baptist Press and the Associated Baptist Press dealing with trustees at the IMB and the NAMB. And now both news services tell us that the SBC Executive Committee has backed down from a recent recommendation that the convention give emphasis to the election of officers from churches that contribute at least 10 percent of undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program. This seems very interesting in light of the fact that a genuine nominee for president, Frank Page of Taylors First, actually meets this criteria, while the handpicked candidate, Ronnie Floyd of Missouri, is the pastor of a church that does not.

This also comes at a time when voices within the convention are being raised in opposition of the apparent exclusion of some from leadership consideration. Since the SBC "good ole boys" effectively ran moderates out of the convention, I wonder who they have in mind now. Could it be that Calvinists, certain web bloggers, or others they deem unacceptable will be excluded this time? The Greensboro convention could bring back memories of the conventions of the 1980s. It could be a real showdown.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter to the editor addressing this or another subject.