A new day in the SBC?

I don't normally discuss denominational politics in person or on this blog, but the events of the SBC this year compel me to comment. I am truly excited about what looks like a radical change in the SBC. No, we are not walking away from God's Word. It is not really a theological change that I see. It is not so much a change in what we, as Southern Baptists, are doing but more of a change in how we are doing it.

Like many others have said, I salute those who brought our denomination to a firm stance on the inerrant, infallible Word. They have laid the groundwork for a bright future as the SBC seeks to advance the Gospel of Jesus from our backyards all the way around the world.

I do have this one problem, and perhaps it is just a perception on the part of a small-church pastor. It seems to me that I don't know the "right" people to ever have a voice in the convention life. It seems to me that the direction of the SBC is beyond any input this little church would like to provide. With some of the recent events at our boards, I was becoming increasingly uneasy with advocating the CP to my people. How can I look at a lady who is just existing on her Social Security and ask her to give sacrificially when certain leaders are living high on the hog? How can I tell her that her money is welcome, but her baptism may not be? How can I ask her to support our missionaries around the world with her money, but not her private prayers? These are troublesome issues.

But I have great hope in our new president, Dr. Frank Page. He has said he wants to keep the doors as wide open as he can so that all Southern Baptists can participate. I hope he is true to his word. I am also excited about Wiley Drake being the 2nd VP of the convention. I believe he can be the voice for us "little guys" (churches with less than 100 members in attendance on a given Sunday). He has said that is his goal in his new position, I hope he also is true to his word.

Let me clarify by saying I don't know either of these men personally. The reason I have hope is because of their words. It is my prayer that we will indeed see a new day in the SBC. A day of true cooperation between those who have much and those who have not so much with the sole purpose of evangelizing a lost and dying world. That would be something I could easily support to my members.

Here is the video interview with Wiley Drake that encouraged me.