Missions Blog

TIME.com: The Bloggers’ Favorite Southern Baptist

Even Time Magazine took notice of the dramatic influence that blogs had on this year’s Southern Baptist Conference’s Annual Meeting. Frank Page was considered a “dark horse” candidate for the SBC Presidency before the conference began. He had two competitors for the position, one who was backed by several Seminary Presidents, which is a big deal. In years past, this would typically be enough to get one elected, but not this year! You can read about it here and here. It is believed that the emergence of internet blogs swayed the opinion of so many people that it got Frank Page elected.

So why is this a big deal? Well it means that the old way of doing things in the SBC may be done for. No longer can someone as influential as Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and juggernaut in Baptist politics, back a candidate and guarantee his election.

Why do I care? I care because of the issues within the IMB. From what I can gather, the big movers in SBC are scared by the blogging community, possibly because they just don’t understand it, it lessons their influence or , worst yet, it brings greater accountability to their actions. For months the Board of the IMB seemed to run from and hate the fact that their every action was posted on internet blogs for all to see. Nobody’s like me could read about their interpersonal behavior and their policy decisions. We could object publicly for all to read. Their anti-biblical policies about Baptism and Tongues could have giant spot lights put on them. SBC representatives from all over country could show up at the annual meeting informed and do something about it. Frank Page’s election is supposed to signify that.

So what does this mean? I hope that it means the policies will eventually be overturned and that a larger community of people can make decisions for the convention. Good ole boy networks can die. The continual narrowing of what it means to be a “Southern Baptist” can stop.

Although every time I think about the Wade Burleson issue I hope there is a side of the story I am missing, it disturbs me that Trustees tried to silence him when he objected to what was going on inside the IMB Board. The irony of the deal is that his detractors probably gave him a louder voice than he would have had otherwise. Has the Lord again taking something someone meant for evil and used it for good. I will publish more thoughts on this in a little bit.? I will leave with Mr. Burleson’s thoughts here…

When Frank’s election was announced I was walking around the arena and just happened to be stopped by a reporter in the undergound hallway. He wanted my reaction. Soon other reporters stopped and by the time all was said and done probably over 25 media persons from around the nation stood four deep and asked questions for forty minutes. One of the questions that kept being repeated over and over again is whether or not I believed blogs played a role in this election. I said, “Absolutely.” Baptist bloggers in 2006 may well go down in history as the first time bloggers actually determined the outcome of a national religious/political election.

Why? When all three candidates were being nominated my wife leaned over to me and said, “I feel like I know all three men because of the blogs.”

I attended the Press Conference for Frank Page and I am here to tell you he handled himself with class, dignity and grace. Southern Baptists have a right to be proud of this man.

It is brand new day in the SBC.

To say some were shocked by the outcome of the election is the understatement of the year.

What do you think about all this? Am I missing something or being to harsh?

1. Jason Weigand Says:
   June 18th, 2006 at 4:27 pm

   this is phenomenal



2. Jess Says:
   July 25th, 2006 at 9:36 pm

   That was an awesome post.