For the past two days, messengers from Southern Baptist Churches gathered for the 2024 national meeting in the great city of Indianapolis. Thousands gathered. And thought the emotions were real and deep, the meeting didn’t come close to some of the antagonistic ones that I experienced during the Conservative Resurgence.
I didn’t attend this year, but I did take advantage of the streaming technology and watched from the comfort of my desk chair (which according to my waistline, I find way too comfortable way too much). Next year, it’s in Dallas – I will be there and maybe I see my grandkids too!
Now, if you want a thorough summation, check with Baptist Press , or maybe even USAToday … USAToday did a pretty good job, though they focused a little heavy in VP Pence at a meeting and the IVF resolution, two culturally significant issues but not a huge impact on the overall meeting.
First … my overall comments …
– It was a blessing to watch, worship, and witness the meetings and the Pastor’s Conference. Yet, it was frustration to see minutiae overshadow some bug issues that could’ve been discussed in greater detail.
– President Bart, the outgoing leader from Texas, was humble, a pastor’s president and one who truly sought to do what was right without taking a side on controversial issues. Let’s pray for the incoming leaders and their walk with God during the coming year.
– And as much as I love and see the necessity of Roberts Rules of Order, it seems we spent more time on RRoO than discussing the impact of motions like the Law Amendment.
– Worship was an important dimension to the convention … prayer, singing, sermons, fellowship.
Second … some delightful comments …
– Registration Secretary DON CURRENCE (new Mayor of Ozark, MO) is a genuine hero to the convention. Nominated without competition by my friend Dale Lingenfelter, Don C kept the votes smooth and clear. He was always met with delight and probably the most appreciated officer. (He’s the one on the left in the picture earlier in the article.)
– There was the tap of death, that moment when a speaker has used his allotted time, a mysterious person will sneakily come from behind and just tap the speaker’s shoulder … please don’t give my parishioners any ideas … that will do this every Sunday at 11:59 if they think it would work.
– One first time attender said the convention is a lot more Christlike, a lot more docile, a lot friendly than what Baptist look like on Social Media … I have already seen vitriol and caustic comments on X and FB (what a shame).
– Some people just can’t get it when a female Messianic Jew, wearing a Star of David, close a session in prayer (a prayer in Hebrew) … lighten up, it’s not mysticism, it’s not a woman teaching men, it’s not a female pastor … it’s a prayer – in Hebrew – by a believer – who is a woman.
Third … some newsworthy comments …
Not that my comments are newsworthy, but the issues will be ones that ripple for years …
– I don’t think someone should be able to speak pro/con on an issue than immediately call for the vote. Either speak or call for vote. It is like someone speaks and then demands all conversation stop. On the issue about the potential censor of three people, we spent 15 minutes in discussion about a footnote in Robert’s Rules, but on the Law Amendment (LA), we only had two speak before the second speaker (the gentleman who made the motion last year) moved to cut discussion on possibly the most significant vote SBC has had in years. Much has been written on the LA, much confusion is out there, many points of views … it deserved more than two speakers, no matter which way you believe. This happened last year too, I dismissed the brevity because I knew we would have a second year to discuss.
– Too many people got riled up over minor issues … like the NAMB race car … which some said, “Why is my Annie Armstrong money going to put a skin on a car?” People, it was Indianapolis (this racing) … it was a shell (no engine) … it was donated and all paid for by non-sbc money. Lighten up. Find out the details on something before you go all Thunder Dome.
– Another minor issue … we had a vote to whether we should say pledges (which we did when honoring our chaplains) nor allow any politician should be allowed time on the stage (which would prohibit Mayor Don from having a role in the SBC) … the motion failed.
– First Baptist Church of Arlington was declared not in good standings with the SBC due to their having female pastors. Now, while the issue is more nuanced than the simple one sentence statement, it does show 1/ the stance of the SBC on the issue of women pastors 2/ the need for Law Amendment may be overstated 3/ the convention can do this with dignity and respect (the pastor got to share, the messengers were instructed not to applaud or react, and the Chair handled the situation with kindness and firmness)
Fourth … Great Numbers …
– Crossover (a mission impact the weekend prior to the meeting) had 44 local churches encouraged, 1469 volunteers came to the city, 9211 homes were visited, 5393 gospel conversations took place … 185 people prayed for salvation … PTL.
– 83 missionaries were commissioned. Some were done incognito for their lives would be in danger if they were revealed due to the location to which they were headed. Check out a great article here.
Fifth, and Last …
– The world sees the debates. They talk about “banning women” but make the broad issue seem to be either/or and ignore the nuances and theological variations. They see the vote on IVF but don’t discuss how we felt deeply for those who’ve struggled about the issue. They see a simple vote on helping abuse victims but don’t converse about the two years that went into it, about the respect for the victims, but also about the litigation issues considered. Too simple of a news brief for a very complex issue.
We get muddy when we deal with complex issues, with emotions, with trying to clarify broad theological issues in five line Facebook / X posts.
We get muddy when we deal with people and expectations.
We get muddy in trying to understand theological truth with a variety of opinions in the discussion.
We get muddy.
But we have a God that sees beyond the mud, sees our hearts … and in the end, no matter how much we muddy things up, He will win.
We get muddy – But He is in charge.
So I will be okay.
Muddy Shoes by Todd 
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