From my distance, 597 miles, here's my winners and losers on the convention just completed in St. Louis.
Winners
1. J. D. Greear. He lost the most contested race for SBC president in many years but his withdrawal was a statesmanlike decision. He leaves St. Louis with a Mississippi barge load of goodwill that didn't arrive with him.
2. Steve Gaines. Hey, he won and is the voice and face of the SBC for at least the next year. Congratulations.
3. Dwight McKissick. He submitted the resolution on the Confederate Flag and spent a good bit of time over the past weeks explaining and defending it on SBCVoices. Although his original was heavily amended by the resolutions committee, it was and is his baby. Nothing in recent days has elevated the SBC as has this resolution.
4. James Merritt. Merritt had the moment, offering an amendment on McKissick's resolution on the flag. Good for him and well done.
5. Russell Moore. When asked about religious liberty, he gave a full-throated defense. We know there are always some among us who would drop kick religious liberty in a D. C. second. We need a guy who will stand up for it. Moore did his job and did it well.
6. Dave Miller. Miller is the new Pastor's Conference president. He and others came up with a plan that was persuasive enough to pry attendees away from the usual celebrity leadership. Just don't call him a small church pastor. His church is well above average attendance.
Losers
1. The resolutions committee. I know these people have a hard job but to report out McKissick's flag resolution with a timid and tepid call “to limit” the display of the flag and to “consider” stopping flying it altogether, completely missed the mark.
Winners
1. J. D. Greear. He lost the most contested race for SBC president in many years but his withdrawal was a statesmanlike decision. He leaves St. Louis with a Mississippi barge load of goodwill that didn't arrive with him.
2. Steve Gaines. Hey, he won and is the voice and face of the SBC for at least the next year. Congratulations.
3. Dwight McKissick. He submitted the resolution on the Confederate Flag and spent a good bit of time over the past weeks explaining and defending it on SBCVoices. Although his original was heavily amended by the resolutions committee, it was and is his baby. Nothing in recent days has elevated the SBC as has this resolution.
4. James Merritt. Merritt had the moment, offering an amendment on McKissick's resolution on the flag. Good for him and well done.
5. Russell Moore. When asked about religious liberty, he gave a full-throated defense. We know there are always some among us who would drop kick religious liberty in a D. C. second. We need a guy who will stand up for it. Moore did his job and did it well.
6. Dave Miller. Miller is the new Pastor's Conference president. He and others came up with a plan that was persuasive enough to pry attendees away from the usual celebrity leadership. Just don't call him a small church pastor. His church is well above average attendance.
Losers
1. The resolutions committee. I know these people have a hard job but to report out McKissick's flag resolution with a timid and tepid call “to limit” the display of the flag and to “consider” stopping flying it altogether, completely missed the mark.
2. Rick Patrick and unnamed amateur parliamentarians. By making noise about a possible challenge to the parliamentary ruling on what constitutes a majority, the main thrust of which was to declare Steve Gaines president without the additional vote that was announced and scheduled, an ugly cast was put on the convention. It concerns me that these people don't see clearly enough to understand the disaster that would have occurred.
3. Judge Pressler. I didn't see it and don't want to see it. If Baptist royalty has to stand in the same line as Baptist commoners, that's not a bad thing.
4. Dave Miller. Guy has a new part time job and the pay is lousy.
4. Dave Miller. Guy has a new part time job and the pay is lousy.
