Southern Baptists elect Ed Litton as their president, a defeat for the hard right

[Bouncing Bill]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/06/15/southern-baptists-elect-president/

The article begins:

The Southern Baptist Convention elected Ed Litton as its president on Tuesday, signaling a defeat for the hard right within the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

Litton narrowly defeated Mike Stone, the favored candidate of the far right. For the past few years, the convention has been mired in debates over racism, politics and sexual misconduct that mirror many of the same debates in the Republican Party. The election took place at the convention’s annual meeting in Nashville.

 

In recent weeks, as leaked letters and backroom deals dominated conversations among Southern Baptists, Litton, pastor of First Baptist Church North Mobile in Alabama, pitched himself as someone who would lead the convention toward more racial reconciliation. Fred Luter, the first and only Black pastor to serve as president of the SBC, nominated Litton for the position. At the meeting Tuesday, Litton spoke fondly of how he and Luter have swapped pulpits. The crowd cheered after Luter’s speech in favor of Litton, in which Luter said Litton “brings a compassionate and shepherding heart. We need a pastor who has a love for God and God’s people.”

Other SBC presidential candidates included Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the first round of voting, Mohler garnered fewer votes than Litton and Stone. In a runoff, Litton received 52 percent of the vote, while Stone received 47.81 percent.

 

[SureWord]

He will lead towards more racial reconciliation. Lol...lol...ROFLOL

Just like Obama did.

https://babylonbee.com/news/sbc-votes-to-add-white-fragility-to-canon-of-scripture

Edited June 16, 2021 by SureWord

[BrotherTony]

40 minutes ago, SureWord said:

He will lead towards more racial reconciliation. Lol...lol...ROFLOL

Just like Obama did.

https://babylonbee.com/news/sbc-votes-to-add-white-fragility-to-canon-of-scripture

 

I can tell you now, this WAS NOT a win for the SBC. It wasn't a total loss, either. He will keep the convention away from many things, but he will continue to promote ideologies that MOST average members in the SBC churches aren't wanting. He will, however keep the convention from going totally left. The only plus as far as I can tell. Mike Stone would have been a better choice in my opinion. He got close, but NO CIGAR! By the closeness of the vote tally one can see that there may actually be another Conservative Resurgence getting ready to take place in the SBC. Many churches and church members are getting tired of the Marxist ideologies that have been creeping into the convention over the past several years. All we can do is pray, keep our eyes on the mission that Christ set us out on, and stop looking to try and reform others within the convention.  You DO realize that the Babylong bee is a satirical paper, don't you? I hope so.

[SureWord]

12 minutes ago, BrotherTony said:

 

I can tell you now, this WAS NOT a win for the SBC. It wasn't a total loss, either. He will keep the convention away from many things, but he will continue to promote ideologies that MOST average members in the SBC churches aren't wanting. He will, however keep the convention from going totally left. The only plus as far as I can tell. Mike Stone would have been a better choice in my opinion. He got close, but NO CIGAR! By the closeness of the vote tally one can see that there may actually be another Conservative Resurgence getting ready to take place in the SBC. Many churches and church members are getting tired of the Marxist ideologies that have been creeping into the convention over the past several years. All we can do is pray, keep our eyes on the mission that Christ set us out on, and stop looking to try and reform others within the convention.  You DO realize that the Babylong bee is a satirical paper, don't you? I hope so.

The SBC will split no matter who is in control. 

Yes, I know it's satire but many realities can be exposed through satire. The SBC has become obsessed with white fragility. 

[BrotherTony]

4 minutes ago, SureWord said:

The SBC will split no matter who is in control. 

Yes, I know it's satire but many realities can be exposed through satire. The SBC has become obsessed with white fragility. 

I totally agree, @SureWord. The SBC is splintering, and has been for several years now. The "splinters" are getting bigger as we type!  My wife and I have been praying and conversing about leaving the SBC, though we love our SBC church. I'd like to be back in a more conservative church with a true mindset of serving the Lord instead of following a man. Litton is allegedly a good man at heart. I don't know. I've never met him or conversed with him, and I find the opportunity to do so highly unlikely anytime soon. Conventions and "fellowships" are very bad for the body of Christ. I've never been in favor of them, and was glad to get out of them when I left the BMA and when we left the GARBC and the IFFB. So thankful that there are many good churches in these groups who still stand for the Word of God and for following the Great Commission. But, I'm finding the being INDEPENDENT of all of these conventions and fellowship is the better way to go.

[SureWord]

1 hour ago, BrotherTony said:

I totally agree, @SureWord. The SBC is splintering, and has been for several years now. The "splinters" are getting bigger as we type!  My wife and I have been praying and conversing about leaving the SBC, though we love our SBC church. I'd like to be back in a more conservative church with a true mindset of serving the Lord instead of following a man. Litton is allegedly a good man at heart. I don't know. I've never met him or conversed with him, and I find the opportunity to do so highly unlikely anytime soon. Conventions and "fellowships" are very bad for the body of Christ. I've never been in favor of them, and was glad to get out of them when I left the BMA and when we left the GARBC and the IFFB. So thankful that there are many good churches in these groups who still stand for the Word of God and for following the Great Commission. But, I'm finding the being INDEPENDENT of all of these conventions and fellowship is the better way to go.

Yes, the problem is not with the leadership but with the false teachings and worldly philosophies they allowed into the convention pervasive. They've replaced the emphasis on the gospel of Jesus Christ to a social gospel. 

This is why I like Independent because it's on a smaller level and usually can be dealt with more easily. 

I Corinthians 11:18-19

18) For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

[Hugh_Flower]

How can one “tolerate” Marxist ideologies that creep in? I’m sorry, I really don’t even understand the SBC. Can some one tell me how the structure of the SBC is any different from Presbyterians or the Catholic Church? What’s the point of the president? How does he —unify— the different churches?

[Bouncing Bill]

What Marxist ideologies are you speaking of?

[BrotherTony]

21 hours ago, Hugh_Flower said:

How can one “tolerate” Marxist ideologies that creep in? I’m sorry, I really don’t even understand the SBC. Can some one tell me how the structure of the SBC is any different from Presbyterians or the Catholic Church? What’s the point of the president? How does he —unify— the different churches?

The churches in the SBC are all AUTOMOUS churches, just as if they were IFB churches. The only difference is that they work together through what is called a cooperative for missions. This cooperative has several different entities which are to assist the SBC, but lately they haven't been doing what they were designed to do. These organizations are the International Missions Board (IMB), the North American Missions Board (NAMB), the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), and Lifeway Resources. There is also an Executive Committee of the ERLC that is to help assist in helping the ERLC in addressing certain things within the denomiination, ie, sexual abuse, and the case which in front of SCOTUS right now where Kevin Ezell, president of the NAMB, and then the ERLC (from which Russell Moore who had a leaked letter just resigned a few weeks ago, joining an non-denominational church as resident pastor) is suing Dr. Will McRamey, a former Delaware Missions director who was fired because of pressure, etc. The NAMB and the ERLC have falsified information and presented it in Circuit Court, lying in their amicus brief, and then also submitting false information to the Supreme Court concerning Dr. McRaney's position in the SBC. This has become quite a bad thing for the denomination, but not necessarily the churches. The churches are still free to do as they wish, as the IFB churches are. They can withhold monies from the cooperative if they feel the cooperative isn't fulfilling it's mission. Right now, it's not. Hope that helps. Oh, by the way, there is also Lifeway. 

20 hours ago, Bouncing Bill said:

What Marxist ideologies are you speaking of?

One of the better known Marxist mindset is that of supporting Critical Race Theory. There are more, but this is the main one. There are other problems as well...One of them is problems with many professors at the universities supported by the convention are teaching that the Bible isn't a reliable book, and there are problems with the stand that some of them take on Jesus Christ in human form. It's hard to believe that some of these people don't believe what's already settled by history.

[Jim_Alaska]

1 hour ago, BrotherTony said:

The churches in the SBC are all AUTOMOUS churches, just as if they were IFB churches.

That is utter nonsense; if they were truly autonomous they would be Independent Baptist Churches.

There is no Scriptural justification for any kind of convention, association, or fellowship as separate entities from the local church that have any say at all in what a local church does or says.

I did not even want to reply to this statement because of the propensity of it to get us off topic, but after a couple of days I thought I should. So, lets get back to the topic of the SBC's election of president, even though I have no idea why this subject would be of any concern at all to Independent Baptists.

[Bouncing Bill]

Brother Tony wrote, "One of the better known Marxist mindset is that of supporting Critical Race Theory. There are more, but this is the main one. There are other problems as well...One of them is problems with many professors at the universities supported by the convention are teaching that the Bible isn't a reliable book, and there are problems with the stand that some of them take on Jesus Christ in human form. It's hard to believe that some of these people don't believe what's already settled by history."

I have no idea how you got this idea. Marx never mentioned Critical Race Theory. It was unknown until the 1970's when it was first proposed. Critical Theory, of which Critical Race Theory is a small part says;

" critical theory, which argues that social problems are influenced and created more by societal structures and cultural assumptions than by individual and psychological factors."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_race_theory

Simply because you do not like the theory, and I assume you do not, does not make it Marxist. Saying something is Socialist or Marxist is a great way to smear an idea that in reality has nothing to do with either. It is intellectually dishonest to do so. 

[Salyan]

26 minutes ago, Bouncing Bill said:

Brother Tony wrote, "One of the better known Marxist mindset is that of supporting Critical Race Theory. There are more, but this is the main one. There are other problems as well...One of them is problems with many professors at the universities supported by the convention are teaching that the Bible isn't a reliable book, and there are problems with the stand that some of them take on Jesus Christ in human form. It's hard to believe that some of these people don't believe what's already settled by history."

I have no idea how you got this idea. Marx never mentioned Critical Race Theory. It was unknown until the 1970's when it was first proposed. Critical Theory, of which Critical Race Theory is a small part says;

" critical theory, which argues that social problems are influenced and created more by societal structures and cultural assumptions than by individual and psychological factors."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_race_theory

Simply because you do not like the theory, and I assume you do not, does not make it Marxist. Saying something is Socialist or Marxist is a great way to smear an idea that in reality has nothing to do with either. It is intellectually dishonest to do so. 

BB, can you please start a new thread for this so we don’t get off topic from the OP?

[BrotherTony]

2 hours ago, Jim_Alaska said:

That is utter nonsense; if they were truly autonomous they would be Independent Baptist Churches.

There is no Scriptural justification for any kind of convention, association, or fellowship as separate entities from the local church that have any say at all in what a local church does or says.

I did not even want to reply to this statement because of the propensity of it to get us off topic, but after a couple of days I thought I should. So, lets get back to the topic of the SBC's election of president, even though I have no idea why this subject would be of any concern at all to Independent Baptists.

That was posted less than 24 hours ago. I'll be more than happy to get back onto the subject of the SBC and Litton. 

[Bouncing Bill]

9 hours ago, BrotherTony said:

That was posted less than 24 hours ago. I'll be more than happy to get back onto the subject of the SBC and Litton. 

I may be wrong, but does scripture say anything on either side of this issue? 

You know the Bible never says it is all right to drive or ride in a car. Does this make it wrong to do so? And thinking about I do not believe the Bible says anything about eating ice cream. Is it wrong to do so?

I feel the defense, "the Bible does not" is an illogical smoke screen on many issues. 

No offense intended.

[BrotherTony]

27 minutes ago, Bouncing Bill said:

I may be wrong, but does scripture say anything on either side of this issue? 

You know the Bible never says it is all right to drive or ride in a car. Does this make it wrong to do so? And thinking about I do not believe the Bible says anything about eating ice cream. Is it wrong to do so?

I feel the defense, "the Bible does not" is an illogical smoke screen on many issues. 

No offense intended.

Please, be a little bit more clear on what you're looking for here. What you had "quoted" from me didn't really fit the bill. It gave me NO IDEA of what you're speaking or implying.