Clear: Despite loud voices on social media and at the floor microphones voicing opposition to the Sexual Abuse Task Force recommendations and to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, urging messengers to “change the direction,” there is a quiet majority in the SBC. If the messengers at Anaheim are a representation of the people in […]
SBC Final Day: No coasting allowed
The last day of the convention is a “downhill day.” Anticipations, expectations, and even tensions build the first few days. Wednesday is the peak, the height of all that messengers come expecting. The most talked-about votes are now in the past. Most of what is left are reports, seminary luncheons, and last opportunities to catch […]
Scene on Tuesday: A Sea of Yellow
Tuesday afternoon, with over 8,000 SBC messengers checked into the Anaheim Convention Center, there were two questions on nearly every messenger’s mind. These two questions were the focus of the packed rooms in the early morning Baptist Twenty-one and Conservative Baptist Network meetings, across the street from the convention center. First, how would the messengers […]
Tuesday morning SBC: Game on
This morning the real meeting began, and the convention hall looked like it. The place was packed, with over 7,500 registered messengers in attendance. It was a morning marked by floor debate, the SBC President’s sermon, and a glorious missionary commissioning service. The spiritual highlight of the morning was the IMB Sending Celebration where 52 […]
The Monday Scene: a preview of complicated things to come
Day two of SBC22 brought a full day of Pastor’s Conference preaching, an important Executive Committee meeting, the ever-popular NAMB Send luncheon, and the opening of the exhibit hall. Surprise of the day? The song may say, “It never rains in southern California,” but it’s not all sunshine and roasting heat. The morning started cool […]