Posted by Eric Reed

(New Orleans) — The outcome of Tuesday’s ballot on adopting the optional use of ‘Great Commission Baptists’ in addition to the official name Southern Baptist Convention was announced this morning– it was approved by a 52.48% vote.

The announcement of the tally was delayed yesterday, after a hand vote was too close to call and a ballot vote was required. Messengers debated the “name change” which would allow churches and SBC entities to use the descriptor, without changing the official name of the SBC.

The narrow margin of the vote reflects both strong opinions and ambivalence over the change, which would lessen the regional nature of the convention’a name. Floor debate included memorable comments from advocates. One church planter who was on the committee that recommended the name change said, “This motion helps church planters outside the south build a bridge to share Jesus.”

Another advocate, Micah Freeze of St. Joseph, MIssouri, said, “We are an incredibility diverse people. As we polled those Southern Baptists who live in the frontier areas, they said to us with strong voice that this would help them advance the gospel. For those who live in the hard areas, to push back the darkness, I don’t see how we can say no to them.”

But Gary Honeycutt of Arkansas countered, “I don’t care what you call your church, I care what you call the convention.”

Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, observed this morning, “I’m note sure we’re going to help ourselves by having a name and a half. We may just cause confusion….If Gateway Seminary wants to use the name, and it will help them, that’s good. But in New Orleans, being Southern Baptist is a good thing—especially after Hurricane Katrina. And in New York, after 9/11.”

The use of the description “Great Commission Baptists” will be a the discretion of local churches.

Posted by the IB Team

(New Orleans) — After messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention engaged in heated debate about the convention’s possible adoption of a new nickname for churches that choose to use it, a vote by raised ballots failed to produce a clear outcome. Later, messengers cast ballots, but the tally was not announced by the end of the first day’s sessions. Great Commission Baptists is the new descriptor name under consideration at this year’s annual meeting.

Jimmy Draper, who chaired a task force assigned to explore the name change, spoke first, explaining that his committee’s recommendation wouldn’t require action on the part of any church or entity. Approval of the recommendation would only make the descriptor name available for use for those who choose to use it.

Messengers still voiced strong opinions on both side of the issue.

“I don’t care what you call your church; I care what you call the convention,” said one messenger from Ft. Smith, Ark.

The debate continued, and it was clear the real issues were tradition and legacy versus the ability to effectively minister in non-Southern (and non-U.S.) areas. Finally, a motion from the floor was made to vote on the recommendation, but it was too close to call, requiring messengers to take to their ballots.

At his first press conference following his historic election as the convention’s first African American president, Fred Luter said he was surprised by the debate over the name change:

“Honestly, I did not think it was going to be such a big deal.  I really did not. I was there in Nashville when it was presented and discussed by the Executive Committee.  As Dr. Draper said, I thought it was going to be a win, win situation….

“One of the guys at the microphone said it best, particularly a lot of the younger guys—they are not planting churches in the South. They’re in California, they’re in other places. And they just feel that another name would help them. 

“I thought the name Great Commission Baptist was really, really good.”

It is expected that the outcome of the vote will be announced at the first session Wednesday morning.