June 19, 2012 (NEW ORLEANS) -- The Southern Baptist Convention voted Tuesday to
elect its first African-American president in one of its biggest steps yet to
reconcile the 167-year-old denomination's troubled racial past and appeal to a
more diverse group of believers.
The Rev. Fred Luter Jr. was unopposed in being elected by
thousands of enthusiastic delegates on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the
nation's largest Protestant denomination in his hometown of New Orleans.
Pastor David Crosby of First Baptist New Orleans nominated Luter,
calling him a "fire-breathing, miracle-working pastor" who
"would likely be a candidate for sainthood if he were Catholic."
Crosby recalled how Luter built the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church
from a tiny congregation to a megachurch of nearly 8,000 before the buildings
were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Members of Luter's mostly black church came to worship at Crosby's
mostly white church, and the pastors worked together for 2 1/2 years as Luter
rebuilt Franklin Avenue. Today, with a Sunday attendance of 5,000, Luter's
church is once again the largest Southern Baptist church for attendance in the
state.
"Fred Luter is the only megachurch pastor I know who had to
do it twice," Crosby said.
Crosby said the SBC needs Luter at the head of the table as it
increasingly focuses on diversifying its membership.
"Many leaders are convinced this nomination is happening now
by the provenance of God," he said.
Delegates clapped and cheered when Luter's election was announced
by current SBC President Bryant Wright, who told those gathered for the
convention that they were "priveledged to be here for this historic
occasion."
Luter wiped tears from his eyes as he accepted the position.
The historic election comes as the denomination tries to expand its
appeal beyond its traditional white Southern base. Membership and baptisms have
been generally declining in recent years.
The Nashville, Tenn.-based denomination was formed before the
Civil War in a split with northern Baptists over slavery and had reputation
over much of the last century for supporting segregation.
Seventeen years ago, Luter was one of the authors of an SBC
resolution that apologized to African-Americans for its past support of racism
and resolved to strive for racial reconciliation.
Since that gesture, the denomination has grown its non-white
congregations from only 5 percent in 1990 to 20 percent in 2010. But its
leadership has not diversified as rapidly as membership.
Also on Tuesday, delegates planned to vote on whether to adopt an
optional alternative name, Great Commission Baptists.
The "Great Commission" refers to Matthew 28:16-20, in
which Jesus instructs his disciples at Galilee to go forth and make disciples
of all nations.
Fearing the Southern Baptist name carried negative associations
for many outsiders, current SBC President Bryant Wright formed a study
committee last year to consider a change. While the committee deemed a full and
official name change to be too difficult and expensive, it suggested the
alternative name as an option.
While Southern Baptists have been publicly united in their support
for Luter, the alternative name faces opposition from some members who are
proud of the denomination's association with conservative theology and
politics.
The notion of changing the Southern Baptist name is not new: It
was first proposed in 1903 and has been unsuccessfully brought up more than a
dozen times since. Even if the compromise alternative is approved, it is
unlikely to put the issue to rest for good.
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Online:
Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting:
(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
