Southern Baptists Put On A Show, But Emerge Remarkably Unified

 By Warren Cole Smith - Posted at Ministry Watch:

The Southern Baptist Convention had its annual meeting this week in New Orleans. More than 13,000 representatives, known as messengers, attended the meeting. The headlines have been well reported by both Christian and secular media (including MinistryWatch). On Tuesday, the messengers re-elected Texas pastor Bart Barber to a second year in office. Saddleback Church was officially kicked out of the SBC, despite a media campaign by its former pastor Rick Warren. Progress was made toward sexual abuse reform.

It’s worth pausing, though, to note a couple of “behind the headlines” moments from the SBC. Here they are, in no particular order:

The Vote for President Wasn’t Close

Much was made of the fact that Bart Barber, the sitting SBC president, was facing a challenger for reelection. It was the first time in a decade that had happened, and only the second time in the past 35 years.

But it’s important to note that Barber got 68 percent of the votes. Most people would call that margin of victory a landslide and a mandate.

Continue here.