Should the SBC change its name?

[Phillip]

There has been discussion that the Southern Baptist Convention will change its name. This has been mentioned for years, but is it time?

I would like to hear from both SBC and non-SBC.

The Baptist Bookstore recently changed to "Lifeway", obviously to gain a broader marketing.

Should SBC do the same since it has spread out of the South?

Would it be good to get over the past split over slaves, which no decent SBC would today agree with?

Just want to see what others think, I have my own thoughts, but don't wish to share them yet.

 

[All about Grace]

It is according to which century the SBC wants to minister.

 

[dianetavegia]

This was just discussed a month or two ago.

NO

 

[dianetavegia]

Here's the link:
http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/25/428.html?

 

[RandR]

I believe messengers put this one to bed for good at the convention last year in Indy.

The "study" was supported by the president, the motion was presented to the floor by a former EC chair, and it was still pretty substantially defeated.

I'm personally ambivalent about this issue, but I'm glad it was finally dealt with so we can move on.

 

[Phillip]

Well, Diane, maybe, just maybe I wanted to discuss it again.

Oops, I forgot you were an administrator


Just teasin' ya!

 

[dianetavegia]

And like I answered, NO. I've been SBC my whole life except when we lived where there was not an SBC and then we HAD to attend ABC. No thanks!

Honestly, I believe the SBC has a reputation (good one) that is associated with our name. I would strongly fight a name change.

Diane

 

[AVL1984]

I too am SBC, though I've only been so for two to three years. I wouldn't want a name change. I think the name is fine just as it is.

 

[williemakeit]

Since you wanted to hear from non-SBC, also....

No, I do not think that the SBC should change their name. I'm with Diane. The SBC has a good and godly heritage. There have been some bumps in the road, but overall, they have contributed tremendously to the Kingdom's work.

 

[CoachC]

This is all news to me, what would the new name be?

 

[go2church]

It would remove the reference to Southern and make it have a more national appeal, reflecting the national and international ministry. I forgot what they were floating out there. Think the name change would be fine, they have changed the name of everything else.

 

[RandR]

This whole conversation is moot. Messengers rejected the idea of even putting together a study committee for a name change.

The name change discussion belongs in the past-tense. Kind of like, "What would have happened if the South had won the civil war?" "How would the denomination be different if there had been no conservative resurgence?" "What would the new name of the SBC have been if they had changed it, and what impact would it have made on missions around the world?"

All past tense. All hypothetical.

 

[AVL1984]

Rand, I know many here in the churches wish the SBC would have changed it's name, and are still voicing their opinion. It may be moot, but it's not forgotten, and it's built some hard feelings among some of the membership.

 

[rsr]

According to a 1975 poll conducted by state Baptist newspapers, the leading candidates were:

1. Cooperative Baptist Convention (no longer possible given the formation of the CBF.)

2. Continental Baptist Convention (which would recognize the Canadians who are part of the SBC)

3. United Baptist Convention

4. World Baptist Convention

5. Baptist Convention of America (problematic because, again, it leaves out the Canadians, and it's too close to ABC-USA, the American Baptist Association, etc.)

 

[RandR]

AVL,

As I said earlier, I am (or was) ambivalent on the name change issue. But I certainly hope the people to whom you're referring went to Indy and voted in favor of the study committee.

 

[AVL1984]

I don't believe they did, Rand. Some of their relatives were messengers, but that was about it. But, it's not going to happen. A name change would do them good, though.

 

[Enoch]

No

 

[IanM]

As a Southern Baptist I believe we should keep the name the same. It is not about denominations though its about service CHRIST.

 

[IanM]

Posting should have been service to CHRIST.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

I would like to see them change the name to "Red States Baptist Convention".



Or, maybe, we could reach out to those who like to ridicule Baptists and call ourselves "Jesusland Baptist Convention".

Actually, I like the Southern Baptist Convention.

Joseph Botwinick