Mystery vote

I did not disappear into a black hole. I repeat: I did not disappear into a black hole.

So much happened today, the first day of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, that I am just now finding time to blog.

The Baptist messengers, more than 8,500 of them, have left us Baptist watchers with a mystery to ponder overnight.

The Rev. Rick Garner, an Ohio pastor, made a motion tonight to reaffirm the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000 as the convention’s “instrument of doctrinal accountability.”

By doing so Garner said he was hoping to get the convention’s messengers to vote on whether or not the doctrinal statement is sufficient and preclude SBC boards and institutions from making decisions outside its parameters.

There was much discussion both for and against Garner’s motion and a vote by ballot was called.

This was shortly after 8 p.m. The convention convened at around 10:15 p.m. with no one letting us know what the final vote was.

I’m sure the ballots were still being counted, but it is a “wait and see” that is of much interest to many people.

The Rev. Wade Burleson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, said he believes Garner’s motion was approved by the messengers.
He said the approval would be “huge” in terms of sending a message to SBC entities that he believes now seek to “narrow the parameters” of what it means to be a Southern Baptist.

Lots of folks are curious. I guess we will all know something in the morning.
Stay turned.