Reflections on the SBC in Phoenix

By Brad Whitt, Pastor, Temple Baptist Church, Simpsonville, SC

As I reflect on my time spent in Phoenix for this year’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention what sticks out most in my mind is how little actually sticks out in my mind. Apart from time spent fellowshipping with friends and making new ones, and my general love for worship and preaching, there was very little that excited my spirit or sparked my interest specific to SBC 2011.

I’ve been involved in planting a church in a frontier area and have heard a great deal about NAMB’s new church planting emphasis over the past year. Thus, there was nothing new or appealing in its presentation that would cause me to lead my church to increase our partnership with them. I also pastor a church that has been actively and personally involved in getting the Gospel to the far corners of the world for decades. So, we’ll no doubt continue doing what we’ve been doing.

The worship was fine. The spirit was cordial. The weather was hot. The food was good. In the end it was pretty much the way it was the last time we gathered there.

As many have mentioned, the attendance this week was very low even when compared to the last time we gathered in Phoenix. Some attribute this to the economy, and surely finances play a part in some not attending. However, from my conversations with friends who normally attend every year it’s evident that many just weren’t interested in taking the time or spending the money allotted in their budgets for them to attend.

I also noticed a change in who was there and who wasn’t. Pastors and staffs of churches that have led the convention in years past were conspicuously absent in the lobbies and hallways of the convention. On the other hand there were some new, young pastors and leaders seen sitting around talking in the lobby late into the night. While I certainly don’t mind newer, younger leadership, the real proof of their leadership will be seen and judged in the years to come.

I noticed that some who would have normally dressed up didn’t and some who I expected to dress casually actually wore coats and ties at times. Most of the messengers followed the requested dress code, while several leaders on the stage apparently decided that when standing before thousands of Southern Baptists it would be better to forgo the request and dress up a bit.

I was encouraged to see Fred Luter, Grant Ethridge, and Archie Mason elected to leadership positions. I know these men personally, respect them greatly and will make it a personal priority to pray for them over this next year.

All in all, my time at the convention went pretty much the way it has over the past several years. The real reason for my going isn’t so much to hear from the stage, but to share across a table. It isn’t that we might find out what the convention wants to do, but what God is doing in the life and ministries of our friends and churches. I believe that the SBC is the greatest mission sending organization in the history of the world and I love spending time with those who lead the churches that sacrifice to get the gospel to the nation and the nations.

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