Dr. Frank Page, current president of the Southern Baptist Convention, shared his perception of a new wind sweeping through Southern Baptists.  Addressing a group of Woman’s Missionary Union participants, missionaries, local pastors and denominational workers at the WMU headquarters in Birmingham on November 30, he indicated that in his travels as president he senses among Southern Baptists a new wind blowing, a groundswell of support for missions. For the people in the churches, missions matter and cooperation matters. 

Reiterating earlier statements, he avowed his support for the conservative resurgence within the convention.  But as one not well known in the convention before his election, he is convinced his election was an expression by the convention of this renewed spirit, that missions matter and cooperation matters.   (His church is a strong supporter of the Cooperative Program.) 

He called for a new unity and a new vision, not ignoring differences but in spite of differences.  Many in the convention, he acknowledged, would have differences with him, but he can work with them and will work with them.  Having concentrated on “rightness” in doctrine for so long, the convention needs to focus attention on relevancy and revival. 

He also is committed to expanded leadership in the convention.  Instead of the same names seen over and over in convention leadership, he will seek to include people who have never been involved in leadership.  That expanded leadership, he indicated, would be of persons who, like him, support the conservative resurgence.

Can the Southern Baptist Convention work internally with people who disagree with the direction of the convention?  Can they work with the expanded family of Baptists represented in the Baptist World Alliance?  Can they work with the even broader spectrum of Christians outside the Baptist family?  President Page is convinced the answer is yes!

As indicated, he does not desire an alteration in the direction of the convention.  But for the convention, after decades of condemning and demonizing those who differ and excluding from leadership all but a select few “true believers,” the Spirit that marks the spirit of Dr. Page, is a breath of fresh air.  All Baptists need to pray for him and the challenges he faces.  And also pray that the Southern Baptist Convention at its next annual meeting will afford him the customary second year as president, so that his vision of cooperation in spite of differences will have greater opportunity to become reality.