Southern Baptists Poised To Elect New Orleans Pastor First Black President [Ex-Pro-Slavery Church]

Guardian (UK) ^ | June 15, 2012

[Steelfish]

Southern Baptists Poised To Elect New Orleans Pastor First Black President Fred Luter Jr will become the first African American head of the organization, formed 167 years ago as pro-slavery church

16 June 2012

The US's largest Protestant denomination is poised to elect the first black president in its 167-year history, just weeks after the predominantly white religious group reprimanded an official for making racially insensitive remarks.

Church leaders are expected to vote this Tuesday in favour of New Orleans pastor Fred Luter Jr becoming the head the Southern Baptist Convention – a move that would make an important statement about the denomination's efforts to distance itself from its racist past and become more diverse.

"I'm really pumped about this," Luter said in a telephone interview. "My church is so excited, man. Because they know my common background, they know where I came from. … I'm really excited for them."

First Baptist New Orleans pastor David Crosby, who will nominate Luter, said the move is a statement that "we not only love people of color, we want them in our leadership".

"We need his perspective. We need him at the table to help us understand who we are as Southern Baptists in this new era."

Luter, 55, has already served as the first African American in various leadership positions within the convention, including as its current first vice-president.

The New Orleans civic and religious leader said he is both optimistic and realistic about what he can accomplish during his short tenure. His leadership role will initially last just one year but can be extended for a second, he said.

Luter said his hope is to "let people know that ... we're open minded, and it's open to different ethnic groups".

The vote will be held this week during the convention's...

[Rashputin]

They're poised to elect a faithful fellow Baptist. Saying more than that is falling into the trap of playing the rigged game the democrat fascist race baiters have used so successfully for decades. Every Baptist interviewed should act shocked that someone would mention that the guy is black when the main criteria is whether or not the guy is a good and true Baptist.

JMHO

[ansel12]

I just hope that he or whoever, contributes to them remaining the right-wing church that they are, as America’s second largest church, we need those Christians that vote conservative.

[katiedidit1]

The church is EMBARRASSED by the truthful comments of a Southern Baptist leader? they have to make up for his hurtful remarks? what the heck is wrong with them?
“Church officials said race relations suffered again earlier this year when the group's longtime ethics chief accused US black leaders of trying to use the killing of black teenager Trayvon Martin by a white and Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida for political gain.

Calling Richard Land's remarks “hurtful, irresponsible, insensitive and racially charged”. commission leaders said in a June 1 reprimand that: “We must now redouble our efforts to regain lost ground.”

[I still care]

LOL. I thought whites from the South were too RACIST to elect a black president of any kind?

The left is SO delusional. It would be funny if they weren’t actually trying to run things.

[Col Freeper]

The church is EMBARRASSED by the truthful comments of a Southern Baptist leader? they have to make up for his hurtful remarks? what the heck is wrong with them?

“Church officials said race relations suffered again earlier this year when the group's longtime ethics chief accused US black leaders of trying to use the killing of black teenager Trayvon Martin by a white and Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida for political gain.

Calling Richard Land's remarks “hurtful, irresponsible, insensitive and racially charged”. commission leaders said in a June 1 reprimand that: “We must now redouble our efforts to regain lost ground.”

Hi Kd1. Firstly, the Southern Baptist Conference (SBC) is not a church, it is a conference of churches who voluntarily associate.

AFAIAC, Richard Land's remarks were right on the money. The reference to "commission leaders" is apparently meaning "conference leaders". It appears to me that some of the conference leaders wish they had more power than to just be voted-in keepers of the general business of the SBC.

I suspect that Brother Land hasn't spent any sleepless nights since he was "reprimanded" for speaking the truth.

These conference leaders do not speak for our Baptist church on these issues, and should get back to focusing on their administrative duties.

[Tupelo]

Like the Democrat party with Ronald Reagan, the Southern Baptist Church left me about 20 years ago.

[katiedidit1]

I am Southern Baptist and I am not happy with the changes the “officials” are making. If I could only go back to my childhood days when the church was my refuge. What else will we lose in today’s pc times? it’s enough to make a preacher cuss.

[katiedidit1]

I am Southern Baptist and I am not happy with the changes the “officials” are making. If I could only go back to my childhood days when the church was my refuge. What else will we lose in today’s pc times? it’s enough to make a preacher cuss.