(SBC) president to appoint a Great Commission Task Force to bring a report to
the annual meeting in 2010 “concerning how Southern Baptists can work
more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the
Great Commission.”
By a show of ballots, the motion passed with
approximately 90 percent of messengers supporting it. An attempt to
pass a substitute motion asking the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board to study the issue and
deliver the report failed by a similar margin. Debate lasted just over
20 minutes.
from Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., and president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, made the original
motion and spoke for it during discussion.
he said, for Southern Baptists “to ask the hard questions,” such as,
“Is there more we can do?”
pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., and a former president of the SBC, also spoke for the
motion. Page and Mohler both spoke from the floor.
Commission,” he said. “It’s called the Bible. Get our people out of the
pew. Messengers, pastors, that’s what we’re called to do. I don’t think
we need any help from a task force.”
Earlier in the day, Morris H. Chapman, president of the SBC’s Executive Committee, raised questions about the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) effort in his report to the Convention.