NASHVILLE, Tenn.
— The next Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
annual meeting is a year away, but several leaders already are suggesting that
Fred Luter be the next SBC president.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley, Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel Akin and Union University
President David Dockery all have used their Twitter accounts to endorse the
idea, as has Russell D. Moore, dean of the school of theology at Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary.
After Akin announced June 7 he would nominate Luter as SBC
first vice president at the annual meeting in Phoenix,
Moore wrote in a Tweet, “And we
should elect him pres. next year in New Orleans.”
The next day, Akin wrote on his Twitter account, “Praying & believing it
could lead 2 more next year. Time is right!”
After Luter was elected first vice president, Dockery sent out a Tweet saying, “Good
day for SBC: 1st VP Fred Luter. Hope he will
be elected president next year in New Orleans!” Akin re-Tweeted Dockery’s entry
and added, “Amen!” That same day, Kelley wrote on his Twitter account, “Excited
Fred Luter elected First Vice President. Next year in New
Orleans we need to elect him president of SBC!”
Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue
Baptist Church
in New Orleans, is the first
African American elected as first vice president of the SBC.
The convention has never had an African American president.
Time magazine asked Luter about the buzz over a possible nomination. He said
his wife and his church would have to be on board.
“And of course God’s lead,” he said. “I’ve told people I’m going to enjoy this
year working with Dr. (Bryant) Wright, he’s a phenomenal president. I have no
agenda other than that, and one thing I have never done is politic for a
position.” Wright is the current SBC
president.