Rice wins Baptists’ praise, applause
Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006
GREENSBORO, N. C. — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice drew many ovations during her talk to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting Wednesday, but none so thunderous as when she referred to the war in Iraq and the death last week of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
“When possible, we are bringing terrorists to justice. When necessary, we are bringing justice to terrorists,” she said, eliciting a lengthy standing ovation.
Rice’s speech was the centerpiece of the morning for the 11, 637 delegates, or messengers, to the two-day meeting of the nation’s largest Protestant body at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
Rice told them the story of her grandfather, who became a Presbyterian minister so he could get a scholarship to finish college. Her father, also a preacher, was literally preaching during the Sunday-morn- ing moment she was born.
Rice thanked Southern Baptists for their compassionate efforts in Africa, in Indonesia after a devastating tsunami, and after hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year.
Her theme was America’s leading role in dealing with world problems. “President Bush and I share your conviction that America can and must be a force for good in the world,” she said. “If not for America, who would rally other nations to international defense of religious liberty ?”
She also highlighted U. S. influence in trying to end human trafficking, working against AIDS and caring for orphans in Africa, and trying to stop violence in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Minutes before her talk, messengers passed a resolution commending Bush for his response to the crisis in Darfur and encouraging humanitarian aid.
After Rice’s 27-minute talk, outgoing Baptist President Bobby Welch prayed for Rice, asking God to “send a band of angels and swords of fire to camp out over her presence and to protect her from the evil one.... You know how long we have yearned for such leadership as this.”
As she exited the stage, messengers in the back started spontaneously singing “God Bless America,” and the rest took up the anthem.
In a passionate sermon before business adjourned until the evening, the Rev. Donald Wilton of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S. C., asked Baptists to focus on their allegiance as Christians rather than Americans. He criticized churches who put more emphasis on fancy buildings than on fulfilling what is known as the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 19-20 ), to go into the world teaching people about salvation through Christ.
“Go [on a mission trip ] and see how the rest of the world lives,” he said. “We are one cushy denomination. We are fat cats. Just look at us. What have we accomplished ?”
Wednesday morning, the body considered resolutions, which are not binding on Baptist churches or their 16 million members but are an expression of the group’s consensus on different issues. A resolution urging opposition to alcohol drew much comment before it passed with the addition of an amendment that trustees or other appointees to Baptist agencies be teetotalers.
A messenger from Vermont was among several who spoke against the resolution. His opposition to the resolution was based on biblical mentions of wine. “Jesus drank wine; the apostles drank wine; Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake,” he said.
One messenger speaking for the resolution said he spent 2 1 / 2 years in jail as a result of starting to drink beer at age 8. He asked messengers to “take a stand against something that is destroying our world.”
Nine more resolutions were to be considered Wednesday evening, covering such topics as cloning, environmentalism, off-campus Bible education for public school children, and encouraging Baptists to teach in public schools and seek positions on school boards.
In late business Tuesday, Jimmy Jackson of Alabama was elected as first vice president in a runoff of a four-man race. Wiley Drake, a pastor from Buena Park, Calif., was elected second vice president.
Drake often draws laughter at the conventions with his frequent appearances at the microphones to introduce motions. He was nominated for second vice president last year but lost. Drake said even he was surprised he was elected.
“I would have preferred a more serious person to have that responsibility,” said Emil Turner, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. But he called the convention overall “a celebration of our cooperative efforts together to reach the world.”
A free afternoon gave messengers time to browse the exhibits. They could have books signed by outgoing President Welch of Daytona Beach, Fla., learn about Baptist colleges and seminaries, and catch special sales on Life-Way Christian Store products.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
