Thoughts on the criteria for nominating a Georgia Baptist Convention presidential candidate

I have had the privilege of knowing Dan Spencer.  I pastored in the same Association as Brother Dan.  I like Brother Dan and believe he loves Jesus.  I am impressed with all the giving accolades that Pastor Larry Wynn lauded upon Brother Dan.  I know Dan is a well liked Pastor in his church.  I know that Dan is a respected man in his community.  But I am concerned that the leading accomplishments that Pastor Wynn quotes have to do with outward activity and nothing about the candidates Biblical stances on any of the pressing subjects of the moment.I agree with Pastor Wynn we are at a “critical juncture in the life of our denomination”.  I attended the Evangelism Conference in Flowery Branch a few weeks ago and I could not have been more confused.  Preachers took to the pulpit preaching with two different agendas.  On the one hand men climbed into the pulpit to proclaim that the Gospel itself was sufficient to cause lives to be changed and on the other hand men climbed behind the lectern to explain the “step” prior to life change via the Gospel.  I am not sure if we believe we should “preach the word” or manipulate the hearer with a new approach.  At one point one of the “technique” guys rebuked the crowd for not assuming he knew the Holy Spirit had to be at work in the transaction of regeneration.  He felt like he did not need to say the Holy Spirit was important in reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ while he was explaining how to reach people for Jesus Christ. 

Which direction will we head as a denomination?  Will we be led by techniques or the Holy Spirit?  I am not casting judgment of Brother Dan.  I would like for all of us to be aware of where he stands on some issues that we face, because I don’t know. I am a member of the “younger generation” and I am not looking for our next president to “capture my imagination” or see him “win the approval of the seasoned veterans”.  I want to see our next president capture the heart of our Savior and win His approval.  I would like to know what the presidential candidate believes about the sufficiency of the Scriptures, the importance of preaching the Word instead of using gimmicks, the roll personal holiness plays in the life of the believer, the Biblical accuracy of the Emergent Church movement, the psychologically based push to reach the next generation, and rush to be ecumenical.  These are just a few things I would like to see published about any candidate for the presidency of the Georgia Baptist Convention.

I pray we ,as Georgia Baptists, will be well informed in the important responsibility of selecting the new President of the GBC.

I have attached the article that I responded to from the Christian Index.

Dan Spencer to be nominated GBC president by Larry Wynn

By J. Gerald Harris, Editor

Published March 12, 2009

 

Larry Wynn, pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, has informed The Christian Index that he intends to nominate Dan Spencer as president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at the annual meeting at First Baptist Church Woodstock in November.

Spencer, a native of Tennessee, has been pastor of the 3,500-member First Baptist Church of Thomasville since Oct. 1, 2000.

Wynn stated, “We are at a critical juncture in the life of our denomination and we need a dynamic leader who can appeal to both the youngest and oldest members of our Convention. Dan Spencer has the vision to capture the imagination of our younger generation and he has the wisdom and stability to win the approval of those seasoned veterans who have built the framework for our future.

“Through his leadership at First Baptist Thomasville,” Wynn added, “Dan has proven himself to be a champion of the Cooperative Program and world missions. His church gives well over 10 percent of undesignated gifts to the Cooperative Program and has consistently been among the top churches in the Southern Baptist Convention in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions.”

The records from the Thomasville church’s Annual Report show that they have given $761,502.82 to the LMCO during the course of Spencer’s ministry. The annual budget for the church has increased from $1.8 million to $3.2 million during the eight years Spencer has been at the helm of the Thomas County church. During that same period of time the church has added almost 900 new members and the average Sunday School attendance has increased from 680 to 970.

Wynn explained, “Dan Spencer will bring to the presidency of the Georgia Baptist Convention the same kind of warm-hearted, gracious spirit that has endeared him to the people of First Baptist Thomasville. I am confident that Georgia Baptists will be proud to have him as their president.”

Spencer’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Mo., a Master of Science degree in Counseling/Psychology from Troy State University in Dothan, Ala., and a Master of Arts in Religion degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va.

 

Came to Georgia from Alabama assistant pastorate

Prior to coming to Thomasville Spencer was assistant pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dothan, Ala. for five years. He has also served as a US-2 missionary for the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board).

In 2001 Spencer was one of the preachers for the Pastors’ Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention. He has also been a member of the Nominating Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention and is presently serving on the Executive Committee of the GBC as well as a trustee of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation.

In 2005 Spencer was called upon to serve the Southern Baptist Convention as a member of the Committee on Committees.

Spencer, 41, is married to the former Tresa Schulz of Hull, Ill. Dan and Tresa have two sons, Jeremiah Daniel, 17, and Jacob Brandon, 15.

Hello world!

Welcome to my mind.