Point-of-View

I applaud and wholeheartedly endorse the recent announcement and recommendation by Southern Baptist Convention president, Dr. Jack Graham, for a new look at the name designation of our Southern Baptist Convention. This bold initiative is the result of the blessings of the Lord upon the work and ministry of Southern Baptists around the world. The Lord has expanded our influence and increase to the uttermost parts of the earth.

A global positioning system would have difficulty in locating the epicenter of Southern Baptist life. We no longer are a regional denomination and our territory reaches north, south, east, and west. Southern Baptist life extends to every continent in the world. Southern Baptists minister to over 1500 people groups in the world. We have clearly defined and delineated our theology, our mission, and our ecclesiology. The anointing of the Lord is being experienced within our denomination because we are confronting world culture with the unchanging Word of the Lord. A fresh look at a name could result in more open doors for Baptists to engage our culture with truth.

I have been involved in Southern Baptist work throughout my life. I accepted the Lord as my Savior in the First Baptist Church of Greenhill, Alabama. I graduated from a Southern Baptist college and seminary. My ministry has been experienced in the context of Southern Baptist churches. Yet my loyalty and devotion is not to the name Southern Baptist, but to the Christ who is the Head and Lord of His church. The possibility of a new name does not change who we are, but will expand the arena in which the Lord desires Southern Baptists to impact the world.

A name is important and a new designation would not remove Baptist from our identity. The change would focus on reflecting that we are more than Southern Baptists but global in our commissioning and calling.

My parents named me John Thomas Green III. The adding of a number eliminated the creativity of a family name. I have been called Tommy throughout my life. As a young person my best friend was named Tommy Green. (This person was not imaginary or an alter ego.) During these years to avoid confusion teachers and coaches called me Tommy "Red" Green and my friend Tommy "Brown" Green based on our hair color. I am sometimes called Dr. Green, Pastor Green, preacher, and maybe a few other names as well. This multitude of names by which I am identified does not change who I am.

A new name for our denomination will not change who we are as Baptists. A new name will better reflect who we are as Baptists. A new name will enable our designation to expand the umbrella of Baptist life to project the diverse and inclusive understanding of the massive stewardship in ministry the Lord has provided to us. I encourage you to pray for Dr. Graham and the committee appointed for this critical task.

J. Thomas Green is pastor, First Baptist Church, Brandon.