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	SBC Messengers Re-Elect Page, Hear Motions on Agency Policies, Clergy Sex Abuse By Greg Warner and Charlie Warren Associated Baptist Press June 12, 2007 http://www.abpnews.com/2468.article San Antonio (ABP) -- Frank Page was re-elected without opposition to the traditional second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the first day of the denomination's annual meeting, which also featured efforts to curb clergy sexual abuse and to prevent hiring criteria that are more restrictive than the SBC's official doctrinal statement. Page, pastor of First Baptist Church of Taylors, S.C., was elected last year on a pledge to oppose more restrictive parameters for participation in the 16 million-member denomination. Last year, the SBC's conservative leaders opposed Page's election, which they saw as a threat to the SBC's 27-year rightward shift. In his presidential message before his re-election June 12, he called for an end to "factionalism" in the denomination. Meanwhile, in the early hours of the two-day convention, messengers heard a motion to prevent SBC agency trustees from adopting policies that are more restrictive than the Baptist Faith and Message doctrinal statement approved in 2000. The motion, presented by Rick Garner of Liberty Heights Church in Liberty Township, Ohio, says the faith statement "is sufficient in its current form to guide trustees in their establishment of policies and practices of entities of the convention." If approved, the motion apparently would prevent SBC agencies from enacting more strict parameters, such as the controversial guideline that excludes missionary candidates who speak in tongues and "private prayer languages" from serving with the International Mission Board. The motion was scheduled for debate during the evening session. Another motion, offered by Oklahoma pastor Wade Burleson, asks the SBC Executive Committee to study the establishment of a national registry of "clergy and staff who have been credibly accused of, personally confessed to, or legally been convicted of sexual harassment or abuse." The motion, which follows months of revelations about sex abuse in Baptist churches, was referred to the Executive Committee for action. Another motion to distance the SBC from the "emerging church" movement, was introduced but not acted upon yet. Page was nominated for a second term by Dale Morell, pastor of Maine Street Baptist Church in Brunswick, Maine. "He's a special man, Morell said. "He's got a passion for souls, for the gospel of Jesus Christ." In his presidential address, Page challenged Baptists to lay aside factionalism and cold-hearted legalism to develop a new strategic battle plan that goes beyond doctrinal rightness to speak the truth in love to a lost world. To illustrate his message from Psalm 51:1-13, Page referred to France just prior to World War II. French leaders, particularly André Maginot, minister of war, poured enormous financial resources into a state-of-the-art defense system along the nation's eastern border, with the exception of dense forests they considered impenetrable. When war began, the German army marched through the forest and Paris fell within three weeks, Page noted. The Maginot line of defense had failed. "We [Southern Baptists] have built our own Maginot line," Page said. "We have built wonderful entities, programs, agencies and great churches, thinking we can hold off defeat of the enemy. But the enemy has outflanked us over and over." Baptists are guilty of an arrogance with which God is not pleased, he said. Page charged that instead of transforming the culture, it has transformed Southern Baptists. "We hold our battle lines against flesh and blood," he said. "Is this our only line of defense? … We are not the only game in town. … God has blessed us for a reason—not that we will become spiritually obese, but so we will be on mission for him." Satan has robbed Southern Baptists of integrity, fellowship, passion for the lost, the joy of salvation, humility, unity, relevance and a sense of godly balance, Page asserted. "We have lost much and there is more to be lost," he warned, adding the problem in the convention starts with each individual Southern Baptist. "Where's the joy God gave you when you were saved?" he asked. "You may be doctrinally right, but you sure don't look very happy about it." King David, who wrote Psalm 51, "was painfully aware of his inadequacies. … We strut while we're still sitting down," Page said. "This convention does not belong to you, and it sure does not belong to me. It is God's. … Though we have significant differences, will you take my hand, and let's work together to reach the lost for Christ?" God wants Southern Baptists to speak the truth in love, whether they blog or don't blog, Page said. "When we speak the truth without love, it leads to a cold-hearted legalism the world sees as characteristic of Christians," he warned. To regain the victory, Page urged Southern Baptists to get right with God, confess our sins, plead for forgiveness and "a spiritual heart transplant," and seek revival. "Our baptisms languish in a day when people are receptive to the gospel," he said. "… It's because we have not been right before God. … We've been fighting the wrong battles." He said the convention has returned to theological rightness. "Praise God for that, but if we do not seek the hand of God, our churches will be right but empty. … The early church was met with persecution. … We are met with a yawn."
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