Rev. Adrian Rogers, 74, led Southern Baptists (RIP)

Associated Press | Nov 16, 2005 | Mulch

[Mulch]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Rev. Adrian Rogers, a three-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention and leader of a conservative takeover of the denomination, the nation's second largest, died early Tuesday in Memphis. He was 74. His death was announced by Baptist Press News and by Rogers' Love Worth Finding ministry.

Rogers was hospitalized earlier this month with pneumonia and cancer. Rogers was elected president in 1979 as part of the conservative takeover of the 16.3 million-member convention, second in size to the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. In the years that followed, conservative leaders pushed hard against abortion rights, homosexuality and female pastors. Rogers also was elected president of the SBC in 1986 and 1987.

Other notable deaths: William B. Bryant, a longtime federal judge and the first black person to serve as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, has died. He was 94. Roger D. Groot, a Washington and Lee University law professor who assisted the defense in the trial of Washington-area sniper Lee Boyd Malvo, died Saturday. He was 63. Theodore Thomas Puck, a biologist who founded the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in Denver, has died. He was 89.

[Mulch]

A great man has gone to be with the lord

[Dust in the Wind]

Amen

[texgal]

This world will be much the worse for his passing. One of the great saints has gone home to the Lord. God Bless him.

[unlearner]

"A great man has gone to be with the lord"

Agreed.

However, the "conservative takeover" and comparison with the Catholic church is inaccurate. The Southern Baptist Convention does not exert any control over its members. Local churches are autonomous. If a local Baptist church wishes to pull out they can. No takeover happened, members just stood up for what the traditional views they already believed.

[Corin Stormhands]

Heard him years ago at a Promise Keepers rally.

[jackv]

Oh I love this man. I will miss him on Sundays so very much.
God bless his family. god rest his soul.

[joesnuffy]

God gifted speaker and teacher...who will be sorely missed.

Take a listen to David Jeremiah also a God gifted speaker.

Adrian is now as fufilled as a human can ever be and in the presence of his and our lord Jesus Christ...

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" Philipians 1 : 21.

[Moby Grape]

You are right that there was "no takeover". In fact, that was a TAKE BACK from liberal/moderates who attempted to take over the Southern Baptist Convention.

A great man of the book...a great preacher....28,000 members of the church he pastored says something.

[Blessed]

>However, the "conservative takeover" and comparison with the Catholic church is inaccurate.,

You are correct about the takeover but not the comparison to the Catholic Church.The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestsnt denomination in the US and second only to the Catholics in membership.No comparison of Church governance was made.

[unlearner]

I suppose the comparison is not entirely unreasonable. But there is a big difference. SBC churches are autonomous and come and go from the convention.

I am not part of this group, but I know some SBC preachers who do not consider themselves to be part of a denomination. Some are even doing away with the "baptist" label while retaining SBC affiliation and adherence to its doctrinal positions. There are some churches that are essentially part of this group without being officially affiliated, while others may have affiliation but may be deviating from critical distinctions of SBC.

[Blessed]

>I suppose the comparison is not entirely unreasonable. But there is a big difference. SBC churches are autonomous and come and go from the convention<

I don't know of any SB that don't consider us a denomination.We have a Convention Budget of over $50 million,we have multiple seminaries,we publish our own Sunday School Literature and we commission hundreds of missionaries each year.Yes membership in the convention is voluntary but the terminology "come and go" implies a disorder that does not exist.

Yes some churches have removed Baptist from their name in attempt to identify with the mega church movement and to give themselves a broader appeal in the marketplace.

[unlearner]

I'm sure most people go along with the label of "denomination" and I do not personally object. However, I am not in a church that has SBC membership (even though I agree with most of their doctrine) so my opinion about whether to accept the denomination label doesn't count.

A hierarchal church structure is unbiblical. Some church leaders know this and therefore feel it is important to justify their membership in the SBC. I think that membership is a good thing because it allows things like you said, cooperation between churches to accomplish large tasks. Yet, the autonomy of each local church is a crucial distinction between SBC and many other "denominations".

I pointed this out because there really is only one true church. It is neither Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, or any other denomination. It is the spiritual body of Christ united by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The scripture warns against making divisions in the body. Some feel that a denomination is such a division. My opinion is that it can be, but in the sense that SBC practices, I do not think it is an unscriptural division. That is the issue that some church leaders address when discussing denominations.

It is a danger when members of any particular local church choose to break fellowship with other believers solely on the basis of their not being a member of their denomination.

I am thankful for my SBC brothers and sisters, and especially for great spiritual leaders like Adrian Rogers.

[Jewish Child]

I am so saddened about the passing of such a wonderful teacher of the word of God.. And my prayers go out to the Family of Pastor Adrian Rogers. I will be glad when it's my time to be where he is, In the love and light of the Lord.
You will be greatly missed Partoe Rogers.