Posted on 06/16/2006 2:03:38 PM PDT by neverdem
Sometimes very important elections receive very little attention.
When the Southern Baptist Convention elected the Rev. Frank Page as the group's president at its meeting this week in Greensboro, N.C., the news appeared on the back pages of most secular newspapers -- or it didn't appear at all.
But Page's upset victory could be very significant, both to the nation's religious life and to politics. He defeated candidates supported by the convention's staunchly conservative establishment, which has dominated the organization since the mid-1980s. His triumph is one of many signs that new breezes are blowing through the broader evangelical Christian world.
No, this is not some liberal victory. Indeed, the Baptist Press reported that Page went out of his way to tell reporters that he was not elected "to somehow undo the conservative resurgence" in the convention. But he also signaled that the spirit he hopes to embody is quite different from that of the angry, right-wing, politicized preacher who has been a stock figure in American life for more than two decades.
"I believe in the word of God," Page said. "I'm just not mad about it."
The mellowing of evangelical Christianity may well be the big American religious story of this decade. The evolution of the evangelical movement should not be confused with the rise of a religious left. Although the margin of the Republican Party's advantage among white evangelicals is likely to decline from its exceptionally high level in...
--snip--
In the meantime, Rich Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals (and a self-described "Ronald Reagan movement conservative"), has been a leader in urging evangelicals to make environmental stewardship a central element of their political mission. This has earned him attacks from such prominent leaders on the Christian right as James Dobson.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
All the real environmental stewards I have ever known are conservative. The nutbags that claim they are are just a bunch of pathetic commies.
At that rate of growth, there won't be any Baptists, or Moslems, or Roman Catholics a century from now.
"The evolution of the evangelical movement"
They're no doubt thrilled with their own cleverness, working "evolution" into a description of evangelicals. Too bad they don't practice what they preach at the Washington Post, themselves. They haven't evolved one iota. They're still unreconstructed leftists, trying their best to undermine religion and the religious in western society. Tedious bunch of scribblers.
According to the loon, E. J. Dionne, Jr. who wants you to believe that he is not 'biased'.
I'd sure like an explanation of the comment. Even if it is "out of context", it's a bit bizarre.
I think it is a safe bet that, in any case, Mr. Dionne will continue to foment his cartoon-ish stereotype of preachers.
Page, who was accused of being more moderate than the other candidates, said he remains a strong conservative who believes in the inerrancy — or literal truth of the Bible. But, he said, he believes Southern Baptist leaders should retain a “sweet spirit” in their beliefs and practices.
“I do not believe the convention elected me to undo the conservative resurgence,” he said.
“I’m an inerrantist. I believe in the word of God. But I’m not mad about it.”
http://tinyurl.com/emr6s
((((ping))))
As long as he doesn't interpret the Word of God any which way he wants, he should be fine.
I wouldn't worry about the Catholic church disappearing anytime in the next few centuries.
I don't expect very many to vote for the dems, but some could go third party or not vote.
Will they all now become "seeker friendly"?
If it ain't broke don't fix it should have been the motto of the elections. Ah, but the people in their arrogance get restless.
"But the evangelical political agenda is broadening as new voices insist on the urgency of issues such as Third World poverty and the fights against AIDS and human trafficking. Among the most prominent advocates for a wider view of Christian obligation is Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of "The Purpose Driven Life."
Geez, here we go...Global Peace Plan...etc. This is the same group that just signed that ad about "torture". Liberal flakes trying to appear as Christians.
No, I think it is in context. Read more of Page's comments. Besides, he had to have something to run against.
If the Baptist start going soft on the word of God, I am going to get really worried. However, I don't think that is going to happen.
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