In yesterday’s post I began introducing my thoughts on the announcement that SBC President, Bryant Wright, appointed a task force to seriously study the possibility of a name change to our convention.

In this series of blog posts I am challenging my fellow Southern Baptists to pause for a moment to consider the really important questions that need to be answered in this study. The first question was whether or not a name change will help us further our missional vision. Here is the second question.

Question #2: Will a name change bring clarity about who we are and what we are doing across the world?

This is also a very important question that has to be answered honestly and forthrightly. This convention is very complex and is in need of clarity. How can you bring clarity in a convention that is comprised of 45,000 plus churches, 12 SBC national entities, 42 unique state conventions and 1,200 unique associations?

Without a strong missional vision that receives our upmost priority and a name that reflects who we are and the vision of who we want to become, clarity will be impossible to achieve.

As a convention of churches, our missional vision is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.

Does our name “Southern Baptist Convention” represent properly who we are presently? Yes or no? You have to decide that personally, but this study committee has to answer this difficult question.

I believe any one of us that answers this question seriously and objectively has to admit that we are no longer just a “Southern” Baptist Convention regionally. We are all over America and the world. While our present name represents so many wonderful and great things in this world and has served our past well, is it the best name that represents who we are today and who we want to become in the future?

I think the only debate that will be on the table will be regarding the words, “Southern” and “Convention”. But mainly the word, “Southern”. Why? It is simple and stated already: we are no longer just a convention of churches that are located regionally.

As a Great Commission people, we are not backing up in history, but forging new paths penetrating and pushing back on the extreme lostness of our nation and world. This I know we can agree upon.

Whether it is in New York City or Los Angeles or Great Falls or Tallahassee or Birmingham or Austin, or even in Tokyo or Jerusalem or London or Mumbai or Beijing, it needs to be clear about who we are and what we are doing across the world.

Yes, a serious study about a name change is needed. This is another reason why I encourage pastors and church leaders to read Our Last Great Hope. It will reshape their conversations with a greater emphasis on the church’s missional vision. It will help the reader answer these questions personally as well as in their church.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd
Author of newly released book, Our Last Great Hope