Beauty and the Beast Series–Part 1

Hariette Petersen(much better known as SelahV in the blogosphere) is a Southern Baptist minister’s wife from Lawton, Oklahoma. She is an accomplished freelance writer, with works published since 1982 in Decision Magazine, Home Life, Living with Children, Living With Teenagers, Sunshine Magazine, Upper Room, Daily Meditation, The Western Recorder, Dayspring Greeting Cards, The Crier, and others. She also published and edited a conservative Christian newspaper in Owensboro, Kentucky. SelahV has been a Southern Baptist since age seven. Her “life verses” are Proverbs 3:5-6 and Galatians 2:20. She has been blogging at “SelahV Today” since August 2006. Her hobbies include decorating, gardening, and anything that includes her seven grandchildren!

Today we begin a four part series between Mrs. Hariette Petersen and myself as we think out loud about the SBC Presidency. You will find Mrs. Petersen over at SBC Impact where she is responsible for their devotional page and also an occasional contributor. Her personal blog Selah V Today is one of devotional thought and theological insight. I will interact with Sister Hariette in a follow-up article that will be published here a couple of days after her article. Feel free to give us your insight and thoughts concerning the presidency. As you can tell we have been very careful to stay away from personalities. We ask that those who comment here be very careful not to call names and attack personalities. So far there are three announced candidates for the Presidency: Dr. Frank Cox, Rev. Wiley Drake, and Dr. Bill Wagner.

Enjoy the series.

This is the first of a four-part series on what I consider “Critical Criteria Characteristics for the SBC Presidency”.

I’ve been reading news reports and blog opinions regarding nominees for the position of convention president. I’ve perused the comment streams. I don’t know these nominees, but I do know what I think are characteristics of an individual who would encourage me to lift my ballot in the air and which would cause me to keep my ballot in my lap.

If I were to be in Indianapolis in June for the Southern Baptist Convention and had the privilege to vote for a nominated man of God to lead the SBC, I have certain things that would aid me in my decision.

I have stated before on some of my blogs that an opinion only has the power another person receiving it allows. If it is palatable to you, please remember, it might be because you own some of the same properties within your own viewpoint that makes mine appetizing at the least, and edible at the most. For some it may not even warrant a smell, let alone a taste.

That said, there are some characteristics which clearly define. to me, what can and cannot be part of the character, lifestyle, or allegiances of my choice for SBC President.

Firstly, I think this man must be above reproach. History is important.

I would vote for a nominee whose persona is filled with a history of producing unity, by either word, deed, or interaction with others within his church, his association, his state or the SBC. I’d think very highly of someone who encourages the same in the lives of other Southern Baptists. A history plagued with negativity immediately causes the hair to rise on the back of my neck in protective awareness.

My opinion is based solely upon my view of what I see in the fruit of a nominee’s own words. What that nominee’s words provoke, stir up, and produce in other Southern Baptists is germane. What he stimulates and produces in me is germane. Anything I find detrimental to producing harmony or love for one another would be suspect to future fissures and fractures. Rhetoric–no matter how carefully worded that subliminally orchestrates a symphony playing the tune of Wherever I Lead, You Must Go, will eliminate any possibility of seeing my ballot wave in the air.

He must love the brethren. Any nominee who has a history of pitting one group against another group, or one brother or sister against another brother or sister (either publicly, privately, written or unwritten, documented, or in a court of law) violates (in my opinion) one of the tenets of love which I hold dear from 1 Corinthians 13:5. “It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].”

He must be verifiably trustworthy–a man who can keep confidences. His previous actions should emulate a man who seeks to do no harm and builds upon the strengths of others. If a nominee is a man of discretion, he will be discreet in how he handles situations which could breach confidentiality. Does his history exemplify discretion? If not, should I believe history will repeat itself?

He must respect the Convention and her mission. If a nominee fails to respect the procedures and guidelines already set in place within the convention, could I trust him to work within the parameters of his elected position as President? Could I expect him to cooperate with the multitude of personalities, pastors, churches and entities within our beloved convention? If a nominee is in continual conflict with his colleagues, could I trust his ability to choose, guide and lead yoke-men and women to cooperate in all entities within our diverse convention?

I would like to know a bit about his history in working with other Southern Baptists in other leadership positions. Did he cooperate or instigate? Did he build consensus or divide to conquer? Did he stay the course or change it with little regard to others?

This is a lot to consider in all the nominees set before us thus far. “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken…Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” selahV