Should We Change Our Name–Matt Svoboda

Here’s an interesting article by Matt Svoboda, on the global significance of the name “Southern Baptist”. In the article he raises some very good points that got me to thinking. What say you?

 

“Ilove the Southern Baptist Convention.  I am a Southern Baptist by conviction.  Theologically and missions wise I feel that the Southern Baptist Convention is the strongest.  I love the influence that the SBC has, but could our name be hurting our influence?  Could the name ‘Southern Baptist Convention‘ actually be holding our convention back?

Yes..  You might be a little surprised by my answer, but I think that it is true.  I was born in Nebraska and I talk to a lot of people from there.  I also served in Indiana for awhile and spoke with many people up there.  The church in Indiana was an American Baptist church.  They agreed that the SBC was better theologically, but thought it would be weird to be a part of the SBC when they are on the north side of the Ohio River.  I asked my friends in Nebraska if they knew of any strong SBC churches in Nebraska and they said, ‘Southern Baptist?’  They were kidding because they are well aware of the SBC, but were making a point that the SBC has little to no influence in Nebraska.  It struck me as interesting because I know that the Oklahoma Baptist Convention a very large convention within the SBC.  Yet, the SBC in Kansas and Nebraska barely exists.  Could this be because of the name?” Read more here