The Denomination Formerly Known as the Southern Baptist Convention

Last week, Bryant Wright, President of the Southern Baptist Convention announced the formation of a task force to study the possibility of a name change to the largest Protestant denomination with an estimated 16 million members. The reaction by many has been less than favorable, while key leaders within the denomination have noted the negative associations with the word "southern" as evidence of the need for a change in name.

I would readily agree with the negative connotations but I also feel like there are other things more pressing for the sake of the Kingdom than the name of our denomination. I will borrow from a colleague who said it will be like how we try to tell people that an event is in our Multi-purpose room, which works fine for new comers, but it is also the old fellowship hall. The dilemma is that we have to double announce that an event is going to be Tuesday at 6pm in the multi-purpose room, the old fellowship hall, in order to get people to realize where the event will be.

Or perhaps it will be like the pop music star of the 80s and 90s...you know the one who sang Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, and others...he used to go by Prince but then he changed his name to The Artist formerly known as Prince. Unfortunately, I think that this may happen with our denomination. Whatever we change the name to, as well intentioned as it may be, we will become the denomination formerly known as the SBC.