Could the term "Southern Baptist" be a thing of the past for some churches? It is possible.
Southern Baptist Convention leaders endorsed an optional name change.
How does the name Great Commission Baptist sound? This week, the executive board of the Southern Baptist convention approved having a vote at the National convention regarding the additional name.
Southern Baptist churches could have a chance to change their name soon.
"The recommendation is that the name not be changed, but that a clarifier phrase be added of 'Great Commission Baptist church," said Tom Hocutt with the Mallory Baptist Association.
The argument from some members of the Baptist Church is that the term 'southern' could exclude some people and become a barrier to spreading the word. Tom Hocutt works for the Mallary Baptist Association. He has previously been a pastor outside of the South.
"Having pastored in Montana for over 12 year back in the 70's, I would be trained to reach people," said Hocutt. "They would say well, we are not Southerners. So, we can't be a member of a Southern Baptist Church."
The argument to change the name to avoid excluding people is one that has gone on for over a hundred years.
"The Southern Baptist convention was formed in 1845," said Hocutt. "As early as 1903, there was a move to change the name even then. And it's come up periodically since that time."
Last summer, a team was put together to study a possible name change. More than 500 ideas were submitted. The name the task force chose comes from the end of the book of Matthew.
"We are people that want to fulfill the Great Commission, which is in Matthew 28: 19-20 where Jesus said we are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and so forth," said Hocutt.
The next step will be a vote at the National Convention in New Orleans this summer.
That vote will simply determine if Southern Baptist churches have the option to choose Southern Baptist or Great Commission Baptist. Even if it passes, every individual church could choose which one they wanted to use.
Southern Baptist and Great Commission Baptist churches would still be affiliated together under the Southern Baptist Convention.
