in what the tennessean is reporting and the associated baptist press, bloggers had a great influence over the recent president elections at the southern baptist election. this happened when jerry sutton pastor of two rivers lost the election to frank page pastor of first baptist in taylors, sc. it's a turn from the conservative leadership to a moderate voice. wade burleson, who is credited as a prominate blogging voice, had a bit of a story that i thought highlighted how bloggers can shape the movements of the church.
I saw Dr. Page in the hall. I greeted him saying, "Hello Mr. President." He smiled and reminded me that I was the first one to call him several weeks earlier when he and I talked on the phone about him running for President of the SBC. We had a good conversation and I reminded Dr. Page of his pledge not to exclude from service godly, conservative Southern Baptists who affirm the Baptist Faith and Message, but yet differ in areas of doctrinal interpretions not addressed by the BF&M.
Frank graciously reiterated that pledge and then said he was looking to open up the appointments to people throughout the SBC that had a sweet spirit, a commitment to inerrancy, and a willingness to serve. He said he would not recycle appointments.
When Frank's election was announced I was walking around the arena and just happened to be stopped by a reporter in the undergound hallway. He wanted my reaction. Soon other reporters stopped and by the time all was said and done probably over 25 media persons from around the nation stood four deep and asked questions for forty minutes. One of the questions that kept being repeated over and over again is whether or not I believed blogs played a role in this election. I said, "Absolutely." Baptist bloggers in 2006 may well go down in history as the first time bloggers actually determined the outcome of a national religious/political election.
Why? When all three candidates were being nominated my wife leaned over to me and said, "I feel like I know all three men because of the blogs."
