Atlanta-area megachurch pastor wins on first ballot.
Johnny Hunt, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., has been elected the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
It's not a huge surprise: he's a megachurch pastor with a lot of support among the SBC leadership. It is a bit of a surprise that he won by so much. With 3,100 votes, he had more than twice as many as the next candidate, fellow Atlanta-area megachurch pastor Frank Cox of North Metro Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga. With six candidates for the position -- the most since 1979, when the conservative resurgence in the denomination began -- many expected the vote to go to a runoff .
What does Hunt's presidency mean for the SBC? So far, it's hard to tell, though I'm sure the Baptist bloggers will be full of analysis tonight. Hunt's main emphases were preaching and missions (he was particularly vocal about finding new ways of funding missions). But his stances on controversies within the denominations may have had an effect as well.
It's clear that Hunt is no fan of the growing Calvinist movement within the Southern Baptist Convention. He's hosting a major conference to refute Calvinism at his church in November. But most of the candidates were not friendly to Calvinism, and Hunt has given indications that he's not out to purge the denomination of Reformed influences.
"I am not overwhelmingly concerned about Calvinism," Hunt told Baptist Press two weeks ago. "I am concerned about hyper-Calvinism, simply being defined as those that take election to the point that they feel that the Gospel should not even be shared with the whole world. ... I trust that Calvinists, and those who love Jesus of other persuasions, would come together for the common cause of making Jesus Christ known to the nations. There is plenty of room for all of us in this Baptist family."
It's worth noting that Frank Page, the current SBC president was also highly critical of Calvinism (even writing a book titled Trouble with the Tulip) but had an irenic spirit that won him support among Calvinists and Arminians alike.
Things may have gone quite differently had Al Mohler, the Calvinist president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, stayed in the race (he suffered health complications).
Hunt was actually a leading candidate during the last SBC presidential election, but dropped out a month before the vote.
Hunt might be considered a moderate (though that word is awfully complicated in the SBC context) on one of the denomination's biggest controversies: the International Missions Board's guidelines forbidding missionaries from using private prayer languages, and requiring them to have been baptized in a specific way. Hunt told Baptist Press:
I am not sure that I fully understand all that the IMB trustee guidelines have said, however, if a person has received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, and has been baptized by a minister who embraces the Gospel and the Scriptures as we do, their baptism should count in our churches. If James Dobson desired to become part of First Baptist Church Woodstock, I would not require him to be re-baptized.
Concerning the private prayer language: If, indeed, it is private, it seems as though we really don't have an issue to deal with. When a person chooses to become more Pentecostal in their convictions and beliefs, our concern then becomes that of what they are relating to the people on the field. That should call for proper action.
That's an answer that's unlikely to please either of the two major sides in the debate, but it's an answer that's also unlikely to make either to see him as a crusader for the opposition.
Baptist blogger Nathan Finn publicly supported Hunt before the election, and his lengthy blog post last month serves nicely to summarize the main concerns people had about a Hunt presidency, and how Hunt supporters answered.
| Share this: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Posted by Ted Olsen on June 10, 2008 2:59PM
Comments
This is the best news that could off come from this gathering. Pastor Johnny Hunt with the help of God will unify and lead Christians of all denominations yo a closer relationship with Christ.
God Bless Pastor Johnny Hunt
Posted by: J.C.Viger at June 11, 2008
Pastor Johnny Hunt's philosophy is as close to Billy Grahms' as one can get! He believes in the Authenticity of the Bible and that ANYONE can become a Born Again Believer, no matter WHAT their background, or what they have done in their past.
Yes, he's conservative, but so was JESUS. Jesus did not make excuses for peoples actions. He forgave them, but told them to "Sin No More".
And as far as MISSIONS are concerned, Jesus said "Go out unto ALL the Nations", that is the SAME Belief that Dr. Hunt has.
He is a GREAT Choice and will bring us back to our BIBLICAL Roots. The WORLD Changes, Christ and the Bible do NOT!
Posted by: Harold Schulz at June 11, 2008
I notice that in the above paragraph you say: "Yes, he's a conservative, but so was JESUS" I completely disagree. Jesus was a radical, that's what got him crucified.
Thurston Doler,
Corvallis, Oregon, 97330
Posted by: Thurston Doleer at June 11, 2008
For his time, Jesus was actually a radical liberal.
Posted by: Patricia at June 12, 2008
Pastor Hunt loves Jesus - to that there is no doubt.... however - on the reformed issue he is overly biased and has a hatred for it. As a member of FBCW you would be amazed at the reformed bashing folks that have stood in his pulpit by his invitation and slammed our Baptist heritage and history - Their main tactic is mis-defining the terms.
Sincerely
Posted by: Staff Member at June 12, 2008
Pastor Johnny Hunt is an incredible Man of God. He was our Pastor and Mentor for years before we were called away from FBCW into Full-time Ministry ourselves. No matter what, he has always blessed us with encouragement and time when we needed him and got discouraged along the way. He is one of the greatest examples of Christ-like integrity on this earth. He loves Jesus & serves like Him whole-heartedly, loves people and tirelessly invests in them, and is faithful to the Word of God always! I have no doubt that he will be one of the most influential and greatest Presidents the SBC has ever known. Our sincere prayers are with you, Pastor Johnny- We love you!
Posted by: Rachel Hutchings at June 12, 2008
Jesus didn't "get Himself crucified" because He was a radical. He gave himself to be crucified because He so loved the world.
The semantics of words do nothing to unify a people. Today's radicals by nature become tomorrow's conservatives, holding on to the reforms they established.
Since Jesus brought the changes to this world that held on to His eternal purpose, His radical ways established the conservative will of the Father. Conservatism today is holding on to what Jesus taught and what God ordained.
In my humble opinion, mankind's desire to pervert the message of the scriptures by limiting the power of God to save all mankind is anathema to God.
God Bless you Johnny Hunt. You have been an inspiration to me. Surely the Hand of God is on you.
Posted by: Billy Bain at June 13, 2008
"He gave himself to be crucified because He so loved the world."
OK, Billy, looks like you believe that the religious leaders got together and said "This guy Jesus sure loves the world too much, we've got to kill him!".
Not that there's anything wrong with this, but with all due respect it sounds like kindergarten theology, and I don't believe you are in kindergarten.
Posted by: Ernie at June 13, 2008
Let's worship Jesus, not conservatism.
Posted by: Cathy at June 13, 2008
I was basing my commentson what Jesus said in John 10:17 - 18:
17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Now if you don't believe in the scriptures, that's one thing but if you are a Christian and do believe in the scriptures, then I'm not sure why you chose to backhandedly insult me.
Certainly God used what He knew, in His omniscience, would happen. I believe if Jesus had wanted to walk away from the Jewish leaders and indeed, from the Roman executioners, He could have. God is God and Jesus is God and the creation has NO power over the Creator.
It's not really a matter of conservatism. It's really a matter of believing what God said.
Bless you.
Posted by: Billy Bain at June 13, 2008
What does Pastor Hunt means when he says, "proper action"?
The full quote is as follows:
"When a person chooses to become more Pentecostal in their convictions and beliefs, our concern then becomes that of what they are relating to the people on the field. That should call for proper action."
Posted by: Pastor Art at June 13, 2008
I think what he means is, when Southern Baptist Missionaries begin relating doctrines that are not Southern Baptist Doctrines, to people on the field, then they should no longer be employed by the IMB.
Posted by: Billy Bain at June 14, 2008
I don't think a lot of Southern Baptist care what the truth is just what they have been told it is......in regard to doctrine. By the way what version of SBC doctrine and just where would I find it written down in the detail some claim it is.
.
Posted by: David Pate at June 16, 2008
You're right, David. As an SBC pastor, I'm so naive to believe the most important truth is that spoken (told) by God.
Your comment seems to carry some prejudicial tone toward Southern Baptists that I was surprised to see.
By the way, the final statement on any collective SBC doctrine is the Baptist Faith & Message, 2000, which can be found at sbc.net
(I guess, though, you'll be surprised to learn that we do know how to write).
Posted by: Tracy Ivester at June 17, 2008
I've heard great things about Dr. Hunt from professors in seminary and as a former missionary, I'm pleased that such mission-minded man will be president. I look forward to seeing what his leadership will bring about for the IMB. I must say that I am surprised at his taking action to battle Calvinism with that conference. I agree with his stance against hyper-Calvinism but I'd like to see him spend a few years on the mission field and he'll find missionaries who are warm-hearted, big-hearted, gospel-carrying Calvinists. Anyway, I hope this Calvinism issue doesn't become an issue to split the denomination -- or worse, used as a barrier to prevent Calvinists to be appointed by the IMB.
Posted by: Seminary Student at June 19, 2008
I truly believe that pastor Johnny will do an awesome job as president of the SBC. He is a man of the word, and he is a man of integrity. Pastor Johnny doesn't have anything wrong with the calvinist individual, but the teaching of Calvinism itself. Also, what he says concerning the private prayer language, God is still God, and the bible says that we as believers have been given this gift to commune, pray, and praise in a private tongue also with understanding. I don't agree with everything Pastor Johnny may believe, but I do believe the word of God, and I believe that God has chosen a good man for the job of President of the SBC.
Posted by: jonathan at July 10, 2008
I was on Johnny Hunts staff at FBCW until it was made known that I was gay. I was then fired, and then banished. I was offered counseling, but then my appointments kept getting cancelled. That was 2 years ago, and I have yet to receive a phone call or email from Pastor Johnny (whils I was on staff there for 7 years, Pastor Johnny always told me how much he loved me, bought me gifts, etc. then after I got fired, nothing). So say what you will about his leadership to the SBC. People will be loved by them, as long as he doesn't know about your personal life.
Posted by: Tony at August 22, 2008
You can listen to a new interview we did with Johnny now at our website (urbanglory.org). We asked him specifically about the role of the Calvinism debates in the SBC and he had an interesting answer.
Posted by: Bradley Cochran at January 9, 2009
My contention is, if the Calvinists want to be part of a "convention", then let them form their own. Are the rest of us "guilty by association"? I think so, and my church will not stay in the SBC much longer because we're afraid of being associated with Calvinists. Form your own convention, and let the rest of the churches alone.
Posted by: Dale at February 7, 2009
I have a great respect for this man! He flat out walks the walk.
I pray he stays close & clean.
Jeff Sullivan
Posted by: Jeff at February 14, 2009
Post a comment