There's nothing like an annual state convention meeting to stir up Baptists! The Tennessee Baptist Convention met in annual session in Memphis, Tennessee. Insofar as I can discern, the messengers spent most of the time debating and settling a handful of matters.

They voted to affirm belief in the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, effectively declaring it to be the required creed for any who wish to participate in TBC volunteer or paid leadership roles. All nominees for convention committees and boards will now be asked directly whether they hold such a belief. Obviously, a negative or even a nuanced answer will disqualify one from service.

The messengers also approved a budget of about 37 million dollars. Debate ensued as they wrestled with how to pay the legal costs associated with the convention's lawsuit against Belmont University. One version of the budget took most of the money from the other educational institutions, another spread the pain around. Either way, nearly three quarters of a million dollars of Cooperative Program gifts were diverted from mission and ministry work.

Few reports noted the messengers also passed a revision of the process for trustee selection. The revised process enhances the power of the state's nominating committee at the expense of the role of the heads of the institutions. Under the new arrangement, the nominating committee effectively has the final word on who may be nominated to serve as a trustee.  Coupled with the actions taken with regard to the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, the decision represents further consolidation of fundamentalist control of the TBC.

In short, the TBC continues to narrow opportunities for meaningful participation by all Tennessee Baptists. I remember better days when nearly all of us felt we were welcome in TBC life. Sadly, those days are gone.