Baptist Evangelical Convention

There are suggestions afloat that the Southern Baptist Convention should change its name. Honestly, I don't think it's a bad idea - seeing that the convention was born out of "less than ideal" circumstances (i.e. obstinate, bigoted rejection of the abolition of slavery and the formation of the Confederacy).

So, in order to put in my two cents, I offer the following suggestion:

The Baptist Evangelical Convention

I think that it communicates a sense of cooperation (Evangelical), which is in keeping with a true "together for the gospel" mentality (not to be confused with the conference, which is organized for other reasons). Yet it retains the only distinctive that we would like to uphold - historic, Baptist identity.

Some may laugh, others scowl, but I like the name. I'm not really "jazzed" about the word convention, but there it is - a word that means "assembly" but without the associations of being in any way the church. Because the convention is not the church. Its agencies are not the church. They could all disappear and - though ministry would be more difficult and cooperation more taxing - the church would not miss a beat.

But I digress.

Let me know what you think about the name. It won't go anywhere. No one will really even care, but I thought I'd throw it out there for good measure.

Oh and, by the way, I know that the logo is completely and utterly lame. I just threw it together so that I would have an image of some kind on the page.