I read with great encouragement Joe Westbury's article "Passing the Baton." Of utmost importance in the future of the SBC, and GBC, is how the current leadership who went through the fires of the conservative resurgence hand over the reigns to a younger group who have a passion for Christ and souls, but often dress differently, think differently, and lead differently. The importance of this cannot be overestimated.

To my dismay, several letters have decried this importance, even questioning whether these young men and women of God are prepared for the leadership roles in which God will place them. Yes, they are.

During my involvement with younger leaders over the last year, I have found them to be dedicated, concerned, theologically sound, conservative, passionate and kingdom minded. Why would we not want people like this to lead? We simply cannot haphazardly allow the future of this great convention to teeter-totter into irrelevance while we debate the leadership merits of those who have already proven themselves, or slide into the morass of judgmentalism based on ministry styles and preferences.

Let those of who us who are older, lend a hand, give an encouraging word, pray fervently, but prepare to "pass the baton" to those who are ready to lead our conventions into a bright future with fresh passion, new vision and bold direction.