Why I haven't signed the declaration (that I agree with)

I am a firm believer in the Great Commission and anything or anyone that promotes and practices it. In recent days, we have been introduced to the Great Commission Resurgence declaration by Johnny Hunt, our Convention president – a document that I think rightly challenges us and charges us to passionately pursue what Baptists have long said they passionately believe.

I have watched and listened with great interest to those who have written it, those who have signed it, and those who have not. I have prayerfully sought wisdom from God and what I believe wise council from people that I trust, men whom I esteem and believe to be of good godly character.

Mainly, I’ve not signed for what it has become in latter days rather than what it was intended to be in the beginning. I’ve known Johnny Hunt personally for 15 years and never have I doubted his passion for the Kingdom of Christ. I’ve served with him nationally and internationally and always left him feeling I was a better man and pastor because of his influence and investment in my life.

I believe with all my heart his purpose for presenting this document was to revitalize and refocus our Convention on its mission and message, to restore the rally cry of evangelism and missions in a way that would honor those who have gone before us, and engage and energize this generation of Southern Baptists. For those of you who think I am blinded by my personal relationship with Dr. Hunt, I would tell you that I voted for Frank Cox.

I recently spent a week in Argentina with Dr. Hunt and several others, not once did he ask me if I had signed the declaration, nor did he ever attempt to ask me to sign it.

Because of Article IX, some in our convention have tried to devalue the document and make this more about the personalities behind the declaration than the purpose of the declaration. Much like the dysfunctional church at Corinth with people being linked with Paul or Apollos, some in our convention have said you are with Johnny or Morris. Dr. Hunt has never made signing the declaration a test of friendship or fellowship but I get the impression that there are those who think a signature to the document is taking a side in a political debate.

Why should our denomination be threatened by a call of examination and evaluation in order to insure that the resources of the Cooperative Program are being used to their maximum potential? Why is the idea of restructuring, if necessary, so threatening? Article IX, as it exists, does not cause me any concern; what does cause concern is the response of our denominational leadership to it.

I come from Midville, Georgia, a small town in the southeastern part of our state. When my wife Stacey and I were talking about moving to Vidalia, I reminded her of the “glass house” that pastors live in while pastoring in small communities. I’ll never forget her response: “What do we have to hide?”

I am proud to be a Georgia Baptist, because there is a heart to do what must be done, in order to constantly do what we have been called to do, the Great Commission. In recent weeks, Dr. Robert White has had to make some tough decisions in order to keep Georgia Baptists positioned to effectively and efficiently do the work of the Great Commission.

He has had to release staff and restructure departments while seeking to optimize all the resources of the convention. He has asked that I form a committee to examine and evaluate the ministries of our convention to see if we can operate even more effectively and efficiently. Again, this will happen because of Dr. White’s invitation.

I believe Johnny Hunt’s motives to be honorable and well-intended and to that end, I support the Great Commission Resurgence. I have not signed it because of the polarization and politicizing that has resulted from some who have and have not signed it. I will support it with my presence in Louisville. I will support it by promoting it within our convention. I will support it by my public proclamation.

Not everyone who fought for independence signed the Declaration of Independence, but they fought, and many died for the cause represented in that document. They signed it every time they went into battle. They signed it every time they cared for the wounded. They signed it every time they buried a loved one. They signed when they died fighting for a cause greater than themselves.

Bucky Kennedy is pastor of First Baptist Church in Vidalia and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention.