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Fall 2009 | Volume 68, No. 1
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D.Min. Students Hear from GCR Task Force Leaders
by Keith Collier
More than 40 students and pastors in a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) seminar at Southwestern participated in a panel discussion, July 6, concerning the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force, which was appointed by SBC president Johnny Hunt at the annual meeting in June; its role as a continuation of the Conservative Resurgence; and how Southern Baptists can be involved.
Panel members included Ronnie Floyd, GCR Task Force chairman, an alumnus of Southwestern, and pastor of First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark.; Al Mohler, GCR Task Force member and Southern Seminary president; Nathan Lino, an IMB trustee and pastor of Northeast Houston Baptist Church; and David Allen, dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern. Floyd and Mohler participated via telephone.
Reflecting on the approval of the task force, Floyd said, “I believe that day was one of the great days in my life as a Southern Baptist pastor … because I saw a denomination really rally around the cry of the Great Commission.”
When asked what church leaders could do to help, Floyd called on pastors to inform their congregations that the SBC is doing an in-depth study to get more resources toward fulfilling the Great Commission. He said the assignment the task force has been given cannot be accomplished without God’s help.
“My goal is to try to get 5,000 Southern Baptist Christians to walk alongside us in this with prayer,” he said. The Web site www.pray4gcr.com was launched in August to promote this prayer emphasis.
Mohler said involvement in the SBC by younger pastors is an issue of stewardship and cooperating to accomplish something greater than themselves. He expressed gratitude for the leaders of the Conservative Resurgence and excitement about the “new generation rising to responsibility in the SBC.”
“This is the generation produced by the Conservative Resurgence,” Mohler said. “Without the Conservative Resurgence, we would have no hope of seeing a generation of those who are now on our seminary campuses, young men who are now planting churches, younger pastors who really are rising to the moment of denominational leadership. I think it comes as we understand that we have inherited patterns for which we are grateful, in terms of the stewardship of the mission entrusted to the SBC, but even more pressing questions about what kinds of structures, processes, and all will really fit a missional approach to the 21st century.”
When asked if the IMB needs a Great Commission Resurgence, Lino replied, “Absolutely. I think a lot of this GCR groundswell has come out of a need at the IMB.”
He explained the $30 million shortfall in the 2008 Lottie Moon offering, resulting in suspension of critical missionary endeavors and cutbacks on missionary appointments. Because of the shortfall, the IMB only has the funds to appoint 200 missionaries to the mission field in 2009, and as of May, 191 had been appointed.
“We have missionaries right now who are fully trained, appointed, ready to go, that we cannot send to the field, and we have people who are dying and going to hell over this,” Lino said.
Allen expressed both excitement and concern over the GCR document, mentioning questions about the scope of article nine in the document and the extent of the phrase “methodological diversity.” Regardless, he signed the online document.
“A Great Commission Resurgence, if it is done biblically, is exactly what we need,” Allen said. “So, from that standpoint, I am optimistic about where it could go and what could happen. Cautious but optimistic would be my way of viewing the document and why I’m supporting it. “
Allen said he is excited about those who have been appointed to the task force, and Southwestern is proud to have Southwestern graduates serving on it. Of the 22 members appointed, 11 attended Southwestern.
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