Tonight, NAMB trustees are apparently scheduled to vote on Dr. Frank Page as Vice-President for Evangelism at the North American Mission Board, sources indicate. If correct, this vote surely takes many Southern Baptists by surprise.
Experience usually dictates the President of an organization should be deeply involved in the selection of VPs--if not the exclusive voice initially--since, in the proverbial chain of authority, VPs report directly to the President. With this purported move by the trustees, however, a Vice President is deemed more significant to the health of the organization than the President.
Strange.
Not that the trustees are necessarily making a mistake. Frank Page may be just what the doctor ordered for the ailing body at NAMB.
Nor is Dr. Page an incapable candidate mind you.
Not in the least.
Page's significant pastoral experience, stellar record of CP giving, and his service to all Southern Baptists as President of the Southern Baptist Convention catch the gaze of anyone charged with eyeing resumes for particular positions.
On the other hand, the curiosity which has killed so many cats gnaws at the backside of my britches. As they say, 'What's up with that?'
Let's just speculate a moment. Had NAMB tapped Page as President, I'd not thought a thing about it.
Again, not in the least.
As it is, Dr. Page's resume qualifies him--especially his two terms as president of the SBC--for a slightly higher pay-grade, does it not? From one vantage point, I suppose one could say Page is making the classic 'lateral' move.
Now before some get in a tizzy, let me finish, please.
'Lateral' does not necessarily mean 'loser.' A 'lateral' move may be the will of God every bit as much as any other place of service in God's Kingdom. For Page, if VP is God's call for him, 'lateral' or not, he does not lose. Neither we we.
There is another side to the speculation on my part.
While Frank Page--even as Vice President for Evangelism--may very well be the perfect medicine for an ailing NAMB organization, he may also be a planned maneuver possibly initiated by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, setting in motion the strategic dis-assembly of the North American Mission Board as we presently know.
Personally, I have not talked to a single, informed individual who believes NAMB will escape the knife of GCR.
None.
If they are correct--and I think they are--Dr. Page, if elected by trustees, may be the first indication of a missional re-structure for the SBC to be proposed by the GCRTF. In the new structural scheme, Dr. Page would not be a VP.
Instead, he'd be Executive Director** of NAM **(North American Missions). NAM would a subsidiary of GMN** (Global Missional Network) which would oversee missional projects worldwide.
And, in place of a President of IMB (absorbed into the GMN), Southern Baptists would have their very first missional Czar* as point man over all CP missions.
I'm wondering out loud whether Dr. Hunt or Dr. Akin will become the first missional Czar. Anybody want to take a guess?
I told you the curiosity that killed kitty is killing me. Or at least has created a non-stop flow of speculation...
Here's what's not speculation on my part: Structural change is precisely what the GCR is about, brothers and sisters...the very thing so strangely but emphatically denied.
Now, perhaps Southern Baptists need to structurally change.
Fine.
Then say so.
Cloaking agendas with exploited words from the Lord Jesus in the Great Commission is not my idea of a suitable catalyst for change.
With that, I am...
Peter
* "Czar" is not original with me but a dear brother's term he used as we discussed SBC matters. He shall remain anonymous unless he logs on and fesses' up...
** Obviously, these are meant as approximate titles
Brother,
Whether he helps an ailing NAMB or helps to merge it with IMB, either action would be a definite improvement. NAMB's reputation has been severely damaged over the past decade and a lot of small churches have a low view of it. Something does need to happen. The age-old competition between NAMB and state conventions also needs to be reassessed. With the lack of CP funds rising, merging or realigning one's priorities would be refreshing actions.
Since he is a peacemaker, it might work.
GABaptist
Posted by: gabaptist | 2009.10.06 at 05:11 PM
Peter,
It seems that such a scenario only adds another level of bureaucracy adding further to the bloating. I thought Frank Page would've made a great NAMB president.
Tim B
Posted by: Tim B | 2009.10.06 at 09:35 PM
Peter,
Dr. Akin had addressed "Myth #1" on the blog Between the Times. I have asked Dr. Akin to address your speculation, hopefully he will shed more light on these issues.
Posted by: joe white | 2009.10.07 at 02:33 PM
Peter,
Dr. Akin has addressed "Myth #1" on the blog Between the Times. I have asked Dr. Akin to address your speculation, hopefully he will shed more light on these issues.
Posted by: joe white | 2009.10.07 at 02:34 PM
Joe,
Thanks for logging on. "Myth 1" is not something I've addressed openly (yet). Or, have I? At least, I don't recall. I do have a response to "Myth 1" but I'm holding out for a more appropriate time.
As for cloaked language, I'm all ears anxiously awaiting Dr. Akin's response.
Thanks again, Joe.
With that, I am...
Peter
Posted by: peter lumpkins | 2009.10.07 at 03:59 PM
Peter,
Major props, my man. You were right on about Frank Page. Good sources.
Les
Posted by: Les Puryear | 2009.10.07 at 04:24 PM
I'm not "prophet nor the son of a prophet," but I think we are watching the move of megachurch pastors to capture the Convention. They will no doubt be successful and the result for the Program will be failure. All of this is being carefully orchestrated by egos the size of mountains.
Posted by: Matthew2239 | 2009.10.08 at 06:49 PM