Oklahoma can be a dry place in August. Back in college a few of us would get away and play at Fire Lake Golf Course. Before an adequate sprinkler system had been installed on the back nine the dry ground would begin to crack. From a distance you could not tell just how severe the fissures were until you went to track down your golf ball. If you can imagine it, you could hit a great drive down the fairway only to lose the ball to one of these unforeseen crevices.

We near the final report of the GCRTF and Marty reminds us of the quiet work of another committee. Yes, how could we have missed the search to fill the highest “unelectable” post in the SBC? Maybe the committee has been glad the interest has been placed on the GCRTF. Their work has been done in relative quiet. The nexus of these two decisions – the Final Report of the GCRT and the recommendation to fill retiring Morris Chapman’s post may reveal deeper fissures at one time apparent.

Our interest here in recent posts is not to exaggerate the divide but to serve a reminder that nothing has really changed. If anything positions have been calcified. When was the last time you heard any word on IMB policies. Yes, we have heard and read the recommendations in the preliminary report of the GCRTF. But consider this.

Let’s say the IMB assumes the role of leading the way to reach un-reached people group populations now living as immigrants in the U.S. We still have policies that will exclude those we may believe God intends us to send from our churches. Only this time the matter won’t be so far away – on the field in another country. No, right here in a church’s own backyard will our sending entity still be following guidelines excluding recommended personnel out of fear of “pentecostal” sympathies. James K.A. Smith asserts a “pentecostal spirit” really reflects an acknowledgment God may really do anything. And though not SBC, he is Reformed in his theology and offers an interesting perspective on the sovereignty of God and the need to be subject to the Spirit of God to do whatever the Spirit may do in exalting Jesus.

It seems the BI group holds sway on this subject. Two years ago it was Frank Cox who firmly believed these policies to be appropriate. In fact, if you want a recap follow the links in the compilation post offered by Timmy Brister last year. While everyone’s attention has been on what will come from listening sessions and reports from the GCRTF, what kind of vetting is taking place for the post now held by Chapman?

For instance, the outcry by some to renounce the announced nomination of Tony Gramling is quite ironic. Where was the outcry when CR leader Charles Stanley’s church gave a small percentage to the CP? He was on the right side so it did not matter. Why have we forgotten the late Adrian Rogers who suggested, “Percentages don’t feed missionaries, dollars feed missionaries?” It was noted that Johnny Hunt’s church gave 2% directly through the CP when he was elected President but gave $3 million to SBC causes. So, those who starved out the opposition when they were in charge now have some in their crowd fearful they are “losing the whole thing.” (Frank Cox)

The issue is not for or against the CP. Don’t miss the issue – what appears to be only slight fissures in the competing visions for the SBC is much wider than it appears. And you can be sure some working quietly are well aware. Chapman’s successor will either lead us forward or take us back. Maybe it would be good to re-visit Marty’s reminder of the import of this decision, circulate the post, email it as Marty does a good job outlining important considerations for this important selection.