Election of Davidson breaks MBLA winning streak

OSAGE BEACH—The election of Gerald Davidson, pastor emeritus, First Baptist Church, Arnold, to the office of Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) president during the 173rd annual meeting of the MBC at Tan-Tar-A broke a long string of victories for candidates endorsed by the Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association (MBLA).

Kerry Messer, president of the MBLA, took note of the wave of support that carried Davidson and three other candidates into their statewide positions of service. It marked the first contested election since the 2000 annual meeting, which was also held at Tan-Tar-A, and it was also unique in that it pitted conservatives against conservatives.

Davidson defeated Mike Green, who was elected president in 2006 with the MBLA endorsement but declined it this year, 832-381. Green is director of missions for the Twin Rivers Baptist Association.

First Vice President Bruce McCoy, pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in St. Louis, won re-election against Jay Scribner, retired pastor of First Baptist Church of Branson, 577-310. McCoy was endorsed by MBLA last year but ran on the challenging slate this year.

In the race for second vice president, John Marshall, pastor, Second Baptist Church, Springfield, defeated Roger Moran, laity, First Baptist Church, Troy, 649-160. Moran is the longtime research director for MBLA.

The recording secretary race went to Chadd Pendergraft, pastor, Splitlog Baptist Church, Goodman, over Jerry Williams, director of missions, Barry County Baptist Association, 601-174.

All of the winning candidates were supported by David Sheppard, pastor of First Baptist Church in St. Charles and coordinator of the Save Our Convention (SOC) political organization. Sheppard said in May that SOC’s goal was to get 1,100 messengers to go to Tan-Tar-A. Sheppard and Marshall are two of the 11 founding leaders of SOC. Messer’s lament is that “not a single one of these men have ever yet bothered to contact me for any conversation. While I feel drug through the mud all across this state, no one has yet to ask any questions or offer a dialogue over their grievances. I am still holding out hope that someone in the SOC leadership may still offer the opportunity, even if it is after the fact.”

As chairman of the MBC Executive Board, Davidson is experienced. He is a former Southern Baptist Convention first vice president from two years ago and a former MBC president from 15 years ago.

“Bro. Gerald has a very strong presence in the room, and I think people appreciate that greatly,” Messer said. “He has the influential personality and demeanor to set the stage for how this Executive Board operates. He is clearly a thermostat in a room, even among Missouri Baptist pastors. As a result, when it comes to bridge building—coming out of a challenged environment—he is the major builder who can determine how many lanes will be on the bridge and the directions they flow.”

Davidson’s election with 68.4 percent of the vote and the election of the other candidates on his slate by similar percentages are part of what may become “a new trend of challenges from multiple candidates,” Messer said. “This can be a healthy trend. For the last several years the MBLA offered endorsements because so many folks kept asking for reassurance of candidates during a season of uncertainty following some historically dramatic experiences. Our Legal Task Force report even this year once again reminds us of how far we’ve come.”

Messer is a bit philosophical about all that has occurred.

 “We just came through a convention where there were some tensions over elections,” he said. “Since going through the major stresses and strains the convention’s gone through, transitioning from the Jim Hill administration to today, there have been tensions. The MBC is a large institution in which tensions will always wax and wane, but for the last several years we have enjoyed conventions without challenges for elected officers. In fact, the point that there weren’t challenges has become a big question, and it carried with it concerns from some people whether that was healthy.

“Today we look to the future. As issues of concern continue to come and go, and sometimes come back again, the health of our convention will always be in a state of flux. The true measure of our health at any given point in time can only be measured by the Lord. It is spiritual measure. If we are to be healthy, today or tomorrow, we must yield to His examination under the standard of His plumb line. As temporal beings this can only be accomplished through the accountability of continued, open and transparent dialogue over whatever issues we are confronted with.

“I have high expectations. Bro. Gerald is well known for hosting such conversations,” Messer concluded.