New Leader for IMB

[Joseph Patrick]

From Joseph Patrick...

I have just learned that the search committee for selecting a new leader for the IMB have unanimously recommended Tom Elliff to be Jerry Rankin's successor. There were many worse choices, but at 66, is Tom the best for the job?

[Stephen Fox]

http://sbcvoices.com/tom-eliff-imb-pres ... l-nominee/

I cannot imagine why it is not Ronnie Floyd

I cannot believe Dawson Memorial as an example will send their Lottie Moon or CP dollars to this guy or how in Bama Bob Terry will endorse the decision with a straight face.

Watch the dissembling combust

[Dave Roberts]

No surprise here. He is Bailey Smith's brother-in-law, and age guarantees a relatively short term.

[HowellS]

While we will never know how the IMB Presidential Search Committee arrived at their choice of Dr. Eliff, he is part of the establishment within the SBC. There has been much speculation (see Stephen's link to the discussion at SBCVoices), but this may have been a consensus choice that the entire committee could unanimously agree on. He may serve a long time, but it would surprise no one if he was a "caretaker" for 5-10 years until someone else took over.

As to Stephen's not being able to imagine the new IMB President not being Ronnie Floyd, I assume Stephen is seriously wondering. For those not as involved in SBC life and/or politics, Ronnie Floyd's nomination would have resulted in mass rebellion and all-out war within the Convention. As it is, there are cracks in the foundation that continue to grow deeper and wider (see my post http://www.fromlaw2grace.com/2011/02/17 ... foundation). If the GCR is fully implemented, then I believe that the collapse of the SBC, as we now know it, is inevitable. Floyd's nomination would have been the equivalent of a massive earthquake. Thanks and God bless,

[William Thornton]

Elliff's nomination is not a surprise. Anecdotally, I judge the reaction from IMB's missionary force as one of ambivalence or even mild disappointment, though most who take an interest in such things would have seen this as a strong possibility for several years now.

[Joseph Patrick]

From Joseph Patrick...

William said: "Elliff's nomination is not a surprise. Anecdotally, I judge the reaction from IMB's missionary force as one of ambivalence or even mild disappointment, though most who take an interest in such things would have seen this as a strong possibility for several years now."

Most missionaries thought that Gordon Fort was the heir apparent. He seemed to be the right choice; a second generation missionary, born in a mission hospital, and he even had stuffed animal heads on his wall. That last, alone, should have insured his election to president. I wonder if he identified too closely with the rank and file and not the trustees? My thought is that he would not "roll over" for all of the outrageous demands of the trustees.

[David Flick]