Yes, William the basis for the actions today, no doubt, already existed. However, IMHO, the catylyst was that the Lord used the young turks of "blogdom" to air the SBC's "dirty linen" so that it could no longer be ignored by the mainline media venues. The fact is that NONE of the bloggers were out for personal positions of office or power in the SBC in their actions to press for these changes. That is still the case (Not that some of them would not make great SBC leaders in the future!). They have the long term best interests of the SBC being submissive to Christ's gospel and The Great Commission as their prime motive. . .not the entrenchment of political power and control over the SBC as their goal. They must be continually vigilant in sticking to this priority in the future, lest they become like those they replace.
In His Grace and Peace,