All Southern Baptist eyes on black New Orleans pastor

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Even before the Southern Baptist Convention elected
the Rev. Fred Luter to national office, there was already widespread
speculation that Luter is poised to become the denomination's first
African-American president.

Representatives of 16 million Southern Baptists overwhelmingly
elected Luter first vice president on June 14 at their annual meeting in
Phoenix.

By the time Baptists gather again next summer in Luter's backyard,
many expect the pastor of this city's 5,000-member Franklin Avenue
Baptist Church -- one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in the
state -- to clinch the top post.