Public image worries SBC, pleases United Methodists
A task force that studied whether the nationwide Southern Baptist Convention should drop its regional name tag may have encouraged advocates for change after its own polling agency showed high negative responses to "Southern Baptist." Proponents for a change have reacted with reserve. The SBC annual meetings or top officials have rejected moves to rename the convention eight times since 1965.
Task force chairman Jimmy Draper said in a statement December 7 that its recommendations, which were not made public, will "greatly strengthen our ability to reach more people with the gospel." The report goes before the Nashville-based SBC Executive Committee in February.
The SBC LifeWay Research study contained mixed news. About 53 percent of Americans had a favorable impression of Southern Baptists, but 40 percent had an unfavorable view. More than a third of respondents said an SBC church "was not for them."
