Task force: Keep legal SBC name, but adopt informal name, 'Great Commission Baptists'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- The task force appointed to study a possible name change of the Southern Baptist Convention is recommending that the convention maintain its legal name but adopt an informal, non-legal name for those who want to use it: Great Commission Baptists.

The name "Southern," task force chairman Jimmy Draper said, is a barrier to the Gospel in some regions of the country. The task force was appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright.

The task force made its recommendation during the Executive Committee meeting Monday night. The Executive Committee will consider the recommendation Tuesday.

The recommendation means that the legal name of the convention will remain "Southern Baptist Convention" and can be used by any church who wishes to use it. But other SBC churches can call themselves "Great Commission Baptists" if they wish.

Michael Foust is associate editor of Baptist Press

Task force: Keep legal SBC name, but adopt informal name, 'Great Commission Baptists'

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