The headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention is in Nashville.NASHVILLE — What if Southern Baptists were no longer called Southern Baptists? Would more people walk through church doors? Some leaders in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination say it’s an idea that needs to be considered for an evangelistic faith with declining membership.
A task force asked to study that question made its recommendation to Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright on Wednesday, but it won’t be public until an executive committee meeting in February.
Wright wouldn’t say whether new names have been proposed for the denomination of 16 million, but he has said the word “Baptist” would remain.
“The reason for doing this is simply to say: ‘Do we have any unnecessary barriers in reaching people for Jesus Christ?” Wright said.
Figures released by SBC earlier this year showed total membership declined in 2010 for the fourth straight year, despite a renewed missionary effort.