EDITOR’S NOTE — The Baptist Paper reached out to each of the six individuals who have announced intentions to be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, June 11–12. To read the responses of the other five other candidates, click here.
Dan Spencer
Current position and title: Senior pastor of First Baptist Church Sevierville, Tennessee
What led you to allow your name to be placed in nomination for SBC president?
I believe there are many Southern Baptist churches like the one I pastor that want to regain our focus on those Great Commission objectives that have always been the heart of our cooperation. I want to help us be the best of who we say we are.
If elected, what are your goals as president?
I want to lead all Southern Baptists in a celebration of 100 years of Cooperative Program giving next year in Dallas as we mark the centennial year of the Cooperative Program. God has done so much through our unified efforts, and there is so much more to do.
I would like to see all our churches increase their CP giving for the occasion. Additionally, I look forward to joining with new Executive Committee president Jeff Iorg in building for the future, working through our present challenges and pressing toward what God has ahead for us. I’m sure part of that would include working with the abuse reform initiative. I’m on board for helping churches create the safest environments possible for everyone.
What are some things that can be done to strengthen the SBC’s current relationship with our churches?
I believe the first order is transparency. As you say there has been a loss of confidence and trust. I am encouraged by the election of Dr. Iorg and I would enjoy working with him to create a culture that restores confidence in our denominational focus and mission. I believe a key is working in partnership with our various state conventions which have their fingers on the day-to-day pulse of our churches. SBC entities were created to support the work of the local church, and not support the work of denominational entities.
The local church is the steak, everything else are the sides. I’d like to see us really recapture that spirit and perspective.
What do you perceive as the strengths of the SBC?
Our greatest strengths have always been our unity in Christ, our singularity of evangelist purpose and our cooperative effort to accomplish that purpose. The three go hand-in-hand. Jesus dictates the purpose and merits our cooperation. We have proven for generations how unified we can be when we focus together on reaching the lost, sending out missionaries, training pastors and standing for truth.
I believe we can get there again. The great expression of our unity has always been our financial generosity through the Cooperative Program. I’m so thankful for what God has done in the past 100 years as we have pooled our resources to do gospel ministry for the glory of God.
What do you perceive as the weaknesses of the SBC?
Like Martha in Luke 10, we are “worried and troubled about many things” that distract us from the main thing. Jesus said, “But one thing is necessary…” For Southern Baptists, that one thing is a recommitment to the mission Jesus gave us. We have always had our differences, but we have always found a way to come together, to deal with issues, and then to get back to the business of making and mobilizing disciples.
What is your take on the Law Amendment issue and what Southern Baptists should consider going into this next meeting?
I have no issue with the theology of the amendment. It is really a governance issue, and I think the BFM 2000 has served us well in speaking clearly about that.
Messengers dealt with the situation involving a large church and a famous pastor, and when the vote was taken, 92% of our messengers were in agreement. I feel confident that Southern Baptists as a whole understand the role of the senior pastor so I question the necessity of the amendment. My hope is that people will be thoughtful rather than reactive in their approach to the issue.
