Late lunch: Move to the head of the table

The NC Biblical Recorder reports that "Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of internationally known evangelist Billy Graham, will bring what BSC organizers are this year calling "the [North Carolina State Baptist] convention message" at 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 16."

Their headline is actually "Lotz to be first woman to preach convention sermon". For a state Baptist Convention (an administrative, not a governing body), this is a pleasing development. Its good to see that the meeting organizers recognize that Lotz's message is more significant than her gender. Or was it something else that made her a good choice?

Roy J. Smith, who served on the BSC staff for 35 years including 13 as executive director, said the pastor of a prominent N.C. Baptist church has historically brought the convention sermon.

"We've never had a woman to bring the convention sermon that I know of," he said.

Smith said he doubts there will be any backlash over the issue since Lotz is not serving as a pastor.

The fact that she's still giving the sermon makes me want to give the organizers some benefit of the doubt. I'd like to think she'd still be there even if she were (gasp!) serving as a pastor.