There may be a way to have 250,000 messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Wade Burleson is working on an interesting proposal to do just that – by making internet based participation in the convention possible. He writes:
We already register messengers electronically. We are but two steps away from establishing a secure server where a messenger who watches the convention via the internet could enter his Messenger I.D. number and actually vote on the recommendations brought to the floor of the convention. I realize that the maximum number of messengers per church is ten people, but if you just assumed the average number of messengers per church in the SBC were just five, then it is possible that nearly a quarter of a million messengers could actually be elected and vote at the annual Southern Baptist Convention, representing over 45,000 Southern Baptist Churches.
My guess is that it will never fly. Southern Baptist do not really trust themselves or technology. Others Southern Baptist Voices are talking about technology and the convention:
- Southern Baptist Convention18 Jun 2007 by Bowden McElroy
Regional venues with satellite links and moderaters at each site seems like one way to go; it retains the atmosphere of a convention (as opposed to internet based voting with messengers cocooning in their own homes) while expanding the … - Reflections from a Distance19 Jun 2007 by Tim Sweatman
For the first time since 2003, I was not present at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Furthermore, since I have been able to spend an average of only a few minutes a day online for the past few weeks I was unable to … - Reflections from a Distance19 Jun 2007 by Tim Sweatman
For the first time since 2003, I was not present at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Furthermore, since I have been able to spend an average of only a few minutes a day online for the past few weeks I was unable to …
