Two more seminary presidents have endorsed Ronnie Floyd for SBC president.
In an email to students and others May 15, Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., described Floyd as a “godly man” who “would make a fine president if he is elected by our convention.”
And Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., wrote Floyd, “Congratulations upon the news of your nomination to serve as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. I am greatly encouraged by this news, and I want you to know of my eager support for you as the elected leader of our convention.” Floyd posted the letter on his weblog, www.betweensundays.com, on May 17, saying he made the letter public with Mohler's enthusiastic consent.
Akin, in his endorsement memo, argued Floyd's Cooperative Program giving is better than it seems. During the past 20 years, he wrote, “First Baptist Church Springdale has been a leader in both the state of Arkansas and across our convention in Cooperative Program giving. During the time Dr. Floyd has been pastor of First Baptist Church Springdale, the church has given $5,988,114 to SBC causes. In 2005, the actual dollar amount given to SBC causes by First Baptist Church Springdale was $489,862.”
Akin suggested the church should be judged based on all its giving, not just CP. “I am grateful for a church that is this faithful and generous to our convention,” he wrote, “and I also honor and respect their local autonomy in determining what they believe is the wisest method of distributing those gifts.”
In his 300-word letter, Mohler said, “You have never said no to Southern Baptists when duty has called, and I deeply appreciate your willingness to serve as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Associated Baptist Press