With less than two months until the Annual Southern Baptist Convention of 2023, the Conservative Baptist Network finally announced their candidate for President of the Southern Baptist Convention. That candidate is none other than Mike Stone. The Conservative Baptist Network ran Mike Stone in 2021 in which he got routed by Ed Litton in the runoff as Al Mohler’s voting bloc on the first round broke for Litton, much to the surprise of many. In Louisiana, Mike Stone hopes to have a better shot.
By this time last year, both the major candidates had been announced, Tom Ascol and Bart Barber. There are multiple reports that the Conservative Baptist Network struggled to find a consensus candidate. So, Mike Stone running again, after losing in 2021 and giving the nominating speech in 2022, has convention wide name recognition, which may actually hurt him if he intends to run on issues.
Negative comments about his nomination include pointing out that he filed a lawsuit against Russell Moore which was subsequently withdrawn in 2021. This baggage will remain with him on his campaign. Additionally, his church’s giving to the CP program while smart to slash, doesn’t help him win the nomination.
"@BaptistPress confirmed with David Melber, chief financial officer of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, that Emmanuel did not give through the Cooperative Program in 2022 but did give $36,000 directly to the International Mission Board."https://t.co/H2f2eNEnEa
— SBC Platform (@TheSBCPlatform) April 26, 2023
Bart Barber, the current SBC president, is assumed to run for a second term. Although his term has been characterized by lawsuits, petty arguments, and general incompetence, this is not the messaging of Mike Stone. In an announcement video, Mike Stone gave a Mitt Romney-eques speech about the problems facing the SBC, namely sex abuse.
Here is hope for SBC. So grateful for my friend @PastorMikeStone pic.twitter.com/Vg2L86oS84
— mac brunson (@macbrunson) April 26, 2023
Mike Stones announcement has received immediate endorsements from SBC Underground, Tom Buck, and Tom Ascol.
