Almost!!!

Mark Dever came tantalizingly close to being elected First Vice-President of the Southern Baptist Convention in Greensboro tonight. Andy Davis's nomination speech for Mark was superb, and Mark (to the surprise of many) led the voting in the first round of the election (in which there were four candidates). After the votes were counted in the run-off, Mark was only 77 votes short of nominee Jimmy Jackson. A 39 vote swing would have changed the outcome. Any friends of mine who were messengers but who were still at supper during the run-off vote should expect a visit from Tony "the Gent."

We are so proud of Mark, and thankful for the influence he has in the SBC and beyond. Let's hope we're talking about his nomination and election as President someday soon! Baptist Press said: "Jimmy Jackson, pastor of Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala., was elected June 13 first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention in a runoff.

"Jackson received 51.44 percent (1,107 votes) of the votes, edging Mark Dever (47.86 percent, 1,030 votes), pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., in the runoff.

"On the first ballot, Dever received a plurality of the votes, with 29.72 percent (1,090 votes) of the vote to Jackson’s 27.48 percent (1,008 votes). Convention rules state that the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff. On the first ballot Kelly J. Burris, senior pastor of Kempsville Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va., received 22.76 percent (835) while Keith Fordham, an evangelist from Fayetteville, Ga., received 19.79 percent (726 votes).