You didn't refer to the busloads of messengers that arrived from distant places in 1985 with passengers' intentions of voting for the man who was ultimately elected. I witnessed that man, incidentally, during the break between morning and afternoon sessions, arrive at his hotel surrounded by four armed bodyguards. When the elevator door opened, he and the four pushed the candidate's wife aside and went up presumably to his room. A few years later that electee was divorced. You had to see such shenanigans to believe that could happen. We were absolutely stunned.
Jim, I was aware of the buses. I heard about the bodyguards. I did not know about the hotel elevator incident. I only mentioned things where I was a primary participant or observer. George
"Heartbroken" is a perfect title. It's how I felt, and currently feel, especially in face of the Law Amendment wanting to purge the SBC again. Sad. But maybe it is setting me free.
I was in attendance as a messenger in 1985, 1986, and 1987. In 1986 in Atlanta a deacon of our small church went as a messenger also. During one of the votes we were standing along the back wall as there were no seats left. He and I were separated as I had gone over to speak with a friend. Our deacon told me afterwards that during the vote a man grabbed his arm and said, “Vote that down, vote that down.” The man looked up and realized the deacon was not part of his group. The man said, “Oh, you’re not with us.” It was sad to experience the political bullying and manipulation of the voting process.
Jim Cox
You didn't refer to the busloads of messengers that arrived from distant places in 1985 with passengers' intentions of voting for the man who was ultimately elected. I witnessed that man, incidentally, during the break between morning and afternoon sessions, arrive at his hotel surrounded by four armed bodyguards. When the elevator door opened, he and the four pushed the candidate's wife aside and went up presumably to his room. A few years later that electee was divorced. You had to see such shenanigans to believe that could happen. We were absolutely stunned.
Jim, I was aware of the buses. I heard about the bodyguards. I did not know about the hotel elevator incident. I only mentioned things where I was a primary participant or observer. George
"Heartbroken" is a perfect title. It's how I felt, and currently feel, especially in face of the Law Amendment wanting to purge the SBC again. Sad. But maybe it is setting me free.
Stephen, yes, I searched for a word for many years to express my emotion, and "heartbroken" seems to fit the best of any I have come across.
I was in attendance as a messenger in 1985, 1986, and 1987. In 1986 in Atlanta a deacon of our small church went as a messenger also. During one of the votes we were standing along the back wall as there were no seats left. He and I were separated as I had gone over to speak with a friend. Our deacon told me afterwards that during the vote a man grabbed his arm and said, “Vote that down, vote that down.” The man looked up and realized the deacon was not part of his group. The man said, “Oh, you’re not with us.” It was sad to experience the political bullying and manipulation of the voting process.
Thank you, Carlton, for sharing. The voting during the 1980s at the SBC annual meetings was not our "finest hour" in our history.
So true. I stopped going after 1987. I was fed up with the whole process.