Southern Baptists elect denomination’s first African-American president

Four years after America elected its first African-American president, America’s largest Protestant religious body elected its own.

In an unusual display of unanimity, more than 7,800 delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting stood and affirmed the election of Rev. Fred Luter of New Orleans as the 57th SBC president.

“To God be the glory,” said a tearful Luter, a lifelong resident of New Orleans who was the only nominee for the position. “God bless you. I love you.”

Luter’s election came on June 19, also known as Juneteenth, a day that has become the symbolic anniversary of the freeing of the slaves. The Southern Baptist Convention was formed in 1845 by men who defended slavery as biblical.

“Many leaders are convinced this nomination is happening now by the providence of God and by divine appointment,” said Dr. David Crosby, pastor of First Baptist Church in New Orleans.
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