The Politics of Elite Disunity in the Southern Baptist Convention, 1946–1992
Research on political conflict and stability suggests that "powerful actors" or elites play a pivotal role into the direction and shape of national polities. Indeed, the work of Field, Higley, and Burton indicates that elite unity or consensus is essential for political stability in modern...
| Published in: | Research in the social scientific study of religion |
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| Authors: | ; |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
1999
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| In: |
Research in the social scientific study of religion
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| Further subjects: | B
History of religion studies
B Social sciences B Religionswissenschaften B Religion & Gesellschaft |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Research on political conflict and stability suggests that "powerful actors" or elites play a pivotal role into the direction and shape of national polities. Indeed, the work of Field, Higley, and Burton indicates that elite unity or consensus is essential for political stability in modern nation states. Disunity, by contrast, increases the likelihood of serious political conflict and regime overthrow. The purpose of this research is to apply the insights of elite theory to a quite different political organization: A large-scale denominational polity. It is our view that the actions and posturing of elites have implications for interpreting not only the rise and fall of political regimes, but also the stability and instability of non-state polities. A case in point is the Southern Baptist Convention. Recent political upheavals in this denomination are best understood as by-products of elite disunity. We trace the history of the conflict in the SBC from one form of unity (based on cooperation among elites), to the breakdown of elite unity, to the establishment of another form of unity (based on coercion). The "federated" nature of the Southern Baptist Convention and the threat posed by continued presence of disgruntled moderates and their churches should keep the current political elite focused on the need for tight ideological and practical control for the near future. "Order, order, I call this group to order," McCarty shouted above the noise in New Orleans’ Cafe Du Monde June 13, at the end of the second day of the SBC annual meeting. "After all, I am the parliamentarian...." The presentation was the gift of framed certificates of appreciation to Houston judge Paul Pressler and Dallas educator Paige Patterson, who met years ago in that cafe and planned the strategy to control the SBC. During the New Orleans meeting, their forces won the SBC presidency for the 12th straight year.... Some Southern Baptists expressed their displeasure with McCarty and the conservatives, even during their celebration. "Shame, shame, shame," they shouted, before being drowned out by conservatives, who sang a verse of "Victory in Jesus" (Knox 1990a, p. 1). |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Research in the social scientific study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/9789004493285_005 |