Ross Douthat published a column late last May with the imperious title "The Baptist Apocalypse."  Rather than prophetic piece, this seems to have served as a guidebook.  Following Douthat's column, a new coterie swept into power in the Southern Baptist Convention during its annual meeting in Dallas (June 12-13). The apocalypse Douthat predicted did not lead to the coming of a lord and savior.  What the Baptists got was a changing of the guard.  The old guard was white, male, conservative, Southern, and charming.  The new guard is white, male, conservative, Southern, and cold.  I have interacted with both groups.  The main difference between them is that I trusted the old guard on issues like LGBT challenges to religious liberty, and the old guard returned my calls.  I can say no such thing about the new guard. Therein lies quite a tale.  Sit back and enjoy. What went into...(Read Full Article)