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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 92
BY SENATOR MORRELL
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Reverend Fred Luter Jr. of Franklin Avenue Baptist
Church, on being elected vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend Reverend Fred Luter Jr. of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, on being elected2
vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention.3
WHEREAS, at their annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, the Southern Baptist4
Convention (SBC), the nation's largest denomination, elected its first African American vice5
president, Reverend Fred Luter Jr.; and6
WHEREAS, some SBC leaders have expressed hope that his election will mean a7
rise to president next year when the 2012 convention is held in New Orleans, Louisiana; and8
WHEREAS, since its organization in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia, the SBC has grown9
to over sixteen million members who worship in more than forty-two thousand churches in10
the United States; and11
WHEREAS, the term SBC refers to both the denomination and its annual meeting,12
working through twelve hundred local associations, and forty-one state conventions and13
fellowships; and14
WHEREAS, Reverend Luter attributes his success to God, beginning his career as15
what he fondly refers to as a street preacher; and16
WHEREAS, before he was called in 1986 to serve the Franklin Avenue Baptist17
Church (FABC) in New Orleans, Louisiana, he spent his time preaching on different street18 SCR NO. 92
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corners in the Lower Ninth Ward, where he grew up; and1
WHEREAS, after receiving his call to the ministry three years earlier, the members2
of FABC elected him pastor, even through he had no pastoral experience; and3
WHEREAS, today, Reverend Luter is a well respected leader, preacher, and speaker,4
making headlines in 1992, when he was elected as the first African American to the5
executive board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention; and6
WHEREAS, starting with only sixty five members in 1986, reverend Luter has led7
FABC to over eight thousand members, making it the largest Southern Baptist church in the8
state of Louisiana, which embodies the mission statement to "spiritually impact families,9
neighborhoods, cities, and the state by exalting the Savior"; and10
WHEREAS, of the two thousand and twelve SBC ballots, Reverend Luter received11
one thousand five hundred and fifty-eight or seventy-seven percent of the votes to be SBC's12
next vice president; and13
WHEREAS, Daniel Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological14
Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, nominated Reverend Luter, calling him "one of15
SBC's most popular and beloved preachers, and is in constant demand to speak in schools,16
colleges, seminaries, and conferences all across the nation"; and17
WHEREAS, in his nomination, Akin reminded delegates that Reverend Luter, in18
2001, was the first African American to preach the SBC convention sermon, and also served19
as an SBC second vice president; and20
WHEREAS, in August 2005, Reverend Luter lost his home and the FABC to the21
floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina, and still, he traveled across the nation to minister to22
displaced SBC members pushing one of his favorite sayings "if you save the man, the man23
will save his family"; and24
WHEREAS, Reverend Luter and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children, Kimberly25
Ann and Fred "Chip" Luter III.26
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby27
commend Reverend Fred Luter Jr. of Franklin Baptist Church on being elected vice28
president of the Southern Baptist Convention.29
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to30 SCR NO. 92
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Reverend Fred Luter Jr.1
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
Morrell SCR No.
Commends Reverend Fred Luter Jr. of Franklin Baptist Church on being elected vice
president of the Southern Baptist Convention.