Pence hails Trump-Kim summit at Baptist convention
DALLAS — Vice President Mike Pence celebrated President Donald Trump’s recent summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un as a success during his Wednesday morning address to the Southern Baptist Convention.
“The meeting that took place was direct and honest, provocative and productive,” Pence said. “It resulted in a bold first step where North Korea’s leader committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
Many of the Southern Baptists listening to the Republican leader during their big denominational meeting here in Dallas responded to Pence’s update on Tuesday’s summit in Singapore with applause and cheers.
Pence’s nearly 40-minute speech to the country’s biggest evangelical church group covered a wide range of topics, including praise for several changes Trump has made since he took office. He lauded the president’s anti-abortion efforts and the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
The vice president is often admired by evangelicals for his Christian faith and his ability to influence Trump on policies that resonate with conservative Christians.
The vice president reiterated a sentiment he often shares, explaining to the thousands of Southern Baptists in the convention hall that he is a Christian first, a conservative second and a Republican third.
Not all happy with Pence’s speech
But the vice president’s speech itself did not sit well with everyone in the convention hall and those watching online. Some took to social media to express their displeasure with the address, calling it partisan and a stump speech.
North Carolina Pastor J.D. Greear, the newly elected Southern Baptist Convention president, tweeted about public officials at the annual meeting.
“I know that sent a terribly mixed signal. We are grateful for civic leaders who want to speak to our Convention — but make no mistake about it, our identity is in the gospel and our unity is in the great commission,” Greear said.
Those reactions were in keeping with earlier efforts by some to prevent Pence from addressing the convention and to stop public officials from speaking at future meetings.
They raised concerns about sending the wrong message that Southern Baptists are aligned with the Republican Party as well as worries that it could alienate minorities and those who take issue with the Trump administration.
A Tuesday morning vote to substitute Pence’s speech for a time of prayer failed to get enough support after Grant Ethridge, chairman of the Committee on Order of Business, made a biblical case for showing hospitality to people in positions of authority.
Pence praises Sutherland Springs church, encourages Baptists
Afterward, Pence walked on stage to loud applause following an introduction from Steve Gaines, the current Southern Baptist Convention president. Gaines, a pastor from Memphis, remarked on watching Pence support victims of last year’s mass shooting victims at a Southern Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
“I am so grateful to have a vice president who not only loves people, but also loves the lord, Jesus Christ,” Gaines said.
Pence recounted visiting with the victims from First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs and praised their pastor, Frank Pomeroy. The vice president said he was moved by their strong faith in the face of that tragedy.
“Theirs was a small church, but their faith was not small,” Pence said.
The vice president also praised Southern Baptists for their faith and efforts to spread the gospel.
“The Southern Baptist Convention has always strived to reach the world for Christ and so you have throughout the decades,” Pence said. “I believe with all my heart that your faith has moved mountains.”