The National Baptist Convention, USA (NBCUSA), the nation’s largest group of Black Protestants, faces a potential leadership crisis as it gathers for its annual session in Baltimore this week. The controversy centers around the presidential election this week that has only one candidate on the ballot, sparking division within the denomination.
Rev. Rodney McFarland of Monroe, Assistant Secretary of the NBCUSA and a National Board Member, explained that the problem arose when the convention’s general secretary erroneously sent a letter to member churches. The letter stipulated that presidential nominees needed nomination letters from churches registered for at least the past two conventions. This directive resulted in only one candidate, Rev. Boise Kimber of Connecticut, qualifying for the five-year term to succeed outgoing president Rev. Jerry Young of Mississippi.
Although the secretary publicly acknowledged the error—as the convention only requires churches to…
