ST LOUIS – Fred Luter believes America doesn’t have a skin problem but rather a sin problem on the issue of racism.
And the turnaround must start with the churches, Luter said during a racial reconciliation panel in the Tuesday morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting.
“I believe the future of the Southern Baptist Convention is bright if we continue to challenge each other to do what God has called us to do and understand red, yellow, black and white, they are all precious in his sight,” said Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. “Let’s spread the salt, let’s turn on the light.”
He was one of the pastors on a panel “A National Conversation on Racial Unity in America.” In addition to Luter, the panel featured President Jerry Young of the National Baptist Convention USA, Marshall Blalock, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charleston, S.C., and Joe Costephens, pastor of First Baptist Church in Ferguson, Mo.
Luter, who was elected as president of the SBC on June 19, 2012 was the first African American to be elected to the post. His historic election took place in his hometown of New Orleans during the annual meeting.
