Over the past couple years, I have developed a friendly acquaintanceship with Wade Burleson, first through email and then as a fellow member of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Board of Directors. I have followed his blog for some time, and I have admired his courage and strength of character. He is a man who intentionally chose to disobey a newly adopted International Mission Board policy because it would require him to violate his conscience and be a liar. He did so knowing it would lead to his public censure. It takes real moxie to stand up under such great pressure. But he did.

The IMB is better because Wade Burleson has served as a trustee. The IMB is worse off now that Wade had tendered his resignation. He relates his last interaction with the IMB Board of Trustees here. He concludes it thus:

It became crystal clear to me tonight that it would be impossible for me to continue as a trustee of the International Mission Board. The appropriate forum for my continued service to the Southern Baptist Convention is now outside the IMB Board of Trustees. I deem it better to be censured by man than to be condemned by conscience. It is my decision to resign, effective immediately, from service as a trustee of the International Mission Board. I will continue to work to effect change within the Southern Baptist Convention and will post later this week my plans for the immediate future.

I will also be leading our church to increase her involvement in our cooperative missions work. I hope you do so at your church as well.

As a relatively young pastor at a small rural church, I say publicly what I have said privately to Wade before: I appreciate what he has done, and I will never forget it. Thanks, Wade, for showing us what true, godly, gracious, bold leadership is.

Part of our convention needs fixed.