(ChurchLeaders) Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President J.D. Greear says it’s time to retire a gavel that has long been used to call convention meetings to order. The Broadus gavel belonged to SBC forefather John A. Broadus, a slave-owner and president of the denomination’s flagship seminary in the 1800s. Although Broadus’ views on slavery seemed to have evolved toward the end of his life, Greear believes using the gavel today sends a mixed message and doesn’t serve the future of the denomination.