An Influential Voice: Remembering Wiley Drake, the Outspoken Pastor
Wiley Drake, a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) known for his vocal activism and advocacy for the underprivileged, passed away at the age of 82. Drake’s dynamic presence and bold proposals left a lasting impression on the SBC community.
According to The Baptist Press, Drake died on January 27, following the passing of his wife. He leaves behind a legacy through his four children, 12 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Drake’s tenure in the SBC was marked by his colorful character and efforts to champion the marginalized. He was a regular at the SBC Annual Meeting, making over 70 appearances in three decades. As reported by The Baptist Report, his name often evoked strong reactions due to his advocacy for bold and sometimes contentious motions.
Among his notable proposals were calls to boycott Disney over its moral messaging and a 2015 suggestion for then-SBC President Ronnie Floyd to run for the U.S. presidency. “Southern Baptists will miss Wiley Drake,” Floyd tweeted, expressing admiration for Drake’s unique role within the SBC.
Drake’s influence extended beyond the SBC. His journey began in Arkansas, leaving school in ninth grade for the rodeo circuit until an injury. He later served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War before turning to Christianity and pastoral ministry. For over 25 years, he led the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, California, renowned for his outreach to the homeless, even as it led to legal challenges over property codes.
In SBC leadership, Drake was elected as a vice president in 2006 and made multiple bids for the presidency, including a rare self-nomination. His political ambitions also saw him run for vice president in 2008 alongside Alan Keyes and independent presidential campaigns in 2012 and 2016. Reflecting on these pursuits, Drake stated, “I decided to run for president of the United States, because we are in trouble in this country, politically speaking,” as noted in a 2015 article.
Drake’s activism and political engagement were not without controversy. In 2007, he faced an IRS investigation for using church letterhead to endorse Mike Huckabee, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing. His endorsement of the “birther” conspiracy regarding former President Obama drew significant criticism, as did his public prayers for Obama’s death, described by Drake as “imprecatory prayer.”
“That doesn’t mean I spend every waking hour praying for the death of the president,” Drake explained in a 2009 interview. “Of our prayers, 98 percent should be good prayers, and 2 percent should be imprecatory.”
Drake’s memorial service is set to be held at Oasis Church in Levelland, Texas, with a subsequent service planned for The Church on Pearl in Santa Monica, California, as per his obituary.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
