MBC Executive Board to be pro-active in church planting efforts for 2004

MBC Executive Board to be pro-active in church planting efforts for 2004

Committee named to explore sale of Baptist Building

By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer

December 16, 2003

JEFFERSON CITY – Members of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Board resolved Dec. 9 to take the lead in helping the convention reach its goal of 100 church plants in 2004.

In adopting a resolution that was specifically worded to challenge them, the members of the Executive Board and the churches they represent took on a goal of birthing more than 50 new Missouri Baptist churches.

“Dear ones, it is something we absolutely must do!" said Executive Director David Clippard, communicating the sense of urgency that was behind the resolution.

In other executive board action, a committee to study the feasibility of selling the Baptist Building was appointed by MBC President David Tolliver. Committee members include: Chairman Robert Griffin, pastor, Parker Road Baptist Church, Florissant; Fern Miller, lay person, Pisgah Baptist Church, Excelsior Springs; Mike Stockton, lay person, First Baptist Church, St. Clair; Robert Ingold, lay person, Second Baptist Church, Springfield; David Krueger, pastor, First Baptist Church, Linn; Rachel Bringer, lay person, South Union Baptist Church, Maywood; and Jody Shellenhamer, lay person, First Baptist Church, Bolivar.

Miller is a branch manager for a bank, Stockton and Shellenhamer are both builders/real estate developers, Ingold is an attorney specializing in estate planning and real estate and Bringer is an attorney and a Missouri legislator.

MBC leaders have said their decision to explore the possibility of selling the 77-year-old structure at 400 East High Street is due to rising maintenance and utility costs.

Administrative Committee Chairman Jay Scribner, pastor, First Baptist Church , Branson, announced after the meeting that he is resigning effective immediately. Vice Chairman Kevin Smith, pastor, Highview Baptist Church , Chillicothe , will succeed the popular Scribner, a former MBC president and current trustee at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

When asked why he was resigning, Scribner grinned and replied, “The Lord says, ‘It’s time.’"

Meanwhile, Clippard reported to the board that MBC Partnership Missions Specialist Norm Howell will begin work Jan. 1. Howell developed a passion for missions over a decade of service in Papua , New Guinea , with New Tribes Missions. He also has been the pastor of two Missouri churches.

In other business, trustees voted to:

• Postpone — until legal actions are concluded — the sending of a delegation to the Baptist General Convention of Missouri (BGCM) for the purpose of seeking reconciliation;
• Approve a new position title for a WMU/Women’s Missions & Ministry Specialist that has been filled by Vivian McCaughan;
• Clarify that the Cooperative Program Allocations Budget is based on percentages of budget receipts and not fixed dollar amounts;
• Approve a contribution of $63,000 for the Adopt An Annuitant program in 2004.