Pastor’s motion would involve more young people in SBC
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Pastor Ryan Stiffler, formerly with First Baptist Church of Appleton City and recently called by Corticelli Baptist Church in Russellville, filed a motion at the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention in Greensboro, N.C., to include more young Southern Baptists “to each of our committees and boards, including the Executive Committee.”
The motion was referred to the Executive Committee to report back to the 2007 convention, which will be held in San Antonio, Texas.
“I have been a pastor for six years and I have been going to the convention each year since that time hearing a lot of talk,” he said. “I’ve even been a part of the interview processes at the convention to see what they can do to get the young people of our churches involved in the Cooperative Program and in the convention life period. I feel like they are doing a good job for the convention, but when you look at the names on the list it seems like it is older, seasoned people which we need on those committees, but they don’t bother to incorporate the young people in the decision-making process and so forth. I felt that if they had some direction to look forward to appointing somebody to each committee under that age bracket (under age 40) then the young people could at least feel like they were giving some input and that they had some ownership of it.”
Stiffler feels that by approving this motion that the convention will show young Baptists that their opinions are valued as well. Stiffler went on to explain what this motion will mean to the SBC.
“By doing this I feel the convention is equipping young Southern Baptists to learn how to take the leadership reigns when their time comes,” he said. “It shows them that they have to step up and run the convention and when that time comes people of my generation will have to step up and lead the Convention, they will be equipped and have a working knowledge of how the boards work so we do not have to reinvent the wheel.”