NASHVILLE (BP) – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been canceled for the first time in 75 years. Citing authority provided by the SBC Constitution "in the case of grave emergency," the decision was made Tuesday (March 24) in a unanimous vote of a body composed of SBC officers, the SBC Executive Committee and leaders of the SBC's boards and institutions. The Annual Meeting, which was originally scheduled June 9-10 in Orlando, is … [Read more...]
Messengers make 20 motions, debate SWBTS trustee action
DALLAS – Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention proposed 20 motions during two 15-minute scheduled segments of the 2018 annual meeting in Dallas June 12. A Missourian, Scott Gordon of Claycomo Baptist Church in Kansas City, moved that elected officials not be a part of the annual meeting program. That motion was ruled out of order after the chair as it directed the officers of the Convention to act outside the scope of their duties. Messengers debated then defeated June 13 a motion … [Read more...]
Life after the shooting: Sutherland Springs’ Pomeroy speaks at Ministry Wives’ Conference
DALLAS (BP) – Sherri Pomeroy never expected for 26 people in her church family to enter heaven together when she and her husband Frank Pomeroy agreed to serve at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs 17 years ago. But on Nov. 5 of last year, in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history, a gunman took the lives of 26 worshipers, including the Pomeroys' 14-year-old daughter Annabelle. Another 20 church members were injured in the attack. Before the shooting, about 100 people … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists go deep to the heart of Texas: 391 Missourians attend SBC annual meeting
DALLAS – Nearly 400 messengers from Missouri Baptist churches made the trek southwest to Dallas for the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting June 12-13. Missouri’s 391 messengers were part of the 9,637 messengers making up the unofficial total. Show Me Baptists were the 10th largest state delegation. When registered guests, exhibitors and others are included, the count of those at the SBC annual meeting rose to approximately 15,000, according to the convention manager. It is the … [Read more...]
Gospel conversation critical, Ezell tells NAMB trustees
PHOENIX (BP) – North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell told the entity’s trustees that in order to see the kind of turnaround in baptisms that Southern Baptists desire, it will take millions of Southern Baptists having tens of millions of gospel conversations. Without decreasing NAMB’s emphasis on church planting through its Send Network or compassion ministry through Send Relief, Ezell said NAMB will “put every ounce of energy we possibly can to help our convention see the … [Read more...]
The good of Southern Baptist polity: SBC messengers condemn Alt-right white supremacy
By now most of you have probably heard about the confusion which occurred with relation to the Alt-right resolution at this year’s Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. Allow me to share the non-media, unbiased version of what happened. An African American Baptist pastor from Austin, Texas, asked from the floor to have his resolution condemning the alt-right movement accepted and presented to the whole convention for approval. The Alt-right movement is a loosely organized group of people, … [Read more...]
Missourians brave heat to convene in Phoenix for Baptists’ business
PHOENIX – The exhibit hall of the Southern Baptist Convention was buzzing with activity as SBC related colleges, seminaries, entities and ancillary organizations vied for the attention of the convention messengers. The air conditioning was cranked down sufficiently to cool the conventioneers who braved 100 plus degree heat getting into the downtown convention hall. At the Hannibal-LaGrange University booth some Missourians visited with university staffers. Ray Carty offered HLGU “swag” … [Read more...]
Willow Springs pastor calls for orphan, widow Sunday
PHOENIX (BP) – Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention proposed 11 motions during two 15-minute scheduled segments of the 2017 annual meeting in Phoenix. Messengers approved one motion, presented by James Forbis of First Baptist Church in Willow Springs, Mo., for referral to the SBC’s Executive Committee. Forbis, an associate pastor at FBC Willow Springs, moved that the SBC adopt a special emphasis day called “Orphan and Widow Care Sunday” in the 2018 SBC calendar. “I’ve always … [Read more...]
IMB now on ‘firm ground,’ Platt reports to trustees
PHOENIX (BP) – Through Southern Baptists’ “faithful, generous and consistent giving” of more than $98 million to the Cooperative Program and approximately $153 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the International Mission Board has reached financially stability, IMB President David Platt told the entity’s trustees June 12. “That’s breathtaking: over $250 million given from Southern Baptist churches for the spread of the Gospel among the nations,” Platt said. “And as a result … [Read more...]
Missouri ranks 7th in attendance at SBC
PHOENIX – The Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting drew 5,018 messengers to Phoenix June 13-14. The unofficial total is 31.6 percent fewer than last year’s 7,321 messengers in St. Louis but 164 more than 2011 when the convention last met in Phoenix. Missouri was the seventh largest delegation, bringing 242 messengers. As expected, Arizona Baptist churches turned out for their host-meeting; their 374-messenger total was the second largest of the state delegations. Texas was the … [Read more...]
Hawkins recaps GuideStone’s legal & financial gains
PHOENIX (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources’ theme for 2017 is the “Year of Innovation,” President O.S. Hawkins said in the opening report to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention, June 13–14 in Phoenix. The annual theme guides the entity’s work, Hawkins said, noting a difference between imitation and innovation. At GuideStone, he said, the focus in 2017 is on innovation for the benefit of participants. Hawkins reported to messengers about GuideStone’s litigation over the … [Read more...]
ERLC prioritizes life, parenting, Moore says
PHOENIX (BP) – Protection of human life and preparation of parents have been among the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's priorities during the last year, Russell Moore told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention June 14. In his annual report to the convention, Moore, the ERLC's president, said the entity's efforts during the past year have included: Defending life primarily by seeking federal defunding of Planned Parenthood, the scandal-ridden, leading abortion … [Read more...]
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