So. Baptists Converge on Indiana for Annual Get-Together
by Allie Martin
June 11, 2004
(AgapePress) - Thousands of Southern Baptists will head to Indianapolis this weekend for the denomination's annual business meeting.The nation's largest evangelical denomination is preparing to hold its two-day meeting in the Indiana capital, where "messengers" -- representatives from Southern Baptist churches nationwide -- expect to elect a new president for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and to be presented with several significant business matters.
The theme of the meeting, which begins on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday, is "Kingdom Forever." It marks the second consecutive year in which the theme has centered on Empowering Kingdom Growth, an initiative that asks all Southern Baptists to examine if they are "kingdom focused."
John Revell, a spokesman for the SBC, says the theme is meant to encourage messengers to put God first in all aspects of life. "The desire that is expressed from all of the leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention is that we, as Southern Baptists -- and more importantly, as born-again Christians -- would refocus our attentions, our concern, our passion on the things that God is concerned about," he says.
According to Revell, the annual meeting has several objectives. "The point of the convention is for the messengers from all of the various Southern Baptist churches across the country to come and hear reports from their entities and agencies, to vote on those reports and on key motions and resolutions, and to elect leaders who will represent them and accomplish the agenda that the messengers set forth," he says.
"And finally, [we're here] to hear challenging and inspiring messages from God's Word and special music from the anointed servants that God blesses us with."
Business matters that could be presented to the messengers include: a recommendation to withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance; a name change to the denomination's annuity board, and a proposed resolution that asks all Southern Baptists to withdraw their children from government-run schools.
Messengers are also expected to elect Dr. Bobby Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Florida, as the denomination's new president. The outgoing president is Dr. Jack Graham of Plano, Texas.
