When Southern Baptists depart St. Louis, Missouri, after their annual meeting in June, Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) president Ronnie Floyd says he will be praying they do so with a “deep burden for our nation, a new commitment to racial unity and an extraordinary commitment to evangelize America.”
With the theme of this year’s June 14–15 gathering being “Awaken America: Reach the World — Agree, Unite, Pray,” Floyd continues to point to passionate prayer as a critical tool for a “nationwide and global spiritual awakening.”
“I pray that our SBC messengers encounter the living God through moments of worship, preaching, challenge and prayer,” Floyd said.
For the second year, Floyd will lead a Tuesday evening session devoted to prayer. “A National Call to Prayer for Spiritual Leadership” will feature a diverse group of Southern Baptist leaders and pastors with special musical guests Keith and Kristyn Getty. Floyd also has invited African-American pastor Jerry Young, who is president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., to participate in the evening session. Young also will be among the speakers at a special session, “A National Conversation on Racial Unity in America,” that will take place that morning.
New president
As Floyd wraps up his second and final term as SBC president in June, messengers will elect a new leader. At least three candidates are expected to be nominated for SBC president: North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear, Tennessee pastor Steve Gaines and Louisiana pastor David Crosby.
At press time, only one candidate had been announced to be nominated for first vice president: Doug Munton, pastor of First Baptist Church, O’Fallon, Illinois.
During this year’s Crossover evangelism outreach leading up to the annual meeting, an estimated 3,500 volunteers are expected June 11.
Churches taking teams to St. Louis can download a distance partner form at www.crossoverstlouis.com, or contact Tom Firasek, St. Louis Metro Baptist Association’s ministry and partnership coordinator, at 214-225-1948 or tfirasek@stlbaptist.org.
Messengers gathering in St. Louis will consider a variety of recommendations during the annual meeting. Among them:
- a recommendation amending SBC Bylaw 26 regarding questions to SBC entity leaders from the floor during the annual meeting. The recommendation is intended to provide consistency in the time allotted for messengers to ask questions. The Executive Committee will present the recommendation to messengers during the SBC’s meeting.
- a one-time transfer of funds from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) to the International Mission Board (IMB) to assist IMB personnel leaving the board during its “organizational reset.”
- a new name for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, scheduled to move to its new location of Ontario, California, in June. If messengers give approval to the name change, the new name will be Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention. To take effect, the bylaw amendment, which was approved during the 2015 annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, must be approved again by messengers in St. Louis.
- There also may be a resolution introduced to endorse a ban on the public display of the Confederate flag. The resolution was submitted in April by Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas.
‘Sending Celebration’
- The SBC annual meeting will feature a joint “Sending Celebration” as IMB and NAMB celebrate overseas missionaries and North American church planters, along with their sending churches, as they answer God’s call to plant churches and make disciples in the U.S. and around the world. The Sending Celebration will be June 15, at America’s Center.
- NAMB will officially launch Send Relief during the Send Luncheon held at noon June 13 at The Dome at America’s Center. The free luncheon is available to everyone, but tickets are required. To obtain a free ticket for the event, visit www.namb.net/sendluncheon. SBC participants also can learn how their churches can become more involved in church planting.
- Anita Renfroe, a popular Christian comedian and communicator, will be the keynote speaker of two of three events for ministers’ wives at the annual meeting. The trio of women’s events, based on the theme, “Be Encouraged,” will include a Pastors Wives Conference, a Ministers’ Wives Luncheon and a Women’s Expo. The Pastors’ Wives Conference will be June 13, 9–11:30 a.m. Renfroe will lead during the annual luncheon, which will take place June 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m., also in the Marriott St. Louis Grand-Majestic Ballroom.
- GuideStone Financial Resources will once again offer its Wellness Center during the Pastors’ Conference and SBC, June 13–15.
Register online at sbcannualmeeting.net under the Messengers/Guests tab.
Messengers planning to propose resolutions must submit them no later than 15 days prior to the annual meeting. Detailed guidelines on submitting resolutions are available at sbcannualmeeting.net under the Messengers/Guests tab. Resolutions may be submitted online but must be followed up by a letter of credentials from the submitter’s church. (BP, TAB)
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