An Important Event for Alabama Baptists

An Important Event for Alabama Baptists

In less than three weeks Alabama Baptists will gather at Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery to celebrate the 182nd annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. And what a time it will be.

Messengers will conduct business. They will celebrate victories in the ministries of churches and entities. New officers will be elected. Old friendships will be renewed and new ones made. When the meeting adjourns Nov. 17 it will have been an important event in the life of Alabama Baptists.

Chief among business items will be the consideration of a record Cooperative Program (CP) budget of $41.5 million. After a year of a flat CP    budget, officials are looking for 2005 to be a brighter year financially. The proposed budget calls for an increase of 2.65 percent.

The percentage of allocations between state and national causes remains constant in the proposed budget with state causes receiving 57.7 percent and SBC causes receiving 42.3 percent.

The percentage of allocations to Alabama Baptist State Convention entities also remains constant with past years. The State Board of Missions will receive 29.96 percent. Christian higher education causes are allocated 21.04 percent. All other convention-related ministries share the remaining 6.7 percent.
Resolutions limited, but important

Convention resolutions always produce surprises and grab headlines. Even though resolutions are not binding on any cooperating Baptist church or individual Baptists, messengers usually argue passionately about the topics proposed.

Resolutions express the majority view of those present at the time the resolutions were adopted. But, because the majority is empowered to do business in the name of the state convention, resolutions are generally viewed as the official positions of Alabama Baptists.  That makes them important.

Messengers will also celebrate victories from the many ministries they do together through the State Board of Missions and convention-related entities. Through the work of the State Board of Missions, churches are being strengthened and individuals are growing in knowledge of and in skill in the Lord’s work.

Alabama Baptists’ three institutions of higher learning are all prospering, and all are furnishing college-level education in a Christian atmosphere. Longtime observers say there has never been a time in Alabama Baptist life when the institutions of higher learning were more supportive of one another or more cooperative with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

The Children’s Homes & Family Ministries, the Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers, Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center — these and others are all making a difference in the lives of people. During the various reports to the convention, messengers will learn how these entities continue to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them by Alabama Baptists.

President Joe Godfrey, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove, will conclude two busy years as president of the state convention by presiding over the upcoming annual meeting. Godfrey has taken his responsibilities seriously.

He has attended countless state convention committee meetings and most of the meetings of the boards of trustees of the various entities.

Godfrey acknowledges that he has learned a lot about Alabama Baptist life during his two-year tenure. He has also contributed a lot. Godfrey has been a positive voice — an encouraging voice to state convention personnel and to entity leaders. He presided over last year’s annual meeting without any major problems. His leadership in the coming meeting should be equally as good.

In many states, Baptists are approaching their annual meetings with a sense of fear.  Races for those convention offices become polarizing campaigns, sometimes as nasty as the current presidential election. Not so in Alabama. The only candidate expected to be nominated for convention president at this time is Henry Cox, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bay Minette.

Cox will complete two years as first vice president of the state convention at this meeting.  Before that, he served two years as second vice president. If elected, he will be the first person in Alabama Baptist history to have gone through the three offices in consecutive terms.

But the last six state convention presidents, including Godfrey, served as first vice president immediately prior to being elected to the state convention’s top office.

Someone else may be nominated, may even be elected. The important point is that Alabama Baptists are not polarized over convention officers. Our presidents try to be leaders for all Alabama Baptists, not just the party faithful.

When messengers are not sitting in the Eastmont sanctuary participating in the convention proceedings, they may be found in the display area. State and national groups will have booths providing information about how they can be helpful to churches and church members. Some offer specific ministries or resources that they eagerly share. Time in the display area can be a real education.

Sometimes a minister will take a few minutes just to stop and visit with a former college or seminary classmate or perhaps a friend from a previous place of service. The informal nature of the display area often provides opportunities for new friendships to be made as well.

Not to be overlooked is the encouraging nature of the state convention. This year’s emphasis on intentional evangelism will provide practical tools that can be used in local settings. Sermons and devotionals will feed the souls of those who faithfully preach the gospel week after week after week.

Learning what God is doing in other places will renew hope. Even informal time with people committed to serving the Lord and leading His churches will uplift human spirits. The Nov. 16–17 meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention will be an important time. Plan to be there if possible. If not, be sure to pray for God’s blessings on the 182nd annual meeting.