Good to Be an Alabama Baptist

The story of the 2002 Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting is made clear when one reads the headlines of what took place in other states this year.  In Missouri, the convention affirmed taking legal action against certain entities of the convention. In Georgia, messengers adopted a slate of trustees for Shorter College that will likely result in severing relationships between the school and the convention. In Arkansas, messengers wrote the 2002 Baptist Faith and Message into their constitution.

In Virginia and Texas, messengers approved plans that could redirect state convention efforts and programs. In North Carolina, an existing giving plan for churches to contribute to cooperative ministries was called into question and will now be studied.

In Illinois, messengers amended the convention budget to eliminate the new office of associate executive director.  Tennessee Baptists failed to adopt a proposal of their president’s study committee giving elected officers input on key convention committees.

Alabama Baptist headlines are far different. The relationship between the state convention and its entities has never been stronger. Several speakers at this year’s annual meeting noted that Alabama enjoys unprecedented cooperation among its three institutions of higher learning. Every entity is focused on its primary mission as determined by the state convention. While the stock market has not been good to institutional endowments, each entity continues in strong financial condition.

The state convention has had tension with institutions and entities in past years. It seemed like much of the 1990s was filled with concerns. But even then Alabama adopted a different goal from that chosen by Baptists in other states. Alabama determined to work out differences and to continue together in ministry. Relationships did not rupture. There was no divorce or separation. Today, cooperation is strong. More importantly, so is ministry.

Financially, Alabama Baptists continue to be one of the major sources of Cooperative Program support. Of every Cooperative Program dollar given by cooperating churches, 42.3 percent goes to work outside Alabama. No major state convention gives a higher percentage of its total receipts. These percentages have remained constant in recent years despite the troubled waters through which the national convention has passed. There has been no wavering by Alabama Baptists.

Programs of the Alabama State Board of Missions focus on serving the needs of cooperating churches. Messengers know that. When the budget for the coming year was presented, it was adopted without debate and without apparent opposition. In fact, every recommendation of the State Board of Missions was approved without debate.

No miscellaneous business was introduced this year. Ten of the 11 resolutions offered by the resolutions committee passed without debate and little, if any, opposition. Those entrusted with guiding convention-related entities were approved without opposition, and when an omission was discovered, it was corrected by common consent.

There is no mistaking the contrast between the atmosphere and spirit of many state Baptist conventions and the atmosphere and spirit of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. To this point, Alabama Baptists have determined to work together in evangelism and missions, and that decision is paying benefits.

That does not mean Alabama Baptists agree at all points. We do not even agree on who should be president. New president Joe Godfrey, pastor of Taylor Road Baptist Church in Montgomery, received 51.3 percent of the 1,460 votes cast for president.  But that margin is far wider than the 50.2 percent of votes that newly elected second vice president Roger Willmore received. Willmore is pastor of First Baptist Church, Boaz.

But Godfrey and the other newly elected officers are leaders of all Alabama Baptists. That is how it works in Baptist life. Convention officers represent all Alabama Baptists, not just those who voted for them. And all Alabama Baptists support the new officers. That was exemplified three years ago when Tom Whatley, pastor of Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals nominated Hunter Street pastor Buddy Gray for re-election as ABSC president. The year before, Whatley lost the presidential race to Gray by 11 votes.

Interest was high in the elections. The fact that about 25 percent of the 2,016 messengers registered on Wednesday morning just in time for the elections illustrates that point clearly. But choices were not between factional leaders. All of the candidates were traditionally conservative Alabama Baptists, although some have been more politically active.

Outgoing president Mike McLemore voiced the spirit of the convention when he urged messengers to walk together through open doors of ministry and evangelism and to tear down old walls of controversy and conflict. “It is the blood of Jesus that makes us brothers and sisters,” he reminded. “The blood of Jesus, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.” Amen.

In interviews following his election, Godfrey praised Alabama Baptists for their focus on missions and ministry and said he hopes to help maintain that focus during his term of office. He praised Executive Director Rick Lance and the leadership of Alabama Baptist entities.

Obviously, the direction Alabama has been going is the direction the new president wants the convention to continue. That is important. Working together in unity does not just happen. It takes hard work. It takes listening to one another. It takes understanding one another. It takes learning from one another. It takes respecting one another. It takes loving one another. It takes patience with one another. It takes time with one another. It takes commitment and determination by all.

That is what messengers called for when they adopted a resolution titled “On Alabama Baptist Unity.” Messengers did not approve an “anything goes” call for unity. Obviously, unity must be achieved under the guidance of the holy Bible, our God-breathed authority for faith and practice. We must be true to the Father and true to the family of faith at the same time.

It is far better to have headlines touting the accomplishments of Alabama Baptist entities than to read about lawsuits and ruptured relationships. It is far better to have headlines attesting to increasing financial resources for all cooperative ministries than to read about closing church giving plans. It is far better to read about support for State Board of Mission proposals than to read about convention floor fights that veto line items in the budgets.

It is good to be an Alabama Baptist. Good things are happening here. May God grant that they continue.