HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (ABP) — Messengers to the 151st annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Nov. 9-10 endorsed the Federal Marriage Amendment, approved a $19.7 million budget and re-elected a slate of officers.
The marriage resolution expressed gratitude for adoption of the Arkansas Marriage Amendment and supported a similar amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Other resolutions opposed expansion of gambling in Arkansas, supported sanctity of life and a pro-life agenda, and expressed gratitude for the 25th anniversary of the “conservative resurgence” in Southern Baptist life.
The resolution on the conservative resurgence drew an amendment attempt by Ron West, a messenger from First Baptist Church of Booneville. He offered an amendment that would “acknowledge many God-called theologically conservative missionaries and seminary professors have been falsely accused of liberalism and that we ask God's forgiveness for this sin.” After some discussion, the amendment overwhelmingly failed.
Another messenger urged the resolutions committee to withdraw the resolution or for the messengers to vote it down because he saw it as divisive and “a bad way to end a great convention.” The committee, however, did not withdraw the resolution and it passed by about a two-thirds majority.
The other resolutions passed without discussion.
Convention officers reelected to second terms were Grant Ethridge, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lavaca, president; LeRoy Wagner, former pastor of Pearcy Baptist Church of Pearcy, first vice president; and Larry White, pastor of First Baptist Church of Crossett, second vice president.
Messengers also approved a motion asking the convention president to appoint a seven-member task force to do a one-year comprehensive study of Baptist life and bring any recommendations for ways to improve ABSC work.
Jim Lagrone, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Bryant who served as convention president last year, made the motion. In his president's address last year, Lagrone challenged the new president to appoint such a committee. Ethridge, however, in this year's president's address, stated he would not do so unless instructed by the messengers. Therefore, Lagrone made the motion.
“Our fellowship right now is strong,” Lagrone said. “Our fellowship is at peace. This is the time we can look and see if we can do a better job in many areas.”
The motion carried.
The convention's budget includes $11.5 million (58.23 percent) for state causes and $8.2 million (41.77 percent) for Southern Baptist Convention causes.
The convention has had international partnerships with Brazil and Bulgaria. While continuing to assist those nations, the convention also will emphasize partnerships with missionaries who have Arkansas ties. That will include projects in Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, India, Jordan and Ukraine.
Within the United States, the Arkansas convention has formed a new partnership with the Kansas-Nebraska Baptist Convention.
In other action, Bill Fleming, a messenger of River Road Baptist Church of Redfield, offered several motions regarding salaries and benefits of convention employees. Each was either ruled out of order or voted down by messengers.