LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABP) — Federal judge Eugene Siler was elected president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention Nov. 11. He is only the fourth layman elected to that post in the past 50 years.
Siler, who serves on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was elected by a vote of 532-436 over Bill Henard, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington.
Siler, who describes himself as a “traditional” Baptist, was endorsed by the moderate Mainstream Baptists of Kentucky. A member of First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, he served the past year as KBC first vice president. He is chairman of the Baptist Healthcare System board of directors and a trustee of Baptist Seminary of Kentukcy.
Henard, who served this year as president of the Kentucky Baptist Pastors' Conference, described himself as “pro-SBC.” He served on the Southern Baptist Convention's 2001-2002 Committee on Nominations and is a trustee of LifeWay Christian Resources.
In other elections, Paul Chitwood, pastor of First Baptist Church of Somerset, was elected first vice president and Skip Alexander, pastor of Campbellsville Baptist Church, was elected second vice president.
Messengers, meeting Nov. 11-12 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, adopted five resolutions, including statements affirming covenant marriage and opposing expanded gambling and alcohol sales.
They also explored the theme “Missions Beyond the Edge.” The missions focus included affirming a missions partnership with the Piaui Baptist Convention in Brazil that officially will begin in 2005.
Messengers also took part in an International Mission Board appointment service Nov. 11. The mission board's trustees appointed 69 missionaries, including two who were not publicly recognized because of the sensitive nature of their overseas assignment.
Tubby Smith, head basketball coach of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, welcomed a crowd of approximately 3,500 people to Rupp Arena for the commissioning service. Affirming the missionaries' efforts to “bring the gospel to all parts of the world,” Smith reminded the crowd, “You've got to have someone support you in everything you do.”
During convention business sessions, KBC messengers adopted a reduced Cooperative Program budget and declined a proposed constitutional amendment on messenger representation.
The 2004-05 budget of $22.5 million is a 3 percent reduction from the current budget. Next year's budget maintains the allocations of 64 percent for KBC causes and 36 percent for Southern Baptist Convention causes.
A proposed constitutional amendment introduced last year sought to expand guidelines for the number of messengers to include financial gifts to any convention cause. The current guidelines specify that churches can name additional messengers based on contributions to the Cooperative Program.
The committee on constitution and bylaws declined to recommend passage of the proposed amendment. Bob Fox, who offered the original motion, asked to have it considered on the floor of the convention.
“I believe that adding the term 'convention work' to the constitution will broaden participation in Kentucky Baptist life,” said Fox, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Georgetown. “I think a fairer system would recognize all gifts to the KBC as gifts that allow for additional messengers and additional representation.” His proposal was defeated 526-190.
Next year's KBC annual meeting will be Nov. 16-17 at St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville.
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