GREENSBORO, N.C. (ABP) — Taking aim at issues ranging from SBC executives' perks, to Calvinism, from pandemics to what they should call homosexuals, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting presented a flurry of motions.
In fact, 29 motions proposed during the June 13-14 meeting in Greensboro, N.C., constituted an SBC record, reported Allan Blume, chairman of the convention's order-of-business committee.
The motion that received the most attention asked the SBC Executive Committee to create a special committee to study trustee conflict as well as external manipulation and coercion at the International Mission Board.
Wade Burleson, a trustee from Oklahoma who was punished by fellow trustees after opposing several key IMB policies, requested the independent study committee. But convention messengers upheld the order-of-business committee's decision to refer the motion back to IMB trustees. (See related story.)
A parallel motion, offered by a messenger from Oklahoma, asked that Burleson be restored to full privileges on the IMB trustee board. It was ruled out of order, since the IMB study is expected to take a look at Burleson's status with the board.
Messengers' motions most significantly impacted the Executive Committee, which received 15 referrals during the two-day meeting. The referred motions called for:
— An “administrative expense analysis” of all SBC agencies and institutions. The motion seeks examination of agency presidents' travel, housing, office and residential expenses.
— Examination of the impact of Calvinism on Southern Baptist life. Calvinism is a theological system named for 16th century Swiss reformer John Calvin. Most notably, it emphasizes the sovereignty of God over human free will.
— Development of contingency plans “in the event that the SBC annual meeting cannot be held due to a pandemic influenza or some other type of disaster.”
— The SBC to meet in New Orleans in 2008. David Crosby, pastor of First Baptist Church in New Orleans, issued the invitation. An attempt to require messengers to vote on the invitation failed after Jack Wilkerson, the convention's business manager, explained the SBC already is committed to meet in Indianapolis in 2008, and changing now would mean breaking contracts, costing the convention thousands of dollars; he also noted the convention could not guarantee messengers' safety in New Orleans.
— Amending SBC policies to require that convention officers be members of churches that give 10 percent of their budgets to the SBC Cooperative Program unified budget. This issue surfaced this year because the church of one candidate for president, Ronnie Floyd, contributes one-fourth of 1 percent and the church of another presidential candidate, Jerry Sutton, contributes less than 5 percent.
— A study of the way SBC boards of trustees function. The study is to include the size, purpose, scope of responsibility and frequency of meetings, as well as the minimum qualifications for trustees.
— A new policy that would require the full convention to vote on “any doctrinal position or practical policy” of an SBC entity “which goes beyond or seeks to explain” the convention's Baptist Faith & Message statement. The policy would stipulate that any such statement in effect at an SBC entity would be presented to messengers attending the convention's next annual meeting and, if not approved, it would be rescinded.
— Amending SBC bylaws so that a simple majority of messengers at an annual meeting could force a vote on a motion that would deal with the internal operation or ministries of convention entities. Currently, bylaws require a two-thirds majority to force such a vote.
— Revising SBC bylaws so that a simple majority of convention messengers can decide to consider a resolution that is not proposed by the SBC Resolutions Committee. The present policy requires a two-thirds majority vote to consider such a resolution.
— Changing the rules governing the terms of SBC trustees, so that each trustee would serve one seven-year term. Current policies stipulate trustees can serve two consecutive terms. Seminary terms are five years, and other trustee terms are four years.
— Altering the policy that regulates when messengers may submit resolutions for consideration at annual meetings. Currently, proposals must be submitted to the Resolutions Committee at least 15 days prior to the annual meeting. The motion would allow presentations up to the beginning of the afternoon session of the first day of the meeting.
— Counting “any and all verifiable giving from a local Southern Baptist church to legitimate SBC causes” toward that church's “total giving to Southern Baptist missions causes.” This would include funds spent on mission trips, church starts and disaster relief, as well as SBC Cooperative Program contributions.
— Instructing the SBC nominating committee to appoint at least one person under age 40 to each SBC committee and board.
— Improving accommodations to make the SBC annual meetings accessible to disabled messengers. A second part of this motion, which asked the SBC North American Mission Board to hire a disabled staff member to “accelerate disability awareness,” was referred to that board.
— Appointing a committee to research the “emergent-church movement” and its impact upon the SBC.
Other referred motions called for:
— Conducting an external audit of all funds handled by the International Mission Board's Central Asia region from 1999 through 2005. Ron McGowin of First Baptist Church in Fairfield, Texas, claimed a 2002-03 IMB internal audit on work in the region “at best could only account for $372,831.62 of embezzled monies.” The motion was referred to the IMB.
— Determining how the SBC's two mission boards can “work in greater partnership and harmony.” The request noted the mission boards share tasks in disaster-relief, and the differences between foreign and domestic missions are getting harder to discern. The motion was referred to the mission boards.
— Investigating why children from evangelical families leave the church as they enter adulthood, why “the vast majority of evangelical Christians do not hold to a clearly defined biblical worldview” and why a “growing carnality” is producing “unregenerate church members.” LifeWay Christian Resources received this motion.
— Opening a LifeWay Christian Store in Phoenix. LifeWay also received this motion.
— Authorizing GuideStone Financial Resources, the convention's annuity and insurance board, to allow lay members of Southern Baptist churches to participate in its financial and insurance products.
Responding to a motion calling for the convention to set aside at least 15 minutes during each annual meeting to “praise our Lord, confess our rebellion, and to cry out and seek his will …,” Blume noted subsequent order-of-business committees would consider this request.
In addition to the motion supporting Burleson's reinstatement into the full activities of IMB trustees, the order-of-business committee declared six motions out of order. They included requests that the convention:
— Ask the convention's new president, Frank Page, to write a letter commending the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for “its ruling that allows a church to continue offering shelter and the gospel of Jesus Christ to the homeless.” The committee determined this motion actually was a resolution but was submitted after the deadline for resolutions, Chairman Blume said.
— Recognize a new U.S. Christian flag, known as “Beauty and Band” and “Our Lord's Flag.” The committee felt this request was beyond the convention's control.
— Endorse the Missional Network, which includes “the next generation of leaders in the SBC,” and allow the network to report to the convention each year. The motion had the characteristics of a resolution, and only official SBC entities can report at the annual meeting, Blume noted.
— Instruct new President Page to retract a letter of affiliation written by an Executive Committee employee to New Life Community Church in California. The motion was out of order because convention policy, not a letter from any convention employee, determines if a church is affiliated with the SBC, Blume said, adding the issue could not be debated, because the convention does not have all the relevant facts about the church and because no messengers from the church were present to defend their congregation.
— Encourage all SBC presidential candidates and other elected officers to “demonstrate both verbally and financially a strong history of intentional commitment” to the Cooperative Program. This motion actually is a resolution, and it was addressed by a special convention committee this year, Blume told the messengers.
— Stop using the word “gay” when referring to homosexuals in sermons, publications and the media. The motion, presented by retired pastor William Gay of Washington, N.C., also asked other pastors to stop referring to homosexuals as “gay” in their sermons and publications. Blume explained this motion was not in order, because “it is beyond the scope of the convention's authority to direct churches to use a specific vocabulary.”
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