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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

SBC cancels annual meeting

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—The Southern Baptist Convention has canceled the annual meet ing that had been scheduled for this summer in Orlando, Florida. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville, made the announcement, saying it was a decision “that has not been made in 75 years,” referencing 1945, during World War II, when the U.S. government banned meetings of groups larger than 50 people. Floyd said the action was consistent with Article XI.4 of the SBC Constitution, which includes the provision, “The Convention officers, the Executive Committee, and the executive heads of the Convention’s boards and institutions acting in a body may, in case of grave emergency, cancel a regular meeting or change the place of meeting.” “In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic which we believe constitutes a grave emergency, it is in the best interest of the SBC to cancel the Annual Meeting … out of a deep concern for the health and safety of messengers and attendees,” Floyd said. His announcement was preceded by a 75-0 vote by the SBC Executive Committee to cancel; combined with a unanimous vote to the same effect by Convention officers and SBC entity heads. … [Read more...]