The 2001 edition of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention was chapter one inthe completely-reformed national organization. Several events seem anecdotal to the operation of annual meetings in the future. The 2001 edition of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention was chapter one inthe completely-reformed national organization. Several events seem anecdotal to the operation of annual meetings in the future.   This year’s meeting was more an extended worship service than business meeting. Sermons still drew the strongest responses. Big choirs and a big orchestra were always present and an integral part of the convention experience.   Even reports from convention agencies were testimonials to what presenters see as God’s moving in the agencies rather than a review of the agencies’ business. Agency directors sounded like preachers in brush arbor revivals. No more serious issue was raised during the required time for questions than how to get Vacation Bible School materials that seem to be in short supply.   Missions-related matters were convention highlights, according to messenger responses. The first was during the International Mission Board program … [Read more...]

In the early part of the Old Testament, God comes to Abraham and calls him to leave his home country and people and go with him to another land. In the early part of the Old Testament, God comes to Abraham and calls him to leave his home country and people and go with him to another land.   It was the launch of a journey of purpose, faith and promise, national Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union President Janet Hoffman noted last week.   "Abraham’s journey was one of God’s purpose, revealed in God’s call to go where ‘I will show you,’ " Hoffman said during her report at last week’s WMU annual meeting in New Orleans.   "It was a journey of faith, requiring Abraham to leave the familiar and venture into new territory," added Hoffman, who is a member at First Baptist Church of Farmerville and who was elected to a second one-year term as national president during last week’s meeting. "And it was a journey of promise - not only for Abraham but for all people."   It also was a model for the incredible journey "beyond belief" that WMU has been on for 113 years, Hoffman added, alluding to the meeting theme.   As with Abraham, the WMU journey is one of purpose, … [Read more...]

There are many things an African-American preacher might say to the world’s largest Protestant denomination, perceived by many as having at best a tenuous track record in racial equality. There are many things an African-American preacher might say to the world’s largest Protestant denomination, perceived by many as having at best a tenuous track record in racial equality.   Fred Luter pondered that question after accepting the invitation to preach the convention sermon at the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention last week in New Orleans.   "I thought about what I should say and wondered if I should try to fix what’s wrong with the Southern Baptist Convention," said Luter, pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans.   But after prayer, Luter said he decided to do something that would not offend anyone. "I’m going to lift up Jesus. Nobody can get mad about that."   The chance to deliver the sermon was a great honor - but there was a time when Luter did not receive praise for his ministry.   Luter said he remembers the days when he was the subject of strong reproach from other African-American pastors in the city for his association with a predominantly … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   Fred Luter made history at last week’s Southern Baptist Convention - and brought thousands of annual meeting messengers to their feet in doing it.   In delivering a full-throttle convention sermon, Luter became the first African- American to bring the annual address in the denomination’s history. Fred Luter made history at last week’s Southern Baptist Convention - and brought thousands of annual meeting messengers to their feet in doing it.   In delivering a full-throttle convention sermon, Luter became the first African- American to bring the annual address in the denomination’s history.   He made the most of it, delivering a message that was interrupted several times by applause and that ended with messengers on their feet, calling Luter back to the podium for a final exhortation.   In many ways, it was a fitting honor for an amazing story.   In 1986, Luter was a street preacher in New Orleans when Louisiana Baptist leaders asked him to become pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.   The New Orleans congregation had undergone inner-city transition and was down to a few dozen members. Although … [Read more...]

Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   James Dotson North American Mission Board Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   The new dollar coin bearing the likeness of the Native American heroin Sacagawea recently gained new meaning to many exotic dancers on New Orleans’ notorious Bourbon Street.   The coin became a symbol of both God’s unconditional love and the concern of Christian women willing to step out of their comfort zones and bring the dancers small no-strings-attached gifts as symbols of that love.   About two dozen people participating in Southern Baptists’ Crossover New Orleans evangelistic emphasis visited many of the strip clubs in the city as a way of letting the women know they care about them and want to help.   "Basically you use the woman on the coin as a symbol that God created women with special gifts and abilities," said Jean White, a ministry evangelism associate with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "Women are created in the image of God and God loves them very much."   The circle of the coin is a symbol for the … [Read more...]

Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   James Dotson North American Mission Board Before meeting, Southern Baptists took time to spread the love of God in New Orleans   The rain might have been torrential, but thanks to covered porches at the Fisher public housing complex in Gretna, teams of lay evangelists still were able to lead more than 300 residents to faith in Jesus Christ early this month.   Those 300 were only part of the more than 1,200 professions of faith recorded during a rain-soaked Crossover New Orleans evangelistic effort prior to last week’s Southern Baptist Convention in the city.   "It’s amazing what God has been doing," said Travis Johnson of Texas. "We just walked door-to-door, because a lot of people were out. We just walked around and talked."   The remnants of Tropical Storm Allison required Crossover participants to be creative and flexible in their efforts. Block parties were moved indoors and French Quarter ministry efforts were somewhat limited by the rain and accompanying sparse crowds. Even so, hundreds of decisions were recorded and nearly 40 churches reported they made significant … [Read more...]

The Cooperative Program took center stage during the report of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee last week. The Cooperative Program took center stage during the report of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee last week.   For one thing, Southern Baptist Convention messengers approved a record Cooperative Program goal of $178.3 million for the 2001-02 fiscal year.   In addition, convention leaders made an impassioned - and reflective - plea for support of the unified giving plan.   The $178.3 million goal was one of only four recommendations presented by the SBC Executive Committee for messenger action. All four were approved easily.   Based on convention policy, the 2001-02 Cooperative Program budget will be the same as final receipts for the 1999-2000 budget, the latest to be completed. The goal for the current year is $168 million, meaning next year’s budget represents an increase of 6.1 percent.   Fully funded, the new budget will channel $89.1 million to the International Mission Board; $40.6 million to the North American Mission Board; almost $38.6 million to theological education, including six national seminaries; nearly … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers elected five national officers last week - three by acclamation and two through ballot votes. James Merritt was granted a second one-year term as convention president by acclamation. Merritt serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga. Southern Baptist Convention messengers elected five national officers last week - three by acclamation and two through ballot votes. James Merritt was granted a second one-year term as convention president by acclamation. Merritt serves as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga. In nominating Merritt for a second term, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler said Southern Baptists have been blessed in recent years by a generation of leaders who have demonstrated the courage and determination necessary to leading a great denomination. "(James Merritt) is a dear friend and a friend to all Southern Baptists," Mohler said. "He is a man of integrity and character." Merritt is the first baby boomer elected to the Southern Baptist Convention presidency. A Georgia native, he has been pastor of the 12,000-member suburban Atlanta church since 1985. During his tenure the congregation … [Read more...]

P>In 1815, not many miles from the Louisiana Superdome, the famous Battle of New Orleans was fought.   In the battle, a collection of American volunteers and recruits commanded by Andrew Jackson defeated twice as many British soldiers to save control of the Louisiana port city and the Mississippi River. In 1815, not many miles from the Louisiana Superdome, the famous Battle of New Orleans was fought.   In the battle, a collection of American volunteers and recruits commanded by Andrew Jackson defeated twice as many British soldiers to save control of the Louisiana port city and the Mississippi River.   "But there was only one problem," Southern Baptist Convention President James Merritt explained last week. "The battle was really not worth fighting. ... The war had ended two weeks earlier when the Treaty of Ghent was signed in Europe."   Therein lies a lesson for Southern Baptists, Merritt said in delivering his president’s address to last week’s Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans.   "There are battles raging outside of this arena, and we need to be on the frontlines," said Merritt, citing attacks on the institution of marriage, sanctity of life and … [Read more...]

Millions of people in North America are "lost at sea" without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - and it is time for Southern Baptists to go on a rescue mission to save them. Millions of people in North America are "lost at sea" without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - and it is time for Southern Baptists to go on a rescue mission to save them.   That was the challenge of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board to messengers at the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans last week.   "Frankly, my friends, North America desperately needs more heroes - common people with an uncommon commitment to the highest of all calls - the Great Commission of Jesus Christ," said Robert Reccord, president of the convention mission board.   The North American Mission Board report to last week’s convention opened with a song by recording artist Wintley Phipps, titled, "Four Chaplains on the Sea of Glory." It described how four chaplains on a battleship during World War II sacrificed their lives to help fellow crewmen when their ship was hit and there were not enough life jackets to go around.   "Today, North America is awash with people who are lost at … [Read more...]