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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

SBC EC declines transparency motions

By Baptist Message staff INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) – Leading up to the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, the Executive Committee declined to act on two motions that called for enhanced transparency in the financial reports provided by Southern Baptist entities. Presented by messengers during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans, the motions would have required Convention entities to provide Southern Baptists with detailed information about highly compensated individuals -- like other tax-exempt organizations that are mandated to submit the Form 990 to the Internal Revenue Service. The motions would not have required entities to submit Form 990 to the IRS, but only provide the detailed breakout information about executive salaries to Southern Baptists. Instead of requiring such transparency, the EC urged Convention entities to uphold all current reporting standards and promised to review the Business and Financial Plan “to determine ways to enhance transparency and clarity of reporting to the Convention, and will report its findings and recommendations to the messengers at the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas.” … [Read more...]

SBC HIGHLIGHTS: Southern Baptists conduct business, enjoy fellowship, share the Gospel

By Baptist Message staff INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) – Here are the highlights from the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. Law Amendment (ban on women pastors) Messengers cast 5,099 ballots in favor (61.45 percent) of the Law Amendment and 3,999 against (38.38 percent). However, the majority fell short of the two-thirds (66.67 percent) threshold needed to amend the SBC Constitution. Last year, in New Orleans, 80 percent of messengers approved the measure to ban women pastors. However, failing in 2024 means the issue is dead for now because any constitutional amendment needs to be passed by the supermajority of messengers in two consecutive annual meetings. Disfellowshipped (legacy Virginia congregation) Nearly 92 percent (6,750) of ballots sustained the Credentials Committee’s recommendation to oust the historic First Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia. The congregation, which has a female pastor on staff, was found not to “closely identify” with the SBC. The move comes a year after messengers, during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting, disfellowshipped three churches who were found to be “not in friendly cooperation” with the SBC: Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California (three ordained women pastors), Fern Creek … [Read more...]

Crossover yields 185 decisions for Christ

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) – A variety of evangelistic efforts preceding the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting produced saving knowledge of Jesus in 185 new believers. According to the North American Mission Board, 44 churches in the Indianapolis area participated in Crossover, which took place June 3-8 in the city. The events had 1,469 volunteers who shared the Gospel with 5,393 people. Throughout the weekend, efforts included block parties, door-to-door witnessing, compassion projects and more evangelistic events. Sixty-five students and professors from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary participated in evangelism classes each morning and in the afternoon shared the Gospel door-to-door around the city. NOBTS had the largest group, with 20 NOBTS and Leavell College students and evangelism professors Preston Nix and Jeff Farmer. By the end of the week, NOBTS team knocked on 1,756 doors and had 227 Gospel conversations that resulted in 33 decisions to follow Christ. “Several of our students led their very first person to faith in … [Read more...]

‘Crescent City Worship’ releases live worship album

By Timothy Cockes, NOBTS News NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS) - “Crescent City Worship”, a newly-named collection of students, staff and friends of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) and Leavell College, has released their first ever album featuring Dove award-winning vocalist Meredith Andrews. The seven-track album, recorded live at the 2024 Abide Women’s Conference this past February, was released June 7 and is available now on all major music streaming platforms. The Abide Women's Conference, held Feb. 23-24 at NOBTS and Leavell College, challenged more than 1200 women to embrace a calling to be “Women of Prayer.” “Upon accepting my position here, Dr. Dew asked if I would work on an album project as soon as I got here,” said Nate Jernigan, associate professor of music and worship for NOBTS and Leavell College. “A year and a half in, this is the culmination of that first attempt.” Jernigan explained this collection of students, staff and friends of NOBTS has been leading worship in various settings at the school and around the country without any formal designation up to this point.  This collection of around 20 or so musicians will now be known as Crescent City Worship, named after the nickname of the city of … [Read more...]

Conversations with 2024 SBC presidential candidates

Leading up to the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Paul Watts interviewed the six individuals have been announced as intended nominees for SBC president. Watts is pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Ruston. David Allen           ------------------- Bruce Frank             ------------------- Mike Keahbone             ------------------- Jared Moore           ------------------- Clint Pressley           ------------------- Dan Spencer … [Read more...]