By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists enjoyed fellowship and worship during the 2024 LBC Annual meeting, Nov. 12, hosted by Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport.
BUDGET APPROVED
Messengers approved the 2025 financial plan based on Cooperative Program contributions of $17,380,808, a decrease of $699,761, or 3.87 percent. Cooperative Program projections are based on actual receipts from August 2023 through July 2024. The allocation formula for distributing CP gifts between Southern Baptist entities and Louisiana Baptist causes remains unchanged, 62.87 percent to support ministries in the state and 37.13 percent forwarded to fund national entities.
MOTIONS
Messengers considered four motions, unanimously approving one that established a day of prayer for Louisiana Christian University on the first Sunday in February (submitted by Terry Young, pastor, Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City).
Young submitted two other motions regarding LCU. He withdrew one motion that asked Louisiana Baptists to use prayer, more funding, and student recruiting to reaffirm their dedication to and partnership with the school. His third motion, asking for a special annual offering for the next three years that would be collected on the day of prayer for the school, was referred to the Executive Board for further deliberation and consideration.
A motion by messenger Lewis Richerson, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, to amend Article 6, Section 5 of the Articles of Incorporation to affirm the office of pastor as exclusive to men was referred to the Executive Board for further deliberation and consideration.
LAGNIAPPPE
The final messenger count for the 2024 Annual Meeting was 451, an increase from 338 that registered for the 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
The 2025 LBC Annual Meeting will take place Nov. 11 at the Randolph Riverfront Center, Alexandria. The convention sermon will be preached by Michael Wood, pastor with First Baptist Church, West Monroe.
The alternate preacher will be Tommy Middleton, associational mission strategist with Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge. The worship leader will be Cullen McDaniel, worship pastor with Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge.
OFFICERS ELECTED
David Goza, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, was re-elected president. Matt Endris, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, Alpha, was re-elected first vice-president, and Craig James, associational mission strategist, North-Central Baptist Association, was elected second-vice president.
All three men were given individual votes of acclamation by the Convention – a single ballot cast by the LBC executive director in view of no opposition to any of the candidates
