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SpanishNASHVILLE, Tenn.–Messengers proposed 24 motions during the opening day of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting on such topics as theological training for missionaries, Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and ministry to people seeking to overcome “same-sex” attractions.
Russ Bush of Raleigh, N.C., moved that the SBC’s International Mission Board bring to the convention in 2006 a plan for continuing support of “theologically conservative” educational institutions “with Baptist doctrinal and polity convictions that are engaged in leadership training and theological education on the various mission fields of the world, and that clearly explains and reaffirms the Board’s intent to continue to require theological training in a Baptist seminary for all full-time missions personnel.” Bush’s motion was referred to the IMB, to report back to the 2006 convention to be held in Greensboro, N.C.
Wiley Drake of Buena Park, Calif., moved that the SBC president “appoint a study committee to evaluate and make recommendations to the SBC in 2006” on whether it is biblically correct for a church to be organized pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code which prohibits nonprofit corporations from engaging in political campaigns. Drake’s motion was referred to the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).
Grateful for convention action establishing a task force on ministry to homosexuals as a result of his 2001 motion, Bob Stith of Southlake, Texas, moved that “the SBC establish as quickly as possible a liaison position to coordinate and enhance the ministry of the convention’s task force on ministry to homosexuals and those who struggle with unwanted ‘same-sex’ attraction.” As Stith recommended, the motion was referred to LifeWay Christian Resources, the North American Mission Board and the ERLC.
Motions referred to the Executive Committee because they affect the SBC constitution or bylaws proposed:
> that the SBC’s bylaws be amended to allow for resolutions to be brought to the Resolutions Committee for review as early as April 15 or in the beginning of the afternoon session of the first day of the annual meeting, submitted by Drake.
> that at least one woman be appointed to the committees of every SBC entity, submitted by Sharon Luke of Leesville, La. Concerned that “many of these are made of all men,” she stated, “We have to accept the fact that our women also have viewpoints on what’s being done. Sometimes they see things in a different way because they’re the nurturers and they attend to many things that the men don’t. So their viewpoint and ideas on these things are not addressed.”
Welch responded, “There’s not a husband here that doesn’t agree with that.”
> that the SBC annual meetings no longer meet on the week following Father’s Day, submitted by Robert Wensil of Iron Station, N.C.,
> that the SBC recognize and fund the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship as a “formal evangelistic mission entity” to Jewish people worldwide, submitted by Connie Saffle of Wichita, Kan., in keeping with the Acts 1:8 emphasis on global evangelism.
> that the Executive Committee ask for a “good faith estimate from state conventions who (sic) are in cooperation with the SBC as to when they will reach the original goal of a 50/50 split of Cooperative Program funds between the SBC and state conventions,” submitted by Ron Wilson of Thousand Oaks, Calif.
> that the SBC invite the Woman’s Missionary Union to become an SBC entity, submitted by Leslie Stock, from Boonville, Mo. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the WMU is neither owned nor operated by the SBC. As the sole auxiliary to the SBC, WMU cooperates closely with IMB and NAMB to encourage churches to give generously to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.
>that the SBC Bylaw 26 be amended by changing the words “with the exception that” to read “unless,” and that the words “may be” be amended to read “is,” submitted by Jeff Purvis of St. Louis. Bylaw 26 allows messengers to direct the Committee on Order of Business to facilitate immediate consideration by messengers of motions dealing with internal operations or ministries of SBC entities. His change would instruct the Committee on Order of Business by two-thirds votes to give immediate consideration at the same or a subsequent session.
Referred to LifeWay Christian Resources was a motion requesting:
>that LifeWay “make available once again through any and all willing local, hometown Christian bookstores, including LifeWay Christian Bookstore, any undated LifeWay and convention study curriculum and dated and undated Vacation Bible School materials at the same prices as with LifeWay, with the same opportunities for returns for credit as with LifeWay,” submitted by Tim VanLandingham of Valdosta, Ga.
VanLandingham said that his motion grew out of concerns that Southern Baptist churches in communities far from a LifeWay store either have to pay “large shipping and handling charges” to obtain VBS materials through a catalog, or else elect to “visit their local Christian bookstore where they well find a variety of VBS materials from various publishers, but not LifeWay.” Two motions were referred to all 12 SBC entities:
>that all SBC entities review all aspects of their areas of ministry as they impact or serve single parents and their children, and remove any barriers to effective ministry to single parents and their children, submitted by Gerald Dominy of Rogersville, Ala.
>that GuideStone Financial Resources become the primary insurance provider for all employees of SBC entities and agencies, submitted by James Salles of Beaumont, Texas.
Salles’ motion was mirrored by Charles Edwards of Immokalee, Fla. Edwards moved that the SBC or Executive Committee “require” GuideStone to bring a report “to justify” why their “rates for health coverages (sic) are so far out of line with other [insurance] companies.” Despite the applause for the motion from messengers, Edwards’ motion was ruled out of order by the chair because on SBC entity cannot be required to direct another SBC entity to take any action.
Eight other motions were ruled out of order, including this motion that was deemed to be more appropriate as a resolution.
>that the SBC president send a letter to the Disney corporation telling them that the SBC will end its boycott of Disney on June 22, 2005, also submitted by Drake. It was ruled out of order because it addressed a resolution passed in 1997 representing the collective opinion of messengers at that time but could not bind future messengers or conventions. A current convention cannot retract the resolution of an earlier convention.
These motions were referred out of order as they attempted to instruct an entity to take an action, a role reserved for the entity’s board:
>that a 10 percent “tithe” of this year’s budget for the ERLC be allocated to the Center for Reclaiming America of Coral Ridge Ministries in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to support efforts to “reestablish the right to acknowledge God in America” and “ to correct the major American problem of federal judges making laws rather than interpreting laws,” submitted by Hiram Smith of Pensacola, Fl.
> that the SBC encourage all affiliated churches “not to remove the name ‘Southern Baptist’ or ‘Baptist’ from their church signs,” submitted by Chris Burghoff of Alabama who quoted Southern Seminary President Al Mohler in saying, “’We have a living heritage.’ Therefore Southern Baptists should not hesitate to take a stand for being Southern Baptists,” he said.
> directing WMU to amend its charter to make the SBC its sole member, submitted by Leslie Stock of Boonville, Mo. However, because the WMU is not an entity of SBC, the convention cannot direct its affairs.
>that LifeWay and NAMB study how single adults are being ministered to by the SBC;
>that the Executive Committee publish “line-item expenditures and receipts in all financial areas from every reporting entity,” including salaries, bonuses, benefits and claimed expense account amounts for all reporting entity personnel, submitted by J.D. Muschany of Lebanon, Mo.
>that LifeWay examine the Disney movie “America’s Heart and Soul” and the accompanying study guide for biblical soundness, and make the movie and guide available to all southern Baptists in the event they are found biblically sound, submitted by Drake.
A motion by Kent Cockran of Raytown, Mo. Moved:
>that all SBC entities “respond to a covenant with Southern Baptists … to go the extra mile” in their business, ethics and public financial disclosure practices, submitted by Kent Cochran of Raytown, Mo. The motion was ruled out of order becaouse the Committee on Order of Busines could not determine the intent of Cochran’s motion.
–Compiled from a Baptist Press report by Brent Thompson and reporting by Tammi Ledbetter
