Exec. Committee president Frank Page speaking at President”s Luncheon

SAN ANTONIO—Frank Page, president of the SBC’s Executive Committee, will address the President’s Luncheon at the SBTC annual meeting in San Antonio.

The luncheon will be from noon-1:15 p.m. on Tuesday of the Nov. 12-13 meeting. The SBTC Bible Conference on Nov. 11-12 precedes the annual meeting.

All events will be at Castle Hills First Baptist Church, 2220 NW Military Highway in San Antonio.
Page, who served as Southern Baptist Convention president from 2006-2008 while the pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., came to the Executive Committee in 2010. He served briefly as vice president of evangelization at the North American Mission Board.

In 2009, Page’s church gave 10.8 percent of its receipts through the Cooperative Program for Southern Baptist missions. His church’s high CP giving percentage was considered a key in his election by SBC messengers in 2006.

Among Page’s writings are the book “Trouble with the Tulip,” an examination of the five points of Calvinism, and commentaries on the biblical books of Jonah and Mark.

A critic of Reformed theology, Page has also criticized those who would divide over the issue, having this year appointed an ad hoc committee of Calvinists and non-Calvinists to help bridge differences between factions in the denomination.

Upon his nomination to replace Morris Chapman at the Executive Committee, Page told Baptist Press, “I’m honored to be considered for such an important position. My prayer is that in some small way I might help in bringing unity to our convention.

“My prayer is based on John 17:21, which tells us that our unity affects our evangelism, and we desperately need unity at such a crucial time with many competing opinions and agendas being expressed.”

ANNUAL MEETING
This year’s annual meeting has the theme “Hearing & Doing,” based on James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

The closing sermon on Tuesday night will be from Charles Stanley, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta and internationally known for his “In Touch” television and radio ministry. Stanley served as SBC president from 1984-1986.

Also speaking during the annual meeting will be SBTC President Terry Turner, pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, who will bring his message to the convention on Monday night.
David Fleming, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, will preach the annual Convention Sermon on Tuesday morning, and SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards will bring his report on Tuesday afternoon.

BIBLE CONFERENCE
“Forged by Fire” is the theme of the 2012 Bible Conference on Nov. 11-12, preceding the annual meeting.

This year’s Bible Conference president is the host church’s pastor, R. James Shupp. Featured preachers are Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas; Danny Forshee, pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church, Austin; Rudy Gonzales of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary San Antonio campus; Tony Mathews, pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship, Garland; Tom Pennington, pastor of Countryside Bible Church, Southlake; and Robert Webb, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Kaufman.

The theme is taken from Isaiah 43:2, 1 Peter 1:6, 2 Corinthians 4:7, and Jeremiah 20:9.

In addition to the preaching sessions, the Ministry Café from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday will feature three different sessions with Floyd addressing the topic “The Fires of Criticism,” Mike Smith, president of Jacksonville College, addressing “The Fires of Conflict,” and Chris Moody, pastor of First Baptist Church of Beaumont, addressing “The Fires of Change.”

Registration for the Ministry Cafés is available at sbtexas.com/am12 and is $5 per person. Also, a Women’s Luncheon during the Monday Bible Conference will feature Thelma “Mama T” Wells of A Woman of God Ministries in Dallas. Cost for the Women’s Luncheon is $10.

Other related luncheons and gatherings on Monday include:

—SBTC African American Fellowship Dinner: 4:30-6 p.m. in the Faith Room 203/205.

—Southwestern Seminary Dinner: 4:30-6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

—Ezekiel Project Dinner: A free dinner on church revitalization; 4:30-6 p.m. in the Victory Gym.

—Forge Fellowship for Young Pastors: 9-10:30 p.m. (at the conclusion of the evening session) in the Fellowship Hall.

Tuesday events include:

—President’s Luncheon: Noon-1:15 p.m. in the Victory Gym with Frank Page, president, Executive Committee of the SBC.

—Criswell College Dinner and Dialogue: 4:45-6 p.m. in the Victory Gym. Topic: The Sinner’s Prayer and the Public Invitation: An Inquiry by a Calvinist and non-Calvinist. Moderators will be Criswell President Jerry A Johnson and SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards. Participants are Calvinist Tom Nettles of Southern Seminary and non-Calvinist Barry Creamer of Criswell College.

General information and registration links for these events is accessible at sbtexas.com/am12.