2009 SBC Annual Meeting News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Southern Baptists have gained “tremendous victories” in Washington in recent months, Richard Land told messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky., June 23. Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, cited a recently-adopted measure that gives the Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco products […]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Fred Winters was a man known for loving the Bible and people. It was reflected in his passion for preaching the Gospel and seeing people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. His congregation knew of his qualities, and on June 23 messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention met […]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–An evening of testimonies conveyed both miracles and the remaining challenges of a lost world. And Southern Baptists responded on their knees with prayer — and a gift of more than $100,000 to international missions June 23 at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Louisville, Ky. Following recent news that the International […]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting approved a resolution June 24 celebrating the election of the country's first African American president and urging prayer on his behalf, while expressing opposition to his actions regarding unborn life and homosexuality.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Encouraged by attendance exceeding 8,600 registered messengers on the first day of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 23 -- twice as many as he expected -- SBC President Johnny Hunt said there is a "sense of urgency" among the brethren.       Hunt attributed much of the interest at this year's meeting to his Great Commission Resurgence initiative. In a news conference following his re-election to a second term, he also addressed questions ranging from his opinion of controversial Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll to his view of Calvinism among Southern Baptists.       Hunt attributed much of the interest at this year's meeting to his Great Commission Resurgence initiative. In a news conference following his re-election to a second term, he also addressed questions ranging from his opinion of controversial Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll to his view of Calvinism among Southern Baptists.       "I feel there's a lot of energy in the halls," said Hunt, pastor of Atlanta-area First Baptist Church in Woodstock. "Everybody's talking the same talk: 'We need this Great Commission Resurgence.'       "We are saying times have been desperate," Hunt added. "Now I really do sense fellow Southern Baptists are saying we need to get serious."       Asked about Driscoll, Hunt responded: "I don't know him, never met him. A lot of young men like to follow his blogs and podcasts. It's just been interesting."       Referring to motions from the floor placing Driscoll and the network he founded, Acts 29, in a bad light, Hunt said, "[T]he entire premise of being a Baptist is sort of thrown under the bus when you start telling someone who they can or cannot fellowship with." He said it is a matter that it should be left to the conscience and the priesthood of the believer.       About church methodology, Hunt said the SBC is a "great family fellowship" using varied methodologies which provide a healthy balance.       Hunt said it might be that some of the perceived tension across generations of Southern Baptists is rooted in several things, including methodology, dress and music.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--On a show of ballots, Southern Baptist Convention messengers June 23 authorized their president, Johnny Hunt, to appoint a task force to study how Southern Baptists can work "more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–If Southern Baptists are to be what God wants them to be, they desperately need to repent of the sins that clog their spiritual lives, Johnny Hunt told the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference June 22. “I am not a prophet or a prophet’s son, but I may have to do until a prophet […]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--"Getting serious doesn't mean you adopt something," Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt said in his presidential message June 23 at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky.       Anticipating discussion on his call for a task force to study how Southern Baptists can more effectively serve Christ through the Great Commission, Hunt asked pastors to recognize "there's gold in them there pews," and to gain a vision for what God's people can do if yielded to Him.       "Talk is cheap. So we're not here to get anything adopted," Hunt insisted during the SBC's opening session. Instead, he said, "It's about all of us starting with the local church, [and] taking a look to see if we're doing the best we've ever done in our lifetime to fulfill the Great Commission."       Hunt, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church in Woodstock, expressed gratitude to God for "men of wisdom" who offered advice following his April 27 release of a Great Commission Resurgence document. "I take to heart so much you shared with me," he said, referring to input from seminary presidents, the SBC Executive Committee president, state convention executive directors and leading pastors.       "When it comes right down to it, you have to get on your face before Almighty God and ask, 'What in the world am I doing in attempting to lead this convention for such a time as this? Is there an assignment from heaven that God has placed me here [for]?'" Hunt said.       With that mandate in mind, Hunt delivered an exposition of 2 Chronicles 7, weaving into his address key questions he said pastors and laymen should ask themselves about their ministries and mission.       Hunt pled for a Great Commission resurgence that begins in the pulpits of more than 44,000 local Southern Baptist churches and filters through local associations, state conventions and national entities to reach the world for Christ.       "We will have to give an account for what we have done with what God has given us," Hunt said in laying out the challenge for every Christian.       Reminding messengers of God's promise to hear the prayers of believers as noted in verse 12, Hunt appealed for perception that moves Christian believers to compassion.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--An absence of morality, not a lack of money, is responsible for many of the problems facing the United States, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told the 2009 SBC Pastors' Conference ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--On the second day of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville June 22, speakers exhorted pastors to lead with "One Love," "One Spirit" and "One Purpose."