2013: State Annual Meeting Roundup

INDIANAPOLIS (BP) -- The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana will sell its office building and use the money to retire debt and build a new facility on the Highland Lakes Camp property, Executive Board chairman Ray Deeter announced at the convention's annual meeting.

ROANOKE, Va. (BP) -- Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia celebrated new church plants, stories of baptisms and a near record-breaking attendance of 990 registered messengers and guests during their annual meeting. The theme of this year's gathering was "Strong Churches with a Bold Commitment to the Great Commission."

COLUMBIA, S.C. (BP) -- Messengers to the 193rd annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention adopted a new vision theme, and approved a 2014 budget that could move the convention closer to increasing its international missions giving by 21.95 percent -- and eventually a 50/50 split in CP receipts. They also elected new officers and endorsed a slate of resolutions.

CASPER, Wyo. (BP) -- Wyoming Baptists approved at their 30th annual meeting Future Study Group recommendations to decentralize staffing and create more local support and ownership of strategy and ministry.

DACULA, Ga. (BP) -- As Georgia Baptists gathered for the annual meeting of the state convention they brought a veritable mountain of backpacks.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BP) -- An emphasis on 1-5-1 Harvest Plants brought perhaps the most culturally diverse group of messengers ever to the Tennessee Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov. 12-13 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) -– North Carolina Baptists decreased their 2014 Cooperative Program budget, but increased the percentage they will send to the Southern Baptist Convention, and elected new officers during their 183rd annual meeting. They also learned more details about the convention's new strategy for impacting lostness and making disciples.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (BP) –- Messengers to the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey continued moving forward with a growing focus on church health, multiplying congregations and missional living during their annual meeting.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) -- While focusing on "Partnering for God's Kingdom," Florida Baptists moved one step closer to sending half of their Cooperative Program gifts to national and international missions with the approval of a $30.5 million CP budget during their 152nd annual meeting.

AMHERST, N.Y. (BP) -- Messengers to the Baptist Convention of New York's 2013 annual meeting implemented on a trial basis two changes to BCNY bylaws and approved recommendations on carrying out the Vision Task Force plan.