2017 SBC Annual Meeting

Questions were posed to five Southern Baptist Convention entity presidents during time allotted for messengers' questions during the leaders' respective reports at the June 13-14 SBC annual meeting in Phoenix.

PHOENIX (BP) -- Women gathered for the third annual Tea at 3 for personal connections, equipping and encouragement ahead of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. The free event, at the Sheraton Grand June 12, was hosted by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and open to all women. Ministry partners donated key resources for each woman attending, including a stack of books for ministry and spiritual enrichment.

Be "brave" in sharing God's truth to those outside and inside the church, especially in the face of today's increasing intolerance toward Christianity, said several speakers during the 2017 Pastors' Wives Conference.

Drawing from John 15, Kelly Minter, an author, songwriter and speaker, shared about fruit-bearing -- and God's intentional pruning -- in ministry at the 2017 Ministers' Wives Luncheon held June 13.

PHOENIX (BP) -- Countering declining baptism numbers, improving preaching, combatting pornography and increasing women's involvement in the Southern Baptist Convention were among topics discussed by panelists at the Cooperative Program booth during the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix. A series of panel discussions hosted in the SBC exhibit hall June 12-14 celebrated Gospel advancement through the efforts of Southern Baptists, including ministries fueled by CP, Southern Baptists' unified method of funding missions and ministries in North America and internationally.

PHOENIX (BP) -- Ministers' wives honored Ann lorg, wife of Gateway Seminary President Jeff Iorg, with the 2017 Willie Turner Dawson Award during the annual Ministers' Wives Luncheon in Phoenix June 13 at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Each year, the Dawson Award recognizes a minister's wife for making a distinct denominational contribution beyond the local church and for her Christian character and service to others.

Good financial stewardship stems from a right relationship with God, and the Bible has plenty to say about managing God's resources God's way, a group of pastors said during the President's Panel on Stewardship June 14 at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix.

PHOENIX (BP) -- Emphasizing the opportunity for bold prayer in light of Christ's role as great high priest, pastor H.B. Charles preached from Hebrews 4:14-16 at the Southern Baptist Convention June 14 in Phoenix. "These verses declare to us that Lord Jesus Christ is our great high priest who in and of Himself provides everything faith requires to live for God," said Charles, newly elected president of the SBC Pastors' Conference. "Here we find why we as believers, why we as the church, why we as a convention must stick with Jesus no matter what."

PHOENIX (BP) -- Alumni awards, reflections on missions and reports of progress in seminary education were celebrated June 14 during luncheons for alumni and friends of Southern Baptist seminaries during the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Phoenix. Gateway Oklahoma Baptist University broke into Gateway Seminary's planned program at their Alumni and Friends Luncheon to present President Jeff Iorg with the ...

Calling the resolution denouncing "alt-right white supremacy" the Southern Baptist Convention's "strongest statement to date" condemning racism, the president of the SBC's fellowship of African American pastors offered to help churches and entities overcome the evil.