ORLANDO (BP) – “The Road to Orlando,” a series of videos informing Southern Baptists on various aspects of June’s annual meeting, launched today (Jan. 20) with an introduction by host Jonathan Howe.
The Road to Orlando is sponsored by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, with episodes featuring interviews with various Southern Baptist leaders. Howe gives a brief introduction to Orlando and the series in Episode 1.
The series is designed to prepare messengers for business sessions, but also to help them reconnect with others in what has been described as a family reunion.
“The Road to Orlando is designed to help Southern Baptists arrive at the annual meeting informed, engaged and ready to participate,” said Howe, SBC Executive Committee vice president for Convention Administration. “Inside the hall, the series explains what’s coming related to the business of the Convention, why it matters and how messengers can be involved.
“Outside the hall, the series highlights the ministries, leaders and opportunities for fellowship that make the SBC Annual Meeting more than just a business meeting – it’s a shared moment in the life of the Convention.”
Southern Baptists have gathered in Orlando three times, typically with historic results.
Jim Henry’s surprising election, by a 10-point margin, as president over Alabama pastor Fred Wolfe headlined the 1994 gathering. Messengers approved a revision to the Baptist Faith and Message in 2000, and 10 years later, adopted the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report. The 2020 gathering would have continued discussions from the previous year about sexual abuse reform and critical race theory, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Southern Baptists will elect a new president as North Carolina pastor Clint Pressley completes his second one-year term. It will also be the final meeting for Danny Akin and Sandy Wisdom-Martin in their respective roles leading Southeastern Seminary and Woman’s Missionary Union. In addition, there is potential for reports from new entity heads, as Lifeway and the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission continue their searches.
Information such as securing a hotel and micro-conferences hosted by the SBC Pastors’ Conference can be found at SBCAnnualMeeting.net. Pre-registration for messengers and childcare begins Feb. 2.
The Pastors’ Conference precedes the Annual Meeting and will take place June 7-8. The Annual Meeting begins the morning of June 9, reconvening in the afternoon. Messengers will gather again the following morning. The final gavel drop to conclude the Wednesday afternoon session is expected to be at 5 p.m.
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