FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) – Registration continues for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s inaugural Forces for Good Summit and Peacemaker Dinner Feb. 24-25 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Headlining The Forces for Good Summit is Ken Sande, author of “The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict,” who will speak at The Peacemaker Dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 24 in Fort Worth in advance of a full day of summit events Feb. 25.
Ray Gentry, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL); Todd Robertson, associational mission strategist with the Louisville Regional Baptist Association; and Ryan Jesperson, executive director of the Dallas Baptist Association, will join Sande in a panel discussion following has Peacemaker Dinner address.
Church Law & Tax founder and sex abuse prevention pioneer Richard Hammar is tapped to receive the inaugural SBC Executive Committee Forces for Good Award during the summit dinner at 5 p.m. Feb. 25, which will feature a keynote address by Katie McCoy, strategy director for cultural engagement philanthropy at Vista One Group and scholar in residence at Impact 360 Institute.
Hammar, now retired, is noted for bringing attention to the prevalence of sexual abuse within the body of Christ, exposing it as one of the top five reasons churches are challenged in court, and creating safeguards to prevent such abuse.
“Rich has led with courage, tenacity and innovation to strengthen Christ’s Church through these important safeguards,” Jeff Dalrymple said in a recent Baptist Press First-Person. “The impact of his legacy will not fully be realized until glory, but countless kids have been able to safely attend church programs, hear the Gospel and grow in discipleship free from abuse thanks to Rich’s work. Southern Baptists stand in appreciation of his service.”
Forces for Good will address organizational health and holistic stewardship of churches, encompassing not only abuse prevention, but also governance, financial policies, technology, security, risk management, leadership, people management and insurance policies.
Being a force for good necessitates creating environments where abuse would be unthinkable, Jeff Dalrymple, SBC Executive Committee director of Abuse Prevention & Response.
“We really want to equip ministry leaders with not only risk management and safeguarding measures, but also the tools that they need to foster a healthy Christian community of Christ followers,” Dalrymple said, where “abuse wouldn’t even be a thought because they’ve got intentional protection measures in place. They’re living out the Gospel. They’re following Christ. They’re living according to Scripture. Scriptures call for leadership, living with integrity and with character, but then also proactively putting safeguards in place.”
Encouraging summit attendance, SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Jeff Iorg pointed out the need for churches to be equipped in such ministry.
“Part of being a healthy church is having a robust program of sexual abuse prevention and response to create safe places for the vulnerable to learn and grow and experience all that God has for them through our ministries,” Iorg said. “Don’t miss this important event.”
Other presenters will include Sally Wagenmaker, partner in the Chicago-based law firm of Wagenmaker & Oberly, addressing “Good and Godly Governance”; Brad Eubank, lead pastor at Petal First Baptist Church in Petal, Miss., addressing “The Greatest Good a Church Can Do: Care Well for Survivors”; John Murphy, a seasoned leader in faith-based and service-focused nonprofit risk management, presenting “Prepared for Every Good Work: Risk Management That Strengthens Ministry,” and Robert Showers, “Ministry Enders – What you don’t know about law will hurt you!”
Hear Thomas Jordan and Brian Hobbs present a session on “What to Do When A Crisis Hits”; Lilly Park on “Caring for the Soul: Knowing God’s Peace”; Chuck Coker, “Multiplying Light: How Coaching and Discipling Your Team Creates a Culture of Kingdom Impact”; Mindy Caliguire, “The Soul of the Leader: How Inner Health Fuels a Culture of Goodness”; Caliguire and Jake Lapp, “The Soul of the Leader: Leader Care is Ministry Care”; and Theresa Sidebotham, “Good Fruit on the People Side: Management and Employment Law Issues.”
In addition to participating in the Peacemaker Dinner panel discussion, Gentry will also present the summit session, “Together for Good: Cultivating a Goodness Culture in Networks and Associations.”
Summit registration is $199, combined registration for the summit and dinner is $209, and registration for the dinner alone is $30. Scholarships are available to cover registration fees if needed.
The summit will be held in SWBTS’s Ray I. Riley Center, with lodging information here.
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