[1] PRINCETON, W.Va. (BP)–West Virginia Southern Baptists boosted their Cooperative Program giving and adopted a long-range plan encompassing five key priorities during annual meeting sessions Nov. 5-6 at First Baptist Church, Princeton.
An overall budget of $2,142,204 was approved, an increase of nearly $110,000 over the current year. In Cooperative Program giving, a goal of $1,090,284 was adopted for the state’s 190 churches and missions, with 36.5% designated for Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries — an increase of .5% of the anticipated giving beyond the current year’s allocation. No preferred items or exceptions are deducted from the state CP figures before calculating the SBC portion.
With 317 messengers marking the theme “Celebrate Jesus 2000,” the five key priorities adopted in the 2000-2005 long-range plan, “Beyond 2000: A New Vision for a New Millennium,” are:
1) Changing the Climate — Seeing True Revival.
2) Transforming Churches for Tomorrow — Strengthening the Church.
3) Reaching the Unreached — Seeking the Lost.
4) Touching Today’s Families — Supporting the Home.
5) Making the Connection — Sharing the Heritage.
The plan includes a range of specific goals set forth under each priority, such as establishing 20 new churches each year in West Virginia towns without a Southern Baptist presence.
Convention officers were re-elected without opposition: Kenny Stidham, pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Scott Depot, president; Don Yeager, pastor of Fairlawn Baptist Church, Parkersburg, first vice president; Richard Carbaugh, pastor of First Baptist Church, Grandview, second vice president; and Fred Morgan, a member of Fairlawn Baptist Church, Parkersburg, recording secretary.
Among resolutions passed by messengers was one in memory of Elmo Cox, a layman who founded the Baptist Foundation in West Virginia, who died Nov. 3 at age 91. The state missions offering is named in honor of his late wife, Ola.
Another resolution called for corporate prayer and repentance, with several church initiatives suggested to help carry out the initiative.
The credentials committee welcomed six churches into full voting status and three others into a one-year watchcare program.
In keeping with the convention theme, staff reports were built on “Celebrating Our Mission Fields,” “Celebrating Church Life,” Celebrating Our Students,” “Celebrate Jesus 2000” and “Celebrating Our Volunteers.” The volunteers presentation recapped the three years thus far of the ongoing West Virginia/South Carolina partnership.
Next year’s annual meeting will be Nov. 3-4 at First Baptist Church, Fairlea.