[1]STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (BP)–Messengers to the 52nd annual meeting of the Colorado Baptist General Convention increased the state’s Cooperative Program giving to national and international missions and ministry during their Oct. 16 meeting in Steamboat Springs.
“Living by the Word” was the theme of the day’s sessions, attended by 188 messengers from 84 of the CBGC’s 400 affiliated churches and missions.
The 2008 budget of $3,970,651 approved by messengers, up .008 percent over the current budget, includes $2.2 million in anticipated Cooperative Program giving from the CBGC’s congregations.
Messengers voted to increase by .25 percent the allocation of CP funds for Southern Baptist causes; thus 29.5 percent of CP gifts will be utilized for national and global outreach and 70.5 percent for outreach by the Colorado convention.
Messengers elected Bob Bender, pastor of First Baptist Church in Black Forest, as president; Darrin Crow, pastor of Heart of Junction in Grand Junction and Christian Challenge director at Mesa State College, first vice president; Sean Cole, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sterling, second vice president; and Ginger LeBlanc, ministry assistant at the CBGC, recording secretary.
Messengers voted to change the convention’s bylaws, decreasing the size of the CBGC executive board.
[2]Prior to the bylaws change, the convention elected a president, first vice president and second vice president, while the executive board elected a chairman and vice chairman. Board members, meanwhile, were elected based on the church membership total in each associational area, with a maximum of six board members from any association.
Under the new structure, the convention officers now also will serve as the executive board officers. The smaller executive board, meanwhile, will consist of the convention officers, one board member from each of the 11 associations in Colorado and three at-large board members.
Also during the meeting, four new churches were welcomed into affiliation with the convention: Christchurch in Superior; Cornerstone Christian Chapel in Montrose; First Southern Baptist Church in Penrose; and Woodrow Baptist Church in Woodrow.
The meeting was held at the Steamboat Grand Resort & Hotel and hosted by Anchor Way Baptist Church. Featured speakers were Rod Compton, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Craig; Curt Dodd, pastor of Westside Church in Omaha, Neb.; and Tim McKenzie of On Every Word Ministries in Houston.
Next year’s annual meeting will be Oct. 21 at the Four Points by Sheraton Denver Southeast and hosted by University Hills Baptist Church in Denver.
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Based on a report by Ginger LeBlanc of the Colorado Baptist General Convention.