Otis Ingram (GA), president,
Ingram & LeGrand Lumber Co., Macon, led in prayer.
Ken Whitten, chairman, presented
the second report of the Committee on Order of Business, and announced the motions to be
referred, as required by SBC Bylaw 21, for later consideration at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday
evening: Pinckney (Item 18), Barber (Item 20); at 6:40 p.m., Wednesday evening: Drake
(Item 19) and Drake (Item 25). As required by SBC Bylaw 26(2) the following motions were
referred: to the six Southern Baptist seminaries: Rogers (Item 15); to all Convention
entities: Roberts (Item 17); to the North American Mission Board: Anthony (Item 16),
Walshe (Item 22), Fain (Item 23), Boswell (Item 28); to LifeWay Christian Resources: Henry
(Item 20) and Boswell (Item 28); to the Annuity Board: Mack (Item 21); to the Executive
Committee: Moser (Item 26); and to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission: Drake
(Item 27). Motion ruled out of order was Dye (Item 29). Motion to accept the report
carried.
Point of order by T.C. Pinckney
(VA) to correct an earlier statement by J. Robert White (GA) that the Baptist Convention
of the State of Georgia gives a higher percentage than any other state convention to the
Cooperative Program (44%). Pinckney stated that two state conventions, Southern Baptists
of Texas Convention and Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, give 50% of
undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program.
President Paige Patterson
introduced the time for introduction of motions.
Robert Philbeck (NC) presented a
motion: On the Southern Baptist Convention separating from the Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, including disassociation by the Annuity Board.
Joe Waldorff (AL) presented a
motion: On establishing an offering at the convention meetings for homeless people.
Morris H. Chapman announced the
presentation of the Executive Committee Report, part two. Chapman introduced James G.
Merritt who recognized Jerry L. Spencer (AL).
Jerry L. Spencer moved Executive
Committee Recommendation 9, Resolution of Appreciation for Dellanna W. O’Brien,
Executive Director-Treasure of the Woman’s Missionary Union, an auxiliary of the
Southern Baptist Convention. Motion passed.
James Merritt recognized Herb
Hollinger, vice president for Convention News, Executive Committee, for the report of the
denominational press.
Morris Chapman introduced Richard
Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, to give the report of the
Great Commission Council Task Force on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The report requested: (1)
The seminaries require as a part of their curriculum, the inclusion of ministry training
to help those who are victimized by drug and alcohol abuse; (2) A call to churches to lead
their members to refrain from the use of alcohol and other drugs. The messengers were
requested to sign cards affirming their commitment to abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
President Paige Patterson passed
the gavel to Rick Ferguson (CO) first vice president. Ferguson opened the floor for
nominations for President of the Convention.
Junior Hill (AL) nominated Paige
Patterson for president.
Since there were no other
nominations, Lee Porter cast the ballot in behalf of the Convention electing Paige
Patterson for SBC President.
James T. (Jimmy) Draper, Jr.,
president, LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, presented the LifeWay Christian
Resources Report. Three questions were asked: 1) Dennis J. Conner (NC) asked about the
perception of LifeWay being in more of a profit motif rather than an organization of
service to the churches. 2) Scooter Simmons (VA) asked about the use of translations other
than the King James Version. 3) Stanley Scott (TN) asked why LifeWay advertising indicates
sponsorship by a non-profit entity instead of the Southern Baptist Convention.
James T. (Jimmy) Draper, Jr. made
a LifeWay Christian Resources presentation to Paul Pressler (TX) for his new book, A
Hill On Which To Die. Leather bound copies were presented to Pressler and to SBC
President Paige Patterson.
Richard Ross (TN), co-chairman,
youth ministry consultant, LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, and Dean Finley (GA),
co-chairman, associate director, Student Evangelism Team, North American Mission Board,
Alpharetta, presented YouthLink 2000.
Congregational praise and worship
was led by Jeff Blevins (CO), minister of music and worship, Applewood Baptist Church,
Wheatridge.
Kenneth S. Hemphill (TX),
chairman, Council of Seminary Presidents, introduced the report for all seminaries with a
video presentation.
Following the video presentation,
which included testimonies by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (KY), president, The Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Louisville; Kenneth S. Hemphill (TX), president, Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth; William O. (Bill) Crews (CA), president, Golden
Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley; Charles S. (Chuck) Kelley, Jr. (LA),
president, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans; Paige Patterson (NC),
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest; and Mark T. Coppenger (MO),
president, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, each seminary president
gave a brief report.
Michael Wolfe (PA) asked about
future planning for a theological seminary at the Northeast School of Ministry. Mohler
responded that Southern is involved with the Northeast School of Ministry and will expand
its programs if Cooperative Program funding is made available.
President Paige Patterson
announced the time for the second election of officers.
James Merritt nominated D.
Franklin Cox (GA).
Lee Porter cast the Convention
vote for Frank Cox, and he was elected first vice president.
President Paige Patterson
announced the last opportunity for introduction of new motions.
Jack Barrett (VA) presented a
motion: On requesting the Executive Committee to expand the list of churches and pastors
in Annual.
Sparkie Sparks (AL) raised a Point
of Order regarding President Patterson’s family. Patterson responded, correcting
erroneous assumptions by Mr. Sparks.
Herman Meister (FL) presented a
motion: On requesting Annuity Board to enlarge its constituency to include church day
school employees.
Wayne Key (NC) presented a motion:
On requesting the Order of Business Committee to place the American and Christian flags on
the platform of future annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Kent Cochran (MO) presented a
motion: On requesting that a committee be appointed to study a name change of the
Cooperative Program.
Rick Henson (LA) presented a
motion: On requesting the Executive Committee study term limits of all elected officers.
Debra Kepler (FL) presented a
motion: On reviewing seating arrangements for handicap persons during the annual meeting
of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Randall E. Craft, Jr. (MS)
presented a motion: On requesting the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to be asked
to focus more on legislative issues
Ellis Parson (TX) presented a
motion: On asking Lifeway Christian Resources to coordinate youth and adult curriculum
with the same Biblical text.
Jack R. Kennedy (TN) presented a
motion: On requesting Lifeway Christian Resources to identify their retreat facilities and
stores as Baptists properties.
Russell Kaemmerling (TX) presented
a motion: On requesting the North American Mission Board to produce materials contrasting
free masonry and scripture.
Joe Moran (KY) presented a motion:
On calling for changes to the SBC Constitution allowing dissolution of term limits for the
SBC Presidency.
Mike Everson (GA) presented a
motion: On requesting the Executive Committee to study the impact of SBC churches involved
in non-biblical worship practices.
Russell D. Moore (KY) presented a
motion: On requesting that the text of the President’s Report and Convention sermon
be published in the SBC Annual.
Mark Long (MS) presented a motion:
On changing SBC Article III, sections 1& 2, regarding messenger qualifications.
C. B. Scott (NC) presented a
motion: On requesting Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, be requested to
state whether they agree or disagree with the pro-homosexual stance of a member, President
Bill Clinton.
John F. Thompson, III (FL)
presented a motion: On requesting the Convention not to schedule meetings in conflict with
Crossover events.
Ken Whitten moved that the time of
business be extended by ten minutes. Motion carried.
Eddie Hatcher (NJ) presented a
motion: On requesting the Executive Committee to study the question of schedule dates for
the Convention that conflicts with some public school systems.
Raymond Edge (TX) presented a
motion: On requesting the Convention to support and pray for the newly elected Prime
Minister of Israel.
Wiley Drake (CA) presented a
motion: On requesting the North American Mission Board to establish a billboard campaign.
Alvin J. Rowe, III (VA) presented
a motion: On requesting the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to give greater
emphasis to the plight of persecuted Christians.
James W. Jones (MI) presented a
motion: On requesting that the Convention arrangements committee consider a northern city
for the convention.
Jeffery Singletary (FL), campus
pastor, Idlewild Baptist Church Central Campus, Tampa, led in prayer to close the
afternoon session.
