Baptist Briefs_51704

Posted: 5/14/04

Baptist Briefs

Indiana pastor to be nominated for SBC 2nd VP. Mark Stephen Hearn, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, will be nominated for Southern Baptist Convention second vice president during the SBC's annual meeting June 15-16 in Indianapolis. Charles Sullivan, former executive director-treasurer of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana, will nominate Hearn. Hearn has held vice presidential posts in both the Indiana and Georgia state Baptist conventions. He serves as a trustee for LifeWay Christian Resources. Hearn joins John Hays of Jersey Baptist Church near Columbus, Ohio, in the running for SBC second vice president.

Texas representatives named to SBC committee. Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham appointed as the two Texas representatives on the SBC committee on committees members of churches uniquely aligned with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Graham named Paul Cheek from Kentucky Town Baptist Church in Whitewright and Eric Hankins from Galloway Avenue Baptist Church in Mesquite. Both churches are identified on the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention website as uniquely aligned with the convention that broke away from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The SBC committee on committees has 70 members, two from each of the 35 state or regional conventions qualified for representation on SBC entities. The committee's key responsibility is to nominate members of the committee on nominations, which nominates trustees to serve on the various SBC national entities.

Annuity Board video available in three languages. The Southern Baptist Annuity Board has produced a retirement planning video in Spanish and Korean, as well as English. The 15-minute video highlights the benefits of the Church Annuity Plan, a 403(b) retirement plan designed exclusively for Southern Baptist ministers and church employees. Vietnamese and French Haitian versions of the video should be available this summer. Free copies of these videos are available by calling the Annuity Board at (800) 262-0511. Callers can also request translation assistance through this toll-free number.

Centurymen to perform Washington concert. The Centurymen, a 100-voice men's chorus comprised of Baptist ministers of music from across the United States, will perform a June 29 concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. They will share the stage with the Broadway Inspirational Voices, a gospel ensemble of actors who perform in stage musicals, and the Nashville Children's Choir.

Dallas pastor named distinguished alum. Mac Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and chancellor of Criswell College, has been named a distinguished alumnus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Brunson, who became pastor of First Baptist Dallas in 1999, is immediate past president of Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference. Claude Cone, executive director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, also will receive the award for his 19 years of service in that state. He previously was pastor of churches in Slide, Crandall, Howe, Denison, Lubbock and Pampa. Other recipients are Paul K.S. Kim, pastor of Berkland Baptist Church in Cambridge, Mass., and Ronnie Floyd, pastor of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark. The awards will be presented at the seminary's national alumni luncheon, held in conjunction with the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Missouri Baptists name interim exec. The Baptist General Convention of Missouri has named as its interim leader the former executive director of the convention from which it broke away. The convention named James Hill interim executive director, effective June 1. Hill was executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention from 1998 to 2001. He currently is president of RDI Consulting and Resource Churches in Jefferson City, Mo. H.K. Neely, a former university administrator, has led the Baptist General Convention of Missouri since it was formed two years ago.