Baptist Briefs: Virginia Baptists increase budget

Virginia Baptists increase budget. Bucking a national trend, Virginia Baptists in their recent annual meeting adopted a 2010 budget of $14 million—about 1.4 percent larger than 2009’s budget, which is expected to see a shortfall. Next year’s budget, approved by messengers during the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s annual meeting in Fredericksburg, Va., is $200,000 more than the current $13.8 million allocated for state, national and international ministries. Treasurer Eddie Stratton has reported the current $13.8 million budget will see a shortfall, perhaps by more than $800,000. Messengers elected Tim Madison, pastor of Mechanicsville Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Va., as president. Madison, who was unopposed for the office, received the endorsement of Virginia Baptists Committed, a moderate advocacy group that has successfully backed candidates for nearly 25 years. But Bob Bass, a Richmond layman who was elected first vice president, received the group’s endorsement only after he was nominated by his pastor, and Virginia Baptists Committed’s endorsed candidate for second vice president lost to Kevin James, pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Sparta, Va.

Louisiana Baptists focus on missions. Missions took center stage at the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s 62nd annual meeting in Shreveport. The meeting was preceded by the East Asia Summit, and it concluded with an International Mission Board appointment service for 55 new missionaries. The East Asia Summit, which drew about 200 people from several states, was designed to connect U.S.-based Southern Baptists with 35 field personnel and staff in the Richmond, Va., IMB office with a goal of facilitating partnership of churches and individuals with specific needs in East Asia. Messengers approved a 2010 budget of $22,543,157, a $23,846 increase from the 2009 budget, including $8,225,998 in Cooperative Program giving from Louisiana churches for national and international missions and ministries—or 36.49 percent of the budget, up 0.54 percent over the current year. Nine resolutions were adopted, including one that asked God to have mercy on the United States and grant a national awakening of righteousness.

Alabama Baptists adopt flat budget. At their annual meeting, messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention adopted a $46 million 2010 Cooperative Program—the same bottom line as 2009. Cooperative Program receipts will be divided the same as in 2009, with 57.5 percent for Alabama missions and ministry and 42.5 percent for Southern Baptist national and international causes.

Tennessee Baptists honor retiring leader. Messengers to the 135th annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention recognized the ministry and leadership of James Porch, who has served as executive director of the convention since 1992 and has announced he will retire in August. The meeting in Jackson drew 1,173 messengers from 541 churches—the lowest attendance in 35 years. Randy Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sevierville, was elected president by acclamation, as were Poly Rouse, pastor of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Hermitage, as vice president, and Jim Norman, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Mountain City, second vice president. Messengers adopted a budget of $36 million for 2009-10, a 7.7 percent decrease from the current budget. In the fiscal year that ended Oct. 31, Tennessee Baptists had given $35,473,080.

SBC president diagnosed with cancer. Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt has announced he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo initial treatment in January. Hunt, 57, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church of Woodstock, was elected SBC president during the convention’s June 2008 annual meeting in Indianapolis and re-elected at this year’s meeting in Louisville, Ky. Hunt is the third SBC leader this year to disclose a prostate cancer diagnosis, following O.S. Hawkins in August and Jack Graham in June. Hawkins is president of GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Graham, a former SBC president, is pastor of the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

Naylor joins relief agency. Rebekah Naylor, an emeritus Southern Baptist missionary who served 35 years at Bangalore Baptist Hospital in India, has joined the staff of Baptist Global Response as a United States-based health care consultant. A native of Arkansas, Naylor is a graduate of Baylor University, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. During her tenure in Bangalore, she founded programs in allied health training and medical residency, a one-year diploma in pastoral healing ministry and a school of nursing that was named in her honor. She continues as a consultant with the Bangalore hospital, serves as an attending surgeon at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas and is an active member of the staff at UT Southwestern University Hospital, also in Dallas.

Religious liberty essay contest set. The fifth annual religious liberty essay scholarship contest will commemorate the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s landmark speech about the relationship between his religion and his politics and the separation of church and state. The competition for high school juniors and seniors is sponsored by the Religious Liberty Council of the Baptist Joint Committee. The grand-prize winner will receive $1,000 and airfare and lodging for two to Washington, D.C. Second prize is $500, and third prize is $100. More information on the topic and links to the complete text and video of the speech are available online at www.BJConline.org/contest. All entries must be postmarked by March 1, 2010.