INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–It was like a good, old-fashioned Baptist business meeting June 14 during the annual session of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists. Debate was lively, spontaneous and pointed and revolved largely around the fundamental Baptist issue of autonomy.
The group approved a new set of by-laws that largely consolidated existing documents as well as spelled out specific officer duties that were traditional, yet never recorded formally. They also elected new officers, honored those with long-time service, and raised their dues from $50 a year to $75.
At the core of the debate was whether a vocational evangelist, called by God, really needed endorsement from the North American Mission Board or should even be required to complete an extensive membership application and basic background check.
The group agreed to the new by-laws, including the detailed membership application. The same application can be presented to NAMB for endorsement as a Southern Baptist vocational evangelist. The NAMB endorsement currently works more like a seal of approval, but some were concerned it might become a means of control.
Tom McEachin, the associate director of event evangelism at the North American Mission Board, was honored for his supportive work on behalf of vocational evangelists.
Tom Cox of Tom Cox World Ministries in Mountainburg, Ark., was honored for his 30 years as a full-time, vocational evangelist, holding approximately 1,500 crusades in 112 countries.
Steve Hale, of the Steve Hale Evangelistic Association in Woodstock, Ga., was honored for his 25 years as a full-time vocational evangelist, beginning in what was the pioneer state of Indiana after graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Johnny Tucker, of the International Missions Association in Citronelle, Ala., was honored for his 25 years as a full-time, vocational evangelist.
He told the group, “In 42 years of preaching, with 25 of those as a [traveling] evangelist, there is not one second where my Father ever failed me. My father was also a preacher, and he used to say, ‘I don’t want another [heavenly] Daddy; He’s the best one I know; God is ever faithful.'”
The officers for 2004-2005 are: president, Keith Fordham, Keith Fordham Evangelistic Corporation, Fayetteville, Ga.; vice president, Bill Britt, Compel Outreach, International, Mansfield, Texas; secretary-treasurer, Margaret Allen, The Allen Family Singers, Edmund, Okla.; secretary-treasurer elect, Betty Moni, Sacred Music, Inc./Betty Moni Ministries, San Antonio, Texas; music director, Dean Forrest, Forrest Ministries Inc., Pike Road, Ala.; assistant music director, Vernon Chandler, Vernon Chandler Ministries, High Point, N.C.; and pastor advisors, H. Dean Haun, pastor, First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Ga.; and Stanley Hughes, pastor, Richland Baptist Church, Richland, Wash.
Parliamentarian is Jerry Chaddick, Spirit-Truth Ministries Council, Laurel, Miss.; and council members are Carl Carrigan, Carl and Carolyn Carrigan Evangelistic Ministries, Shreveport, La.; Ray Jenkins, Action Growth Ministries, Fayetteville, Ga.; and Leon Westerhouse, Leon Westerhouse Music Evangelism, Birmingham, Ala.
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