TAYLORS, S.C. (BP)–Messengers at the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s Nov. 14-15 meeting in Taylors honored retiring Executive Director-Treasurer Carlisle Driggers and extended their missions partnership with South Asia for another two years.
They also approved a $32.75 million Cooperative Program budget, elected pastor Mike Moody of Honea Path as SCBC president and adopted resolutions concerning education, church-staff relations and illegal immigration. Total messenger registration for the sessions at First Baptist Church in Taylors, with the theme of “Give It Away,” tallied 1,444 — 169 more than last year.
The 2007 convention budget represents a $600,000 increase over this year’s budget of $32,150,000. Sixty percent of the budget, or $19,705,000, will continue to be designated for SCBC ministries and missions endeavors, while 40 percent, or $13,045,000, will be forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention for national and international missions causes.
Moody, chairman of the SCBC executive board’s business, audit and finance committee, noted that the convention has met or exceeded budget requirements for nine of the past 10 years and is again on track for exceeding its 2006 budget goal.
In 2007, if the convention surpasses its budget goal, the overage will be divided equally between the Southern Baptist Convention and the state convention’s Kingdom Challenge Fund, a newly created fund designated for special international, North American and state missions projects.
The budget also allows for a one-time gift of $99,000 to South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging in addition to its regular allotment. In 2005, SCBMA had faced immediate, major financial difficulties brought on by several years of budget deficits and the burden of servicing a long-term bond debt. The retirement ministry’s comeback was jumpstarted in 2005 by a special allocation from the convention of $440,000 and a $1.2 million Mother’s Day offering.
During the SCBC executive board report, messengers also approved extending the state convention’s partnership with South Asia until 2009 and dedicated the 2006 convention annual in honor of Driggers.
Moody, pastor of First Baptist Church in Honea Path, was elected president, receiving 550 votes, or 67 percent of the ballots cast, while Tom Tucker, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Rock Hill, received 271 votes, or 33 percent. Moody was nominated by Von Reynolds, pastor of Seneca Baptist Church in Seneca, while Tucker was nominated by Randall Jones, retired pastor of Langston Baptist Church in Conway.
In nominating Moody, Reynolds said Moody was well qualified to serve as president. “But there is something that stands out about Mike Moody, and that’s his loyal and unswerving support for the Cooperative Program,” said Reynolds, noting that the Honea Path congregation contributes 13 percent of its undesignated receipts through the CP.
Reynolds said the election of Frank Page as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June was “an affirmation of our support for the Cooperative Program” and added that “we need a leader who will carry the banner for the Cooperative Program.”
Other new officers, all elected by acclamation, are Fred Stone of First Baptist Church in Pickens, first vice president; Adrian Allen of Union Baptist Church in Pamplico, second vice president; Linda Hite, ministry assistant at the Lexington Baptist Association and member of Red Bank Baptist Church, recording secretary; and Bill Lutz of Holmes Avenue Baptist Church in North Charleston, registration secretary.
In addition to a resolution of appreciation for Driggers, who will have completed 17 years of leadership to the South Carolina Baptist Convention when he retires in February, messengers approved resolutions concerning the summer reading program of Clemson University, illegal immigration, church-staff relationships and education.
Driggers, executive director-treasurer of the SCBC for the past 15 years, and his wife Jeanette were commended for their devotion and commitment to Southern Baptists, South Carolina Baptists and toward expanding the Kingdom of God. The resolution noted that Driggers was instrumental in the birth of the Empowering Kingdom Growth movement.
Messengers also affirmed Clemson University for offering an opt-out alternative for students who objected to an assignment in its 2006 Summer Reading Program for incoming freshman who found the book morally offensive for its explicit sexual content and anti-religion themes. They requested “that all other institutions of learning respect the moral sensibilities of their students to the point of always offering alternative assignments” for those that undermine Christian morals and values.
Addressing illegal immigration, messengers called upon elected officials to “agree upon comprehensive immigration reform which will recognize and protect our borders” and to deal “fairly and swiftly” with an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. They also encouraged churches to reach out to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of all immigrants by starting English classes and by assisting them in seeking citizenship.
Citing relational issues “due to the inability to develop and maintain healthy relationships within the church” as the reason most often given for staff terminations, and expressing the desire for fellowships to maintain a “credible witness of the love and peace” of Jesus, messengers committed themselves to deal with relational issues in ways that are redemptive to all involved.
Finally, messengers urged parents to stay informed concerning public policy issues related to education and “actively make their voices heard in the debate about how their children are educated.” While encouraging prayer for those who homeschool or who enroll their children in Christian schools, they also requested prayer for Christian parents, teachers and administrators who “continue to be salt and light” in public schools.
Special recognition activities and a reception for Driggers were held Tuesday evening. “It is my hope that the people at the convention would get some sense of how God has had his hand upon Dr. Driggers’ life from the very beginning of his ministry,” said Reiny Koschel, chairman of the special appreciation committee appointed by the SCBC executive board.
In multimedia testimonies, South Carolina Baptist pastors and laypeople reflected upon the impact that God has made through Driggers’ life.
On behalf of the convention, Koschel, pastor of First Baptist Church in Abbeville, presented the Driggerses with tickets to an Atlanta Braves spring training game, Braves jackets, a new Bible, letters of appreciation from colleagues and a 2007 Mercury Montego.
Driggers also was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor presented by the governor’s office. State Sen. Larry Martin presented the award on behalf of Gov. Mark Sanford.
Throughout the convention, Driggers received plaques and awards from various denominational entities agencies and institutions, including the M.E. Dodd Award for Cooperative Program support, presented by Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee.
In remarks following the presentation, Driggers thanked the “hundreds of staff, board members and church staff” with whom he worked during his tenure at the state convention. He also affirmed the Cooperative Program, saying that it “works too well to not be God-ordained.”
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Amanda Thompson of the South Carolina Baptist Convention staff contributed to this story.
