Baptist Press Blog

SBC annual meeting gaveled to close

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:24:00 CST

SBC President Johnny Hunt has gaveled the 2009 annual meeting to a close. Next year's meeting will take place in Orlando, Fla.

Hammond: goal of every SBC church planting churches by 2020

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:21:00 CST

North American Mission Board President Geoff Hammond concluded his moments ago and gave messengers an update on the God's Plan for Sharing (GPS) initiative, which has launched and has a goal of seeing every Southern Baptist church planting churches by 2020.

Registration at 8,790; Ky. leads way with 1,597

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:25:00 CST

The registration total has reached 8,790, Registration Secretary Jim Wells reported minutes ago. Kentucky leads the way with 1,597 messengers, with Tennessee (805) and Georgia (730) second and third, respectively.

Mac Brunson to preach 2010 convention sermon

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:18:00 CST

Messengers moments ago approved a recommendation from the Committee on Order of Business that Mac Brunson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., preach the 2010 convention sermon. Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood (Ga.) Baptist Church, will serve as the alternate.

Akin answers question about Acts 29 movement

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:11:00 CST

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Danny Akin delivered his report this evening and during question-and-answer time was asked about the seminary's relationship with the church planting movement Acts 29, which was founded by Mark Driscoll, controversial in some circles.

"There is no relationship between Acts 29 and Southeastern," Akin said, adding he has spoken at an Acts 29 event once, on the subject of expository preaching.

"We do have on our campus from time to time men that we may not necessarily agree with on everything," he said. "… There're doing certain types of ministry that we think our students could benefit from hearing."

Wednesday evening session under way

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:13:00 CST

The Wednesday evening session of the SBC annual meeting is under way. The session is running 25 minutes head of schedule because the Resolutions Committee finished its report earlier today. Among this evening's highlights: the election of the 2010 convention sermon preacher (6:50 p.m.); North American Mission Board report (8:05 p.m.). Full schedule at http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net/sbc09/program/

Duke McCall asks alumni to 'rally around' Southern Seminary

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:35:00 CST

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted its Sesquicentennial Service this afternoon in Alumni Memorial Chapel, and 95-year-old Duke McCall, the seminary's seventh president, asked the seminary's alumni and friends to "rally around her as a present on her 150th birthday." President from 1951-1982, McCall acknowledged that he has had his differences with the seminary's conservative leadership; McCall was a moderate during the Conservative Resurgence.

Wednesday meeting on break until 6 Eastern

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:24:00 CST

The SBC annual meeting is on a break and will reconvene at 6 p.m. Eastern for the concluding session.

Marshall: 'We gray heads' need to yield to some younger men

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:22:00 CST

John Marshall, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., preached the Convention Sermon, which concluded just before noon Eastern. Following is a sample of what he said:

SECOND UPDATE: Hunt names 19-member GCR Task Force

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:48:00 CST

Speaking from the podium, SBC President Johnny Hunt this morning publicly named the 19-member Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. Although Hunt earlier had named only 18 people, he later clarified that he also would serve on the task force. The Task Force is: