Missouri: Recall that for the last two years a group, Save Our Convention, has opposed the long term Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association. Both groups consider themselves inerrantists, but SOC reportedly think highly of the Acts 29 and Emergent Church movements, while the MBLA does not accept the Acts 29 and Emergent groups’ approval of meeting in bars, drinking alcohol, etc.

This year all officers are members of SOC churches, though not officially nominated by SOC. The 2010 budget is $15.05 million down 9.2%.

Messengers reaffirmed their commitment to pursue recovery of five breakaway entities which unilaterally changed their legal charters when it became clear conservatives were winning the struggle in the SBC and Missouri. Initial legal proceedings and comments suggest that at least three of the entities will be returned to the Missouri Baptist Convention. The next hearing is in January.

North Carolina: Budget is $34.8 million, a decrease of $4.8 million, and the first budget since 1991 that has no optional giving plan in accord with last year’s vote to reduce to one plan. This eliminated funding for four liberal organizations: the Baptist World Alliance, CBF, Associated Baptist Press, and the Baptist Joint Commission on Public Affairs.

The budget sends the SBC 34.5% (+0.5%) with no preferred items. This is the fifth year of half percent increases.

This banner year for the NCSBC marks completion of a long process simplifying and streamlining the convention.. Previously NC had the most affiliated institutions of any state: hospitals, WMU, Baptist Men, six colleges, etc. Many of the institutions asked to become independent, and now the process has been completed. The NC children’s homes are benefitting.

State Budgets

Considering the poor national economy, it is not surprising that 21 states cut their budgets this year. The largest reductions were in NV -15.5% and NC -12.1%. After NV & NC, cuts were: TX-BGCT -9.8%, MO -9.2%, GA -8.2%, TN -7.7%, MN-WS -6.37%, and SC -6%, CO -5%, CA -4.8, MI -4.3%, KY -4%, VA-SBCV -3.26%, MS -2.42%, NY -2.3%., NM -1.8%, MT -1.5%, OH -1.2%, KN-NE –1%, UT-ID -0.5%, and IL a fraction of 1%.

Five states made no changes to the size of their budgets: AL, DK, HW, MD-DE, and NE.

In contrast, 13 states increased their budgets: AZ +13.05%. (That increase is from the 2009 budget as reduced during the year. From the original budget as passed by messengers at the 2008 state convention, the budget is still -9.07%.), AK +3.8%, OK +3.17% AR +2.5%, PA-SJ +1.5%, WV +1.5%, VA-BGAV +1.4%, TX-SBTC +1.18%, IA & WV +1.0%, NW +0.86%, FL +0.8%, and LA +0.001%.

SBC Contributions

This year 11 states increased the percentage they give to the SBC. The percentages they contribute and the size of the increases are: UT-ID 25%, +3.5%, IN 36.5%, +1%, KY 38%, +0.69%, LA 36.49%, +0.54%, DK 15.5%, +0.5%, NC 34.5%, 0.5%, MO 36.75%, +0.25%, NY 27.5%, +0.25%, VA-SBCV 50.25%, +0.25%, AR 42.27%, +0.2%, AZ 26.016%, +0.1305%, and PA-SJ 25.2% +0.1%. No state lowered the SBC percentage, although the 21 states which lowered their budgets will be sending fewer dollars to the SBC Cooperative Program.

Twenty-six states did not change their CP percentages: TX-SBTC 55% (the highest of all states), IL 43.25%, AL 42.5%, GA 41%, MD-DE 41%, SC 40.44%, OH 40.25%, OK 40%, FL 40%, TN 40%, WV 38%, MS 35%, AK 33%, WY 32.5%, KN-NE 32%, HW 31.5%, NM 30.5%, MI 30.5%, CA 30%, CO 29.5%, NY 29.5%, NW 25.5%, MT 22%, NE 21.5%, IA 20%, MN-WS 13%.

VA-BGAV has multiple giving plans one of which gives only 7% and another gives nothing to the SBC Cooperative Program, so one cannot accurately pinpoint what overall percent the BGAV will send to Nashville. TX-BGCT has a form on which churches choose where 21% of their undesignated gifts should be sent: to the SBC, CBF, BGCT missions, or other causes the church specifies.

Resolution Roundup

Each resolution committee is, of course, composed of different individuals, and therefore their resolutions will be worded differently. However, it is not difficult to group resolutions according to topic.

Emphasize missions/church planting 9: AL, CA, DK, IN, KY, LA, NE, OH, WY.

Sanctity of life 8: AK, CA, KY, KY, MS, NM, OK, SC, WY.

Affirm the Cooperative Program 7: AL, LA, MS, NW, OH, OK, TX-SBTC.

Support our armed forces 6: AR, DK, FL, NW, OH, OK.

Oppose gambling 5: AL, LA, NM, OK, SC.

Pro-heterosexual marriage 4: CO, NM, OK, VA-BGAV.

Prayer for political leaders 4: LA, NW, OH, OK.

Prayer for Great Commission Resurgence task Force 3: MI, MO, TX-SBTC.

For adoption and orphan care 2: IL, NW.

Anti-alcohol 2: AR, NM (New Mexico’s resolution also opposes drugs and pornography.)

No other topic had more than one resolution. Regrettably, the Florida committee refused to act on a proposed resolution dealing with an exit strategy from the public schools.

Officers Summary

Read the following data with caution. They summarize the views of one or two contacts in each state, so what one might consider middle of the road, someone else might characterize as liberal. Nevertheless, this is an overall view. State presidents and vice-presidents were evaluated as:

Conservatives                       66

Theological conservatives             9

Middle/Center                                  4

Liberal                                              7

Unknown                                21

Why are these data significant? If you don’t know, you had better read up on the Conservative Resurgence of a few years ago. Satan is persistent, and human nature doesn’t change. “Nice guys” who won’t stand on God’s Word always seek positions of influence.

State Roster:

Introduction: Though I have printed this before, just a reminder: In the following discussion the terms “conservative”, “moderate”, and “liberal” refer to the individual’s denominational stance, not necessarily to his theology and certainly not to his governmental politics. A theological conservative may cooperate with liberals and vice versa, though it is rare for a theological liberal to cooperate organizationally with conservatives.

AL: The state has had conservative presidents since 1998 and is well administered. Their focus is on evangelism and church planting. The state convention was very quiet with no motions from the floor. The colleges all appear to be moving in the right direction, and the state board has strong support for the SBC. CBF insignificant.

AK: Alaska is a fairly liberal SBC state, but one plus is that more churches are being planted. Now 107 churches state-wide, eight more than last year.

AZ: All business completed in less than an hour. State budget was cut during the year due to the poor economy, but the 2010 budget is 13.05% above the reduced level (9.07% below the original 2009 budget). All officers conservative. A unified, conservative state.

AR: Very little CBF activity. State executive director tries to keep everyone happy. State staff bloated. President’s denominational stance unknown. 1VP is a solid conservative. 2VP unknown. Budget +2.5%; SBC up +0.2% to 42.37%.

CA: Larger churches are changing to reach younger generations, but if continued, this will tend to erase our Baptist identity. (Note: To varying degrees this same diluting process can be seen all across the SBC.) We need to help younger pastors understand Baptist history and the critical importance of the Conservative Resurgence.

CO: Messengers welcomed five new churches. Officers are conservatives but a couple of them appear naive about issues in the SBC.

DK: Good news: Baptism percentages are up, planting more churches, and there is no known CBF presence. Also, the regionalization initiated two years ago is much more effective. Bad news: Can’t find enough church planters.

FL: In spite of tropical storm Ida cutting short the Monday night session, 895 messengers and 225 guests from 419 churches attended the state meeting managing to complete all necessary business. FL is quite conservative in many ways but refuses to speak out about the liberal government school system. President is conservative; other two officers are unknowns.

GA: Has cut 27 staff positions during 2009, 13.7% of the staff. Budget for 2010 down by 8.2%. The local associations and state convention seem to lack energy. No fighting in GA, just no energy. Many young pastors seem self-centered, emphasize individualism rather than cooperation.

HW: Consists of 132 congregations on 11 Pacific islands. President and 2VP are conservative; 1VP is moderate. Approved affiliation of two new churches.

IL: Welcomed 18 new churches. Only one CBF pastor in the state. These are very good days for Baptists in Illinois.

IN: All three officers re-elected by acclamation, and all three are solidly conservative. Only one CBF church in the state. The state staff is solid. In ‘07 messengers approved a motion to raise the SBC portion of CP gifts by 1% annually until 50% is reached. This year they met that promise again, increasing the SBC to 36.5%.

IA: IA is strongly Lutheran and Catholic, a tough area for the SBC. State president is an Afro-American pastor who is at least theologically conservative. 1VP is not liberal, 2VP is a solid conservative. Passed resolutions of appreciation of the state staff and a fresh commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission and to the new Southern Baptist national evangelism strategy, God's Plan for Sharing.

KN-NE: The new state executive director has a missions heart and is very pragmatic. President is inerrantist, 1VP unknown.

KY: All three officers are conservatives and elected by acclamation. The state budget is down 4%, but the SBC portion was increased by 0.68% to 38%. Messengers elected a committee to study the Great Commission Resurgence recommendations. KY is very peaceful. Some Acts 29 churches in the state, but not much said by or about them.

LA: All three officers are solid conservatives. State budget remains the same, but the SBC portion raised 0.54% to 36.49%. A very smooth, peaceful convention. Louisiana College has turned completely around and is now thoroughly conservative.

MD-DE: All officers are solid conservatives; president is Afro-American. Adopted a resolution pledging to preach the Word regardless of any “hate crimes” laws Congress may pass. Some young pastors “don’t get it”, base their churches on gimmicks rather than on solid, biblical preaching.

MI: Few Baptist liberals in the state. All officers are sound conservatives. In the last three years the state budget has been reduced 1.3%, 3%, and 4.3% respectively. The state executive director, Michael Collins, will retire at the end of 2010. Choice of the successor is always critically important.

MN-WS: All officers are unknowns. Budget down 6.37%; SBC remains at 13%. Messengers approved eliminating two staff positions, holding all staff salaries at 2009 levels, and reducing the state newspaper from monthly to quarterly. The latter step was begun last summer.

MO, MS, & NC: See Three Focus States beginning on p. 1.

MT: Montana has 140 churches and missions, and they need more church planters. Fred Hewett, their new state executive director, arrived in 2008. He has led Montana to realign into one team, including area missionaries with three emphases: strengthening churches, starting churches, and sending churches. As you might expect, in some ways Montana is a hardscrabble area, and they need enthusiastic church planters.

NV: Messengers welcomed seven new churches. The budget was cut 15.5%! And for the first time since the state convention was founded in 1978 the SBC percentage was not increased. The president and 2VP are unknown; 1VP is a solid conservative.

NE: The president and VP are both solid conservatives. (There is no 2VP.) Budget remains the same as does SBC portion. A total of 20 new church plants were reported, 12 of them ethnic congregations.. also, there were three new churches affiliated.

NM: A unified and solidly conservative state convention. No known liberal activity. All three officers are solid conservatives. Passed some good resolutions. Opposed: same-sex marriage; embryonic stem cell research; assisted suicide; abortion on demand; drugs, alcohol, gambling, and pornography.

NY: NY is also going well. Lots of churches planting other churches. President is a Mid-America grad. 1VP also conservative. 2VP unknown but probably conservative. State has 414 churches with 29,728 members.

NC: See Three Focus States.

NW: Northwest is comprised of Southern Baptist churches in Oregon and Washington. This year the convention welcomed 13 churches, bringing the total to over 420. All officers are solid conservatives. The state budget and the SBC segment remain the same. Their focus is on church health, new churches, and evangelism. They restructured last year and now follow the team approach.

OH: Recognized 29 new church plants during the past year, and reported that since 1996 the convention has started 195 new congregations that continue to function. All officers conservative.

OK: The state president and 1VP are conservatives; 2VP unknown. Budget raised 3.17%; SBC remains at 40%. Regarding liberal activity: no organized efforts, but more pastors want to be “inclusive” such as accepting women in pastoral positions and alcohol is okay. Baptisms are down.

PA-SJ: President is theologically conservative but organizationally not in the ball game. 1VP unknown; 2VP sound conservative. The budget was increased slightly, and SBC was raised 0.1% to 25.2%. More than 400 churches with 56,000 members in the convention. The state executive director is not a conservative and controls everything. Disaster Relief is improving. In ‘09 the largest number of Disaster Relief volunteers ever was trained in the state.

SC: The state president is conservative; 1 & 2 VPs unknown. Budget cut 6%. SBC not changed. Young pastors not attending the state convention. Baptist colleges doing well spiritually, academically, and numerically.

TN: All officers conservative. 1173 messengers from 541 churches, the lowest attendance in 35 years. For positions in the state one of the questions asked of those nominated is whether they support the theological statements of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. At this year’s meeting a messenger proposed an amendment that would have added the 1925 and 1963 BFM versions (a liberal tactic). The amendment was soundly defeated. A search committee is seeking new executive director. The long-term executive director, Dr. James Porch, retires in 2010.

TX-BGCT: The question of whether messengers from Broadway Baptist Church would be seated became moot when church leaders decided not to send a delegation. Instead, messengers adopted a resolution on sexual ethics that states the BGCT maintains "the consistent position of past convention statements and actions which affirm the biblical sexual ethic of fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness and also affirms the biblical image of marriage as the union before God between a man and woman," according to the Baptist Standard. In June 2009, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting severed ties with Broadway Baptist Church over its acceptance of members living in homosexual relationships. The 2010 budget ($44 million) is down 9.8% from 2009, which was down 8% from 2008. 1,493 messengers attended, the fewest in at least 60 years. In 1997 4,942 BGCT churches gave to the CP. In 2008 3,789 churches did. The BGCT appears to be gradually imploding.

TX-SBTC: Meanwhile, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention continues to grow. This year they record 2,176 churches, 97 more than last year. Also, the approved 2010 budget is $24.8 million, up 1.18% from the 2009 budget. Obviously, all officers are sound conservatives and emphasis is on evangelism and church planting.

UT-ID: Utah-Idaho is a sound, conservative state convention. Part of that stance may be that the presence of Mormons stimulates members to be very biblical. There is considerable concern while awaiting the recommendations of the GCR Task Force. NAMB’s support is critically important to UT-ID. While the total state budget was cut half a percent, the SBC part was increase 3.5%, from 21.5% to 25%.

VA-BGAV: The new president, not surprisingly, was endorsed by the liberal group Virginia Baptists Committed which has successfully nominated BGAV candidates for nearly 25 years. He had been serving as first vice president, and his election follows a recent practice of electing first vice presidents to the presidency, which is constitutionally restricted to one, non-repeating term. His election also conforms to a much longer tradition of alternating the presidency between ministers and laymen.

In an unusual move the 1VP was nominated outside the channel of Virginia Baptists Committed. Also unusual, for 2VP the VBC nominee lost to someone else.

Attendance of 984 messengers was the second smallest since 1975.

The ‘10 budget of $14 million is 1.4% or some $200,000 above ‘09, but it is clear the ‘09 budget will see a substantial shortfall, perhaps of more than $800,000. The budget committee member who presented it for vote said: “Either we could do what we did last year and make the budget meet our projected income, and our budget this year would be substantially lower, or we could meet the challenge. And that's what we did." But “meeting the challenge” requires money, not just a vote. Adding the current shortfall and the projected increase produces a need for $1,000,000 more in contributions from churches in 2010 than in 2009. We shall see what happens.

VA-SBCV: See the Nov/Dec ‘09 Baptist Banner.

WV: Continues to be a very unified & conservative state. Emphasizing church planting and growth. Budget increased 1.5%. SBC portion remains at 38%. Only one pastor sympathetic to CBF. Three new churches joined this year.

WY: A conservative, united state. Budget +1%; SBC remains at 32.5%. All officers sound conservatives. In 2009 began a “Set Free” program of churches especially focused on recently released prison inmates. It is doing well and looks promising.