State Conventions Roundup

                                                                                                                    Vol. V, No. 7, December 1992

[Summarized from Baptist Press reports and personnel conversations.]

The dark spots for conservatives in the latest round of state conventions were Virginia, Texas, and Missouri. Virginia is covered elsewhere in this issue. The Texas convention amounted to a Baylor alumni sweep with most votes going against conservatives by three or three-and-a-half to one. In Missouri the moderate candidate for president won with 62% of the vote.

A number of states elect officers for a one year term and then normally re-elect them for another year, often without opposition. For example, this was true in NC, LA, and MS. In Alabama conservatives lost the presidency by just 58 votes, won the 1VP, and lost 2VP. In IL a strong conservative was elected 1VP. Florida elected solid conservatives, though not the ones recommended by several of the leading conservative pastors. In Arkansas the incumbent president was not challenged, but conservatives challenged and lost 1VP but won 2VP. Conservatives also swept the pastors conference officers. In Md-Del the moderate presidential candidate won with 54% and moderates took all the other offices. In Tennessee a moderate was elected president, a conservative president of the general board, and a conservative president of the pastors conference. In TN there were also a few successful conservative challenges to the Committee on Nominations report.

A bright spot for conservatives was South Carolina where for the first time conservatives won the top three offices. Another highlight was Georgia where conservatives won the presidency and three of the four vice presidencies. A third batch of good news came from Kentucky where they won the state president and all the pastors conference positions ... this was a first.

In budget actions most states kept the same percentage breakdowns between the state and the SBC that they had previously. But several increased the percent going to the SBC. Most of the latter are new work states where the SBC percentage is usually quite low; then as Southern Baptist work in the state grows, the percentage is typically raised. Pa-So Jersey raised their percent 0.4% to 22.4%. West Virginia increased 0.5% to 28%. The Dakotas also increased 0.5% to 14.5%. Because of economic pressures Oklahoma decreased to 42%, while Georgia maintained its 50-50 division. The New England convention eliminated its previous $200 contribution to the Baptist Joint Committee. Md-Del rejected a move to allow messengers to be computed on contributions through channels other than the SBC Cooperative Program.

A number of states passed pro-life/anti-abortion resolutions, including Illinois, Md-Del, Oklahoma, Mn-Wisc, the Dakotas, and Arkansas. Other states passed a variety of resolutions setting forth a biblical view regarding homosexuality consonant with SBC actions last June: West Virginia, Md-Del, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Arkansas. North Carolina voted 90% to 10% not to rescind the state's previous action disfellowshipping the two NC churches which had endorsed active homosexuality. By a vote of 581 to 199 Louisiana became the first state to amend its constitution to exclude churches which approve, endorse, or affirm the practice of homosexuality. North Carolina excludes such churches through its business and finance plan. In Alabama a strong statement on homosexuality was included in the report of the state Board of Missions.

In summary, conservatives continued to make progress at the state level, but there is still quite a way to go, especially in Texas, Missouri, and Virginia. However, we praise God, for we know He has already claimed the victory. And we ask Him to reveal His will to us in this as in every other matter.