SBC Louisville, introduction

by   T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                Vol. XXII, No. 6, June/July 2009

The 2009 SBC Pastors Conference and Annual Meeting were held in Louisville, KY, 21-24 June with 8,790 messengers registering compared to 7,267 last year, a 21% increase. One can only guess as to the reason for larger attendance. Since the convention is held in a different location every year, geographical change may play a role. Also this year there was pre-meeting speculation about potentially controversial issues that might be raised.

The pre-convention issue that got the most publicity was the Great Commission Resurgence Declaration sponsored by Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Some felt that the Declaration’s purpose is to significantly revise the SBC organization, possibly by merging the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board.

Of course numerous resolutions and motions were offered, as well as officers elected, and reports presented from each SBC entity. For summary reports on each of these areas, see other articles in this Baptist Banner.

The SBC Pastors' Conference heard from Charles Colson, Mike Huckabee and David Platt, a 30-year-old pastor who previously was unknown to many attendees but whose passionate sermons were well-received. Platt, lead pastor of the Church at Brook Hills in
Birmingham, AL, also delivered a theme interpretation during the annual meeting.

Next year's annual meeting will take place June 15-16 in Orlando, FL.