Messengers to make major decisions in 167th annual session
By R.G. Puckett
Editor
Messengers to the annual sessions of the Baptist State Convention (BSC) of North Carolina, meeting in Winston-Salem Nov. 10-12 will make major decisions in the election of officers, adoption of a record budget, election of a new executive director-treasurer, and action on several constitutional and bylaw changes.
The sessions begin on Monday evening at 6:45 and will conclude about noon on Wednesday. There will be morning, afternoon and evening sessions on Tuesday.
A complete slate of officers will be elected. Six candidates have already announced for the three presidential positions.
Mac Brunson, a conservative and pastor of Green Street Church, High Point, will go against Jack Causey, a moderate and pastor of Statesville's First Church, for the presidency.
Charlotte Cook, a member of Jersey Church near Lexington, and Mike Cummings, director of missions in Burnt Swamp Association, are in the race for first vice president.
Allan Blume, pastor of Mt. Vernon Church, Boone, and David Crocker, pastor of Snyder Memorial Church, Fayetteville, are competing for the second vice presidency.
Officers will be elected Tuesday morning and afternoon.
A record budget of $30 million, plus a $1 million challenge goal, has been approved by the General Board and must be acted upon by the messengers. There are no new items in the budget but it represents the largest increase in recent years when budgets/income have been flat.
The budget action will come Wednesday morning.
A major item of business is the action on the recommendation from the General Board that James H. Royston be elected executive director-treasurer, succeeding Roy J. Smith who is retiring Dec. 31 after 13 years of service in the post.
Smith served nearly one year as acting executive director after the resignation of Cecil Ray with whom Smith served as associate.
Royston, a native of Johnson City, Tenn., and currently pastor of the Colonial Heights Church in Kingsport, Tenn., served approximately 16 years in North Carolina. He received the unanimous recommendation of the Executive Director Search Committee, chaired by Marion Lark, pastor of Henderson's First Church, and the General Board.
Several significant changes in the constitution and bylaws will be presented for messenger action. The committee on such changes is chaired by Tom Dimmock, a Raleigh lawyer and a member of Trinity Church. He presented the proposed changes to the General Board and its Executive Committee.
Some of the changes involve only updating language and styles, but a major proposal involves the relationship of Meredith College to the Convention and the number/manner in which trustees for Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem are chosen.
President Greg Mathis will deliver his final address to the messengers Monday evening prior to the Retirement Celebration honoring Executive Director-treasurer and Mrs. Roy J. Smith.
Kelvin Smith, Charlotte, will deliver the Convention sermon Tuesday morning. Steve Scoggins, pastor of Hendersonville's First Church and alternate preacher of the sermon, will read scripture.
Various institution and divisions of the General Board will make reports throughout the sessions. Because of the many major items on the agenda, high attendance is expected, perhaps a record registration of messengers.
James H. Royston
 The 167th session
(Sept. 27)  Mac Brunson
Jack Causey
Interviews with the candidates for second vice president:
The convention's program (Oct. 21)
Candidates for president field tough questions from conservatives (Oct. 25) |
