2011: SBC Annual Meeting Roundup

PHOENIX (BP)--A resolution on prayer and repentance adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix traces its roots to a church's revival experience in east Tennessee.

PHOENIX (BP)--When Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Douglas Carver retires from the Army in July, the U.S. Army's Chief of Chaplains will take with him experiences with the armed forces' men and women that have helped form and transform him. The first Southern Baptist in more than 50 years to assume the role of Army Chief of Chaplains in 2007, the two-star general will retire after more than 38 years of service. "I don't use the word retirement," he notes. "This is a transition. God has ordered up something special beyond the Army. I don't know what it is, but it's something exciting." In his final weeks of duty, Carver has "little white space on my calendar." He returned from an April base circulation in Afghanistan to an array of stateside visits and appearances -- among them the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. The busyness has done little to quell the emotion or distract him from the swell of memories. "I've made friends literally around the world including many from other nations, and to walk away from that -- there's nothing that prepares you for that," Carver said. "I cannot go back. I cannot put my uniform back on and go into this community. I'm flooded with wonderful memories of great ministry experience." His military career dates back to 1972, when he joined the Army right out of college during Vietnam; earned a Ranger tab; and served as an Field Artillery Officer. After six years, he went into the Army Reserves, attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and later pastored a church in Colorado Springs.

PHOENIX (BP)–The future of the Baptist association is on solid footing, a Southern Baptist leader said, because the organization of churches within regional groups is based on a biblical model. “The future of the association is bright,” Ken Hemphill said. “I believe it’s a biblical model,” therefore “survival is solved.” “The question is, will it […]

PHOENIX (BP)--Small churches and bivocational pastors are a Great Commission powerhouse, a North American Mission Board leader told the Bivocational Small Church Leadership Network during the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix.

PHOENIX (BP)–When suffering came into her life, Kay Warren’s natural response was to view it as an enemy she needed to fight and push away. “I want it gone and I want it gone now,” she told the Pastors’ Wives Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors’ Conference June 13. Warren began searching the Scriptures […]

PHOENIX (BP)–Calling themselves “men of yesterday” in the Southern Baptist Convention, 9Marks founder Mark Dever and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson told younger pastors June 13 they should heed the wisdom of previous generations that upheld biblical authority and sound doctrine. Speaking at a “9Marks at 9” gathering following the Monday evening session […]

PHOENIX (BP)--A coalition of homosexual leaders and their allies met for more than 30 minutes June 15 with Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright, with the leaders demanding an apology from the SBC and Wright refusing to budge, saying that Scripture is clear on the issue.

PHOENIX (BP)–The push in 2010 for a Great Commission Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention was not a push for more programs, as much as it was an ambition to recover the Gospel among Southern Baptist churches, according to several members of a panel at a Baptist21 luncheon June 14. About 700 guests listened as […]

PHOENIX (BP)–Susie Hawkins was honored with the 2011 Willie Turner Dawson Award during the Ministers’ Wives Conference at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Hawkins is the wife of O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources and a former pastor’s wife in Oklahoma, Florida and Texas. In presenting the award June 14 in Phoenix, Donna […]

PHOENIX (BP)–The need for renewed evangelism, concerns about Calvinism and comments regarding North American Mission Board budget cuts were voiced during the annual evangelists-sponsored worship service prior to the SBC annual meeting. The Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists’ gathering June 12, with the theme “Ageless Urgency,” featured three preachers: Eric Fuller, Harold Hunter and Brian […]