By Baptist Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- A coalition of all living former Southern Baptist Convention presidents since 1980 issued a joint statement Wednesday (June 17) declaring they will stand on the biblical truths concerning marriage despite anticipated legal and civil changes to the definition. Pastor Jack Graham called it "the most critical issue of our times -- religious freedom and the very definition of marriage itself." Current SBC President Ronnie Floyd led the press conference and was joined on the platform by former SBC presidents Jimmy Draper, Bailey E. Smith, Paige Patterson, James Merritt, Jack Graham, Frank S. Page, Bryant Wright and Fred Luter. Reading from the statement, Graham said, "The Scriptures' teaching on marriage is not negotiable. We stake our lives upon the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. We will not accept, nor adhere to, any legal redefinition of marriage issued by any political or judicial body including the United States Supreme Court." The statement, signed by 16 former presidents, was not issued on behalf of the SBC but issued to the SBC, evangelicals and the nation, Graham said. The statement reiterates the long-established SBC stand on homosexuality and same-sex marriage … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd was reelected without opposition to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 16 during the SBC annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. Registered messengers totaled 5,277 messengers at the time. Floyd was nominated by North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear, who said, "God's hand has been upon Brother Ronnie. I believe he is the man God has raised up to lead us for another year." All other SBC officers for the coming year also were elected without opposition. Kansas pastor Steve Dighton, senior pastoral adviser at the Kansas City-area Lenexa Baptist Church in Lenexa, Kan., was elected as first vice president, nominated by Texas pastor and former SBC president Jack Graham. Elected as second vice president was Chad Keck, senior pastor of the Dayton-area First Baptist Church of Kettering since December 2010, nominated by David Starry of Vandalia, Ohio. John L. Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention since 2011, was reelected to a 19th term as recording secretary, nominated by Joshua Hedger of Kansas City, while Jim Wells, strategic partners team leader for the Missouri Baptist Convention, was reelected to a … [Read more...]

By Baptist Press EDITOR'S NOTE: The full text of the resolutions adopted during the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting follows this story. COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Messengers to the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention adopted nine resolutions -- some on culturally divisive issues -- with almost no opposition. All the resolutions offered in the Tuesday afternoon session (June 16) at the SBC's meeting gained passage by unanimous or nearly unanimous votes. The messengers affirmed biblically based stances on such topics as same-sex marriage, racial reconciliation and the sanctity of human life, as well as religious persecution and pornography. Approved resolutions also called for spiritual awakening and celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Prior to the convention, the Resolutions Committee received only four resolutions, an unusually small number. As a result, the committee initiated more resolutions than normal, but committee chairman Steve Gaines said finding topics proved no problem. "There are so many pressing issues morally and spiritually in our nation right now, it really didn't take long to figure that out," Gaines said at a news conference after the committee's report. He … [Read more...]

By Keila Diaz, Florida Baptist Witness COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- In a night marked by worship, fellowship and workshops, Hispanic Southern Baptist pastors and leaders from across the United States came together for AVANCE 2015 prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. The June 14 gathering began at 5 p.m. with worship led by Julio Arriola from Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, followed by a dinner and featured speaker SBC President Ronnie Floyd. David Platt, president of the International Mission Board, also addressed the group. After the dinner, the IMB, the North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources hosted workshops. The evening concluded with an informational session from the new Hispanic Leadership Network. Floyd, speaking to some 200 Hispanic Baptists, with translation by IMB Hispanic mobilization leader Jason Carlisle, started his message by quoting Romans 13:11, which states in part, "already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed." "This is the moment God wants to do a mighty work" in America and beyond, Floyd said at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Reaching the United States and other nations for … [Read more...]

By Baptist Press GROVE CITY, Ohio (BP) -- Woman's Missionary Union elected Linda Cooper of Bowling Green, Ky., to serve as national WMU president during the second day of their Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting, June 14-15, at First Baptist Church of Grove City, Ohio. Cooper, a member of Forest Park Baptist Church, will replace Debby Akerman, who has served as president for five years. In her final presidential address, Akerman thanked those present at the meeting for the opportunity to serve WMU. "Contrary to what some might think, you are not sitting in circles with your hair of blue simply reading missions articles," she said. "You are praying for our missionaries as the day begins; going out in active community missions to the many places where the hurting are found. You are going out through relationship building and steady witnessing to the up-and-out as well as the down-and-out. And you are leading missions teams to go across North America and to the nations of the world." Between the two days of the meeting, some 500 people attended to hear how missionaries and ministry workers live out the year's theme, "All for You," through wholehearted surrender, sacrifice and service. Capt. Michael Coleman, a U.S. … [Read more...]