The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-11/14/2012 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Adultery & leadership: lessons from the Petraeus-Broadwell scandal by Thom S. Rainer Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- It's somewhat surprising that the media is making a fuss about the David Petraeus and Paula Broadwell affair. After all, adultery is normative according to most media standards. This time, however, there is the potential damage of compromising highly sensitive security information. And there are the unanswered questions of "Who knew?" and "When did they know?" But the spectacle does raise the question: What is the impact on a leader and his or her leadership when he or she is involved in an affair? I have been disgusted as I heard different pundits attempt to answer this question. It's not a private matter The typical perspective regurgitated about the Petraeus and Broadwell affair is that, outside of the security concerns, it's really no big deal. After all, it is argued, this relationship is a private matter between two consenting adults. That's garbage. It is not a private matter. Their two spouses are undoubtedly wounded and humiliated. Children are innocent victims who try to grasp with the strains and perhaps destruction of the secure world they knew when all was well with their parents. Other family and friends are hurt as well. One television commentator this week cheered the actions of adulterous men, celebrating their testosterone levels and "manhood." One is left to wonder if he would cheer similar actions of his own wife, and celebrate her own hormonal drives and "femininity" with other men. It's not endemic to all great leaders I have heard more than one pundit opine that uncontrolled sex drives are just part of the nature of great leaders. They have such a great drive, we are told, that it is only natural that such drives include unfettered desires for sexual conquests. I even heard a commentator cite adultery as a common characteristic of our great American presidents. The more anemic presidents tended to be those who were faithful to their wives. Adultery is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness. Adultery is not an indicator of healthy adulthood. It's an indicator of juvenile behavior. Adultery is not a sign of self-controlled leaders. It's a sign of out-of-control leaders. Adultery is not the badge of great leadership. It's the badge of failed leadership. It's not a matter of triumph Ultimately, adultery is not a matter of triumph; it's a matter of failed trust. An adulterous man or woman once stood before God and human witnesses and pledged his or her lifelong commitment to another person. Indeed, he or she entered the sanctity of marriage as a promise that neither would ever break trust with the other. Adultery is failed trust; it is therefore failed leadership. How can we trust a leader who failed to keep trust with the person to whom he or she has devoted his or her life? How can we believe what that leader says when he has deceived and lied to the person who is supposed to be closest to him? Don't read me wrongly. Adultery is not unforgivable. I am reminded of an adulterous woman about to be stoned to death only to see her life spared. There was no one around without sin to cast the first stone except Jesus. And He showed grace. But please don't take adultery as lightly and with such frivolity as much of the media and society. The breach of trust is indeed forgivable. But the consequences are deep and far reaching. Great leaders keep trust at all levels: in their friendships; in their business dealings; in their organizations and, above all, in their marriages. --30-- Thom S. Rainer is president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. This column first appeared on his website, www.ThomRainer.com. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE SEMINARIES: SWBTS, SBTS by Staff Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday EDITOR'S NOTE: "From the Seminaries" includes news releases of interest as written and edited from Southern Baptist seminaries. Today's From the Seminaries includes: SWBTS SBTS (2 items) Business professionals called to advance God's Kingdom By Benjamin Hawkins FORT WORTH, Texas -- Strategies for using business as a platform for missions worldwide was the focus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's first Kingdom Professionals Conference at the Fort Worth, Texas, campus. "This is the point of the spear. This is very innovative," one expert* said during the sessions at Southwestern's Richard Land Center for Cultural Engagement. And William Goff, professor of ethics at Southwestern and former Southern Baptist missionary, agreed. This conference, he said, presents information on a cutting-edge effort -- commonly called "business as missions" -- for penetrating areas of global lostness. Goff added that the conference also aimed at facilitating contact by the International Mission Board with business people, students and faculty interested in the global marketplace initiative. For many years, Goff said, businesses from the U.S. have engaged the international marketplace, with experts now giving greater focus on how Christian professionals can make an impact for Christ through their business endeavors. But the challenge, Goff said, is "how to do this effectively and productively." According to experts who spoke at the conference, effective "Kingdom professionals" must be adequately equipped for and called to the professional tasks they are using as a platform for missions. They must gain both physical and legal access into the countries where they desire to serve. Their businesses must be legitimate, cost-effective and beneficial to the community and should provide professionals with opportunities to engage people with the Gospel. Professionals can gain access to the world, experts said, through tourism, agriculture, business, restaurants, disaster relief, water filtration, mechanics and medicine as well as various other venues. "It comes in a thousand different ways," Southwestern President Paige Patterson said during chapel, Oct. 26. "Here is the opportunity in China for a godly dentist to set up a practice that would enable him to work in the upper echelon of the Chinese people and through, that dental practice, to meet the needs of people who would never hear the Gospel in any other way." Although Southern Baptists must always send out career missionaries to proclaim the Gospel and nurture churches until they "grow to full spiritual maturity," Patterson urged seminarians headed into church ministry "not only to call out the career missionary but also to call out those who will go to countries of the world in business and, through that business, share Christ with people that the career missionary might never reach." During a later session, Gordon Fort, vice president of the International Mission Board's office of global strategy, called churches to stop dabbling in Great Commission endeavors and to enter wholeheartedly into the "spiritual war" that covers this globe. "There is a global war taking place, and while you may be looking forward to having a crown one day, on this side of eternity the only thing that you get is a helmet," Fort said. In every war, Fort said, there are casualties, voicing primary concern for those who have never heard -- and may never hear -- the Gospel, people "who have no hope because there is not even the shadow of a cross in their communities. There is no Scripture in their language. There are no churches in their villages. There is not even one believer in their extended families." Christians must engage people in the Gospel by all possible means, Fort said. "I hope that you have been captured by the idea, by the possibility, by the concept that sitting out amongst our churches … is an asset that, to this point, we have not really utilized to its potential," Fort noted. "Sitting out amongst our constituents are people with incredible gifts and skills and ability in the professional world." Many of these "Kingdom professionals" have been informed for years that missions is only for the seminary trained, Fort said. They believe that, as businessmen, doctors, school teachers and agriculturalists, they can play no part in this global spiritual war. "And I beg to differ," Fort said, praying that "Kingdom professionals" will act upon the Apostle Paul's words: "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). --30-- *Names have been omitted to protect those serving in secure locations. Benjamin Hawkins is senior news writer for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (www.swbts.edu/campusnews). ********** Trueman explains Luther as theological pastor in Gheens lectures By Alex Duke LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Martin Luther, who sparked the Protestant Reformation, carries a complex legacy. While many laud him as a historical and theological harbinger -- the reformer who drove a nail through the heart of works-based righteousness -- others lambaste him as a derisive, ego-driven anti-Semite. During Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's 2012 Gheens Lectures, Carl Trueman attempted to confront this black-and-white Lutheran consensus by shifting the predominant focus to Luther as pastor. Trueman, professor of historical theology and church history at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, argued that this pastoral focus brings about a more informed understanding of both Luther's theology and ministry methodology. "Pastoral concern provided the trigger to the Reformation, showing that theology and practice necessarily intertwine," Trueman said during his Sept. 13 visit to Southern's Louisville, Ky., campus. Borrowing from Luther, Trueman explained how the words of God in the Word of God bring life: They create reality ex nihilo, both in creation and in God's people. In fact, Trueman argued, the same holds true today as pastors encounter that Word in preaching. "Preaching is not merely a descriptive task," Trueman said. "It is morally and existentially confrontational. Indifference to the [preached] Word is impossible." Trueman noted how Luther's deep concern for "ordinary people" manifested itself in his pastoral ministry. He cited, among other anecdotes, the decade-long transition of the Mass in Luther's church from Latin to German. Though he often identified a need before his people could, Luther waited to address that need until they were ready. "Luther was acutely sensitive to the pace with which his people would accept theological reform," Trueman said. Echoing the exhortations of Luther, Trueman concluded with a call to pastoral practice driven by biblical faithfulness, humility before a holy God and confidence in a sufficient Christ. Both audio and video from Trueman's lectures, "We Are Beggers: Martin Luther as Theological Pastor," are available online at www.sbts.edu/resources. ********** SBTS names new VP for advancement LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has named R. Craig Parker as its vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the Southern Seminary Foundation. "Craig is a man of remarkable gifts, longstanding Southern Baptist experience, valuable experience in the local church and a demonstrated expertise in building a ministry," R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Seminary, said in the Oct. 17 announcement. "To know him and his wife, Selwyn, is to know a dedicated Christian couple whose commitment to Christ, to the church, and to Southern Seminary is tangible and powerful." Parker takes the place of Jason K. Allen, who left Southern to assume the presidency of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Oct. 15. Southern's office of institutional advancement and the Southern Seminary Foundation lead fundraising efforts of the seminary, from major building projects to raising money for the school's annual fund, which defrays tuition costs for master's degree students. Prior to accepting this position, Parker served the seminary as vice president of business services. And before arriving at Southern, Parker held administrative roles in Tennessee churches, including 15 years as church administrator at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova -- the church once pastored by Adrian Rogers and a significant church in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also a former trustee for Guidestone Financial Resources. Parker has been married for 35 years to Selwyn, with whom he has two adult children, Leah and Matt. He holds a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and a master's from Murray State University in Murray, Ky. --30-- Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Anonymous author embraces obscurity, humility by Russ Rankin Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- The world is filled with people who live and die in anonymity. To those who yearn for true success as modeled by Jesus, the anonymous author of a new book points toward humility, service, sacrifice and surrender. The author of "Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God's Everything," released by B&H Publishing Group, chose to publish under the name "Anonymous" and to maintain nearly complete anonymity. Only one B&H editor and a couple of executives at LifeWay Christian Resources know the identity of Anonymous -- reportedly a well-established author -- who communicates via a specially created email address. "We did not know anything about the identity of the author when we received the manuscript," said Selma Wilson, vice president of B&H Publishing Group. "But the message of the book grabbed us immediately. It is exactly what we are about at B&H -- bringing an engaging and substantive Christ-centered message." "This book is a call to stop imitating the world's formula for success and instead follow the model of our humble King," Anonymous said in quotes provided by B&H. "I couldn't think of any way to reconcile that message while simultaneously promoting myself, so I chose to take up the challenge of embracing my own obscurity." Obscurity "can be either assigned (by God) or chosen (by us)," Anonymous writes in the book. "I don't know whether one is harder than the other. I just know that from a prideful, human point of view, either can gnaw at us. We don't want to live as one in a crowd. We don't want to be just another person living in a subdivision in the suburban sprawl that has become America." "It is my desire to awaken the church to the unsurpassing peace and pleasure of becoming nothing in light of God's everything," the author said via B&H. "Even when an overarching, global obscurity has been assigned to us, we still have a choice of whether to embrace personal obscurity -- an obscurity of heart as much as position," Anonymous writes. "And that is the message I believe God has for us, a message He modeled as well as taught." The author has modeled the principles of the book well, Wilson said. "Writing a book, especially one with deep transparent personal themes, is a painstaking event," she said. "And to do that with zero credit is a tremendous thing. The message Anonymous brings forward in this book is very appropriate for the evangelical world today." To maintain the integrity of his/her anonymity, the author will not make any appearances or speaking engagements in support of the book, Wilson said. However, Anonymous will interact with visitors at Facebook.com/EmbracingObscurity. In addition, Anonymous is available for interviews via email. B&H Publishing Group is a division of LifeWay Christian Resources. B&H's print and digital releases for the trade, church and academic markets include New York Times No. 1 bestsellers "The Love Dare" and "The Vow," as well as the award-winning HCSB Study Bible. --30-- Russ Rankin writes for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Metro Chicago's diversity tugs at visiting mission board members by Adam Miller Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday CHICAGO (BP) -- "I was raised in a place where there's a Baptist church on every corner," Sissy Franks said during a visit to Chicago. "When I come here and I see this, then my heart is reminded that we have much to do," said Franks, a trustee of the North American Mission Board. "To see the work of a church planter in places where they leave their home and family and come because of mission, vision and passion for sharing the Gospel reminds me there is much to do -- and everybody needs to be involved," said Franks, a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, La. Franks and other North American Mission Board trustees, in conjunction with their trustee meeting in Chicago on Oct. 10, saw firsthand the great need for churches and missionaries to reach the United States' third-largest city for Christ. Among the 8.7 million people in metro Chicago's 77 neighborhoods, there are only 308 Southern Baptist churches, one for every 32,000 residents. Trustees dedicated a day to visiting three SBC church planters who have recently begun new congregations in Chicago. In places like Wicker Park, the University District and Northlake, trustees saw eclectic and impoverished boroughs often within several blocks of each other.
Trustee Chuck Herring, pastor of First Baptist Church in Collierville, Tenn., recounted that "the thing that God said to my heart coming from the Deep South is I must never ever take the Gospel for granted." "And I've got to teach my people not to take the Gospel for granted," he added. Chicago encompasses 670,000 college students and is home to 2,000 people groups speaking 200 languages. Among the diversity, Southern Baptists are starting churches with multiplication built into their DNA. Church planter David Choi, pastor of Church of the Beloved, hopes to start several churches throughout metro Chicago. He's reaching a very diverse section of the city and mentoring younger planters to join forces. "It's amazing to have people from all over North America come here and pray for us," Choi said of the trustees' visit. "Our partnerships with Southern Baptists are what have made our work possible, and we are so grateful." As early as 1957, Chicago was included in the SBC's "Big Cities" program and received funds for 10 church plants. Today, as a Send North America City, Chicago is still on the map as an urban center in spiritual need. The need for more planters and more partnerships was apparent to trustee Rick Wyatt, a member of First Baptist Church of Brandon, Fla. "I think as our church gets more involved in church planting, we have to relay to the congregation that it's not a quick fix," Wyatt said. "We need to encourage them to be involved in student missions, and continue through high school and college, if the numbers of church planters we need to start these churches will be available." --30-- Adam Miller is a writer for the North American Mission Board. For more information on NAMB's Send North America: Chicago emphasis, visit www.namb.net/chicago. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Obama may not impact Supreme Court balance by Michael Foust Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday WASHINGTON (BP) -- Social conservatives lamenting a slew of Election Day losses might take solace in this: Barring a surprise retirement, the ideological makeup of the Supreme Court likely will remain the same for the next four years. So says Liberty Counsel's Mathew Staver, who has argued two cases before the court and whose organization has filed about 30 briefs with it. Only one of the justices -- liberal bloc-member Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is 79 -- seems likely to retire, but that would not change the court's balance because her replacement by President Obama likely would be a liberal as well, Staver said. "Absent some kind of unforeseen health complication" to one of the other justices, he added, "the Supreme Court would likely look the same" ideologically when Obama leaves office. That would be great news for social conservatives, who view the high court -- and the courts below it -- as integral to their cause. Abortion was legalized by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, a 1973 case social conservatives hope is eventually reversed. The justices might consider next year the legalization of gay marriage. The reason the court could look the same in four years is simple: Justices typically time their retirement so that the party that appointed them gets to name their successor. President Clinton, a Democrat, nominated Ginsburg, and her replacement would be named by Obama, another Democrat. Republicans nominated all five members of the court who are considered part of the conservative bloc. If they hold to tradition, the ones who are eyeing retirement will hold off in the hopes that a Republican will win the White House in 2016. Of the court's four-member liberal bloc, Clinton nominated two and Obama two. Nothing, of course, is guaranteed, and surprise retirements do happen. Liberal Justice Thurgood Marshall -- nominated by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson -- was forced to retire in 1991 due to poor health during the administration of Republican George H.W. Bush, who replaced Marshall with a conservative, Clarence Thomas. Marshall died two years later. Marshall had voted with the pro-Roe majority in 1973, and Thomas has since gone on record as opposing Roe. Death also can have an impact. Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist passed away in 2005 while in office, although it did not have an impact on the court's ideological balance because he was nominated by a Republican (Richard Nixon) and his successor (John Roberts) was nominated by a Republican (George W. Bush). Four justices are in their 70s: Ginsburg (79), Antonin Scalia (76), Anthony Kennedy (76) and Stephen Breyer (74). "That's something that we certainly need to be in prayer about -- for the good health of the justices," Staver said. Even if Obama doesn't change the ideological makeup of the nation's highest court, though, he'll still have a major impact on the lower court -- the appeals courts and district courts, Staver said. "He'll have more of an impact on the court system than any previous president -- even if he appoints the same number [of judges as other presidents] -- because unlike any previous president, Obama appoints people who are ideologically in line with him," Staver said. Other presidents, Staver said, appoint "some people who are ideologically in line with them" and some who "go off in a different direction" ideologically. If Ginsburg is the only Supreme Court justice to retire in the next four years, then the high court potentially could be a major issue in the 2016 presidential race. That's because two members of the court's conservative bloc -- staunch conservative Antonin Scalia and swing vote Anthony Kennedy -- would be 80 that year. Kennedy, although a part of the conservative bloc for much of his career, has upset both sides of the spectrum. He voted to uphold Roe in the 1990s, then a decade later voted to uphold the federal ban on partial-birth abortion. He has sided with the liberal bloc on gay rights cases but with the conservatives on Ten Commandments cases. This year, he voted with the losing side that would have reversed the health care law ("Obamacare"). "Whether it's Republicans or Democrats, anybody who replaces Kennedy will definitely impact the future of the court," Staver said. --30-- Michael Foust is associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fla. Baptists continue toward 50/50 CP split by Barbara Denman/Florida Baptist Convention Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday ORLANDO (BP) -- Jacksonville pastor Tim Maynard was elected president of the Florida Baptist State Convention during its Nov. 12-13 annual meeting at First Baptist Church in Orlando. Messengers approved a 2013 Cooperative Program budget of $31.6 million, an amount identical to the 2012 budget. The budget, based on gifts from Florida Baptist churches through the Cooperative Program from June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012, will increase giving to the Southern Baptist Convention by 1 percentage point to 41.5 percent. The increase in the SBC portion sustains a commitment by Florida Baptists to raise the percentage allocated nationally to an even 50/50 percent division of funds between the SBC and state. "We are on track to be 50/50 in the next seven years," John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, told messengers. The $31.6 million will be divided between the SBC, 41.5 percent; Florida Baptist Convention operating budget, 46.60 percent; and Florida Baptist entities, 11.81 percent. Affected by the economic downturn and decreased giving from the churches, since 2005, the convention has pared $10 million from its budget and downsized its staff by 58 employees, or 25 percent of its workforce. In the presidential election, 640 votes among a reported 896 messengers registered Tuesday morning were cast. Maynard, pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church, received 374 or 59 percent of the vote, with Clayton Cloer, pastor of First Baptist Church of Central Florida in Orlando, receiving 264 votes or 41 percent. Maynard, 58, who also served three years as president of Florida's State Board of Missions, the convention's governing body, was nominated by Marvin Pittman, a layman from First Baptist Church in Bartow. Just hours after the election, Maynard told the Florida Baptist Witness he was already feeling the "weight" of how to bring Florida Baptists together to "refocus on what's truly important." "I really have a heartbeat for seeing genuine unity happen in this convention," Maynard said. "One of the things that really, really matters to Jesus is unity. If we can't stand as a unified people, I don't know that we have much to share with the state. I think it's going to require a true heart change, genuine repentance in the hearts of the people." In nominating Maynard, Pittman had noted his leadership in the state and in his church, and cited Fruit Cove's commitment to missions and the Cooperative Program, which funds the mission enterprise of the Florida and Southern Baptist conventions. The church gives at least 10 percent through the Cooperative Program annually; $80,000 to $100,000 to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions; and $45,000 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for Missions. "Tim's leadership style is to cast a vision and to invite others to join him," Pittman told messengers. "His cooperative and humble spirit [and] his personal commitment to the task encourages those around him to come together to reach the common goal." William Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, in nominating Cloer, praised him for his leadership, and said the former Florida Baptist Pastors' Conference president had spearheaded "the fight to amend our state constitution to preserve the sanctity of biblical marriage and he led the revision task force calling our churches to repentance and renewal." Elected to serve with Maynard was layperson Jack Roland of Ocala First Baptist Church, first vice president; Chris Coram, associate pastor of North Jacksonville Baptist Church, second vice president; and Randy Huckabee, pastor of First Baptist Church of Okeechobee, recording secretary. Roland topped Kevin Goza, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Apopka. The other two officers ran unopposed. At the conclusion of the meeting, 936 messengers had registered, with 148 visitors, for a total of 1,084 in attendance. The last time the convention met in Orlando in 1999, 1,556 messengers registered. The theme of the meeting, "What Really Matters," focused on family, faith, relationships and legacy. David Uth, pastor of the host church, presided over the convention, serving his second one-year term. Jeff Singletary, pastor of Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church, a multi-cultural congregation in the heart of Tampa, delivered the annual convention sermon. He urged Florida Baptists to contend for the Gospel in the midst of the "seismic shift" of morality in America as demonstrated by the recent Election Day results. "I have come this morning, brothers and sisters, to call you and to challenge you to contend for the faith as you've never done before," Singletary said, preaching from Jude 3. "If we don't get up, stand up, look up, speak up, America will go the way of the church in England. Yes, history will merely repeat itself in America and God will write 'ichabod' on the American church -- 'The glory of the Lord has departed,'" Singletary said. Singletary is the second African-American in the history of the FBSC to preach the annual sermon. There are 240 African American congregations affiliated with the FBSC. Other convention speakers included retired Marine 1st Lt. Clebe McClary, a decorated Vietnam veteran who shared his courage and survival on the battlefield, and Cindy Winters of Maryville, Ill., widow of slain pastor Fred Winters. Marriage enrichment counselor Emerson Eggerichs led a time for couples to recommit their respect and love to each other. Sullivan reported to messengers that the state is "on target" with six Great Commission Resurgence recommendations approved by messengers at the 2010 Convention meeting. "Every recommendation has been implemented or is in the process of being implemented," Sullivan said. Among the implemented recommendations was a spiritual renewal emphasis, "ReVision Florida"; a move toward the 50/50 percent distribution of Cooperative Program funds; and development of evangelistic pastoral leaders through increased availability of theological education. An emphasis on church planting regionalization produced 117 new church starts in 2012, Sullivan announced. "The best calculation that we can make about planting churches is that about 20 percent of every dollar that comes through the Florida Baptist Convention goes to church planting. We are on target in planting churches in the state of Florida," he said. "The best partner we have in the state of Florida is the North America Mission Board. I commend Dr. Ezell for cooperating and listening … . I am thankful to God for the NAMB and for their help in planting churches," Sullivan quipped. Also implemented was a reorganization and regionalization of staff along convention priorities. Sullivan credited the convention staff for the "excellent and efficient progress" made in accomplishing the goals. "Our staff has been exceptional in making adjustments and assuming additional responsibilities and maintaining relationships throughout the state." In presenting the State Board of Missions report, Maynard told messengers, "Let me tell you something about Florida Baptists. I have been behind the scenes for eight years and I am more excited to be a Florida Baptist than I have ever been. I have seen what happens behind the curtain. I am so impressed with who we are. "This convention follows Jesus Christ, nobody else," Maynard continued. "This convention sets the paradigm. This convention sets the pattern that will be followed. I believe the way that we get to 50/50 will be the way other conventions will follow. "There are no greater missions organizations in the world than the ones we support with Cooperative Program dollars," Maynard said. There were no questions or dissenting votes during convention business reports and no miscellaneous business or recommendations offered by messngers. Next year's meeting is scheduled for Nov. 11-12 in Jacksonville at North Jacksonville Baptist Church. --30-- Barbara Denman is director of communications for the Florida Baptist Convention. James A. Smith Sr., executive editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, and Joni B. Hannigan, managing editor, contributed to this article. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mont. Baptists unanimous in raising CP giving by Karen L. Willoughby Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday MONTANA CITY, Mont. (BP) -- A year after embracing its 20/20 Vision, the Montana Southern Baptist Convention voted to increase its Cooperative Program giving for the first time in the state group's 11-year history. Messengers to the 2012 annual meeting voted to increase by 1 percentage point its 2013 CP allocation to Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries, sending 23 percent to the SBC of $967,179 budgeted for CP receipts from Montana churches. "We determined as a convention that we want our churches and convention as a whole to be more engaged in the mission field," MTSBC Executive Director Fred Hewett told Baptist Press about the unanimous vote to increase CP giving. "We recognize that we are a great mission field in Montana, but we strongly desire to be engaged beyond our churches and communities." The decision was buoyed by an increase in contributions from the Montana convention's churches, resulting in a 6 percent increase in the budget, Hewett reported. The MTSBC does not separate any shared expenses from its allocations. "Our giving was up, so our budget is up." Hewett said. "Montana churches have increased their CP giving by 5 percent in the last 12 months. In the 20/20 Vision Report recommendation adopted last year, the goal is to be at 30 percent [in CP percentage to the SBC] by the end of 2020." The increase means more undergirding for church plants, church health and evangelism in Montana and around the world, which is what the 20/20 Vision Task Force reported to messengers at the 2011 annual meeting needed to happen: a focus on penetrating lostness, engaging in missions at home and abroad, and cooperating in denominational effectiveness. "The Great Commission is our guiding principle," Libby Baptist Church pastor Darwin Scofield said at the 2011 meeting. This year's vote of the 79 messengers from 61 of Montana's 140 Southern Baptist churches and missions confirmed his statement. MTSBC President B.J. Hallmark, associate pastor of Crossroads Memorial Church in Great Falls, centered his presidential address on the meeting's theme, "Give to Jesus." "I was trying to emphasize the need to give our lives more effectively to Christ, so we can make a difference in the lives of those people God places in our path," Hallmark said of his sermon from Mark 6:30-44. Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy and research at the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, was the annual meeting's keynote speaker. In a series of three messages over the two-day period, Duke spoke of God's call to His people to prepare themselves personally, spiritually and mentally for their ethical role and responsibility for the family, church and government. He concluded the series by challenging the messengers from the story of the Good Samaritan to value people and their needs over things, self and agendas. Messengers reelected Hallmark as president and reelected as vice president Bruce Speer, pastor of Crosspoint Community Church in Missoula. Messengers approved unanimously and without discussion all reports presented at the meeting, including the 2013 budget report, the executive board report and reports from the teams for strengthening, sending and starting churches. The Tennessee Men's Chorale, under the direction of Paul Clark, led the messengers in worship during their Oct. 2-3 sessions at South Hills Baptist Fellowship in Clancy. Clark is worship and music ministries leader for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Hallmark described the meeting as one of the best he's seen. "The overall spirit of the churches has just been really good this year," Hallmark said. "The pastors I've talked with have been very positive toward the Cooperative Program as well as the work of the [Montana] convention." Hewett agreed that "this was the best state convention we have experienced in many years in Montana. Attendance was strong, the messages were challenging, the fellowship was sweet and we conducted the necessary business." --30-- Karen L. Willoughby is managing editor of the Baptist Message, the newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Alaska Baptists affirm authority of Bible by Staff Date: November 14, 2012 - Wednesday ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BP) -- The 67th annual meeting of the Alaska Baptist Convention adopted a multi-faceted resolution affirming the authority of the Bible. The resolution calls political leaders to preserve the freedom of religion and commends Christians who uphold a biblical worldview; it specifically names President Obama, Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich and Alaska Rep. Don Young; and it commends Dan Cathy and the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain that Cathy leads. "We call upon all appropriate government and legislative bodies and leaders, including United States President Barak Obama, Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, and Alaska Representative Don Young to courageously support and defend the full rights afforded all Americans in the Constitution of the United States, specifically the right to religious liberty as guaranteed in the First Amendment," the resolution reads. "We commend and support all Christians who, in the face of ridicule, slander and persecution, take a redemptive biblical stand, as specifically exampled by Dan Cathy and the Chick-fil-A Corporation," the document reads. Alaska Baptists also commended "all Christians and churches who minister redemptively to those persons enslaved by non-biblical sexuality issues," promising "prayerful support for all Christian ministries that seek to be instruments of God's redemption from all sin." Messengers voted to send the resolution to Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell and all individuals named in the document. A $1.5 million 2013 budget was adopted, 19 percent less than the current $1.8 million budget, which was 14.6 percent less than the previous year. In Cooperative Program giving from the convention's 100 churches, $683,679 has been budgeted, 36 percent of which will be allocated to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries -– up 3 percent from last year -- and $65,190 for shared expenses with the SBC. Elected as 2013 officers are: president, Don Shannon, pastor of the Sunset Hills Baptist Church in Anchorage; first vice president, Johnny McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church in North Pole; second vice president, Jack Sherman, a member of First Baptist Church in Palmer; and recording secretary, Mary Sue Foster, a member of Fairview Loop Baptist Church in Wasilla. "We Would See Jesus" was the theme for the Sept. 25-26 meeting at Glacier Valley Baptist Church in Juneau. In other business, messengers recognized Mike Procter, ABC executive director and treasurer, for 10 years of service, and scheduled its 68th annual meeting for Sept. 23-25, 2013, at Glacier Valley Baptist Church in Juneau. --30-- Compiled by Baptist Press staff writer Diana Chandler with reporting by Alaska Baptist Convention staff. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).