Gathering in Columbia Nov. 11-12, messengers to the 188th annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention approved a $34 million operating budget, adopted a new spiritual emphasis, approved a slate of resolutions and elected a new president.
Convention president Eddie Leopard leads in prayer for the new officers: Rudy Gray, president; Lynda Hopkins, recording secretary; Terry Corder, first vice president; and Terry Pleasant, second vice president.There were 1,000 registered messengers at the annual meeting, making it the least-attended meeting since 1953, when there were 818 messengers present.
Rudy Gray, pastor of Utica Baptist Church, Seneca, was elected president. “Experiencing Kingdom Life” was adopted as the state denomination’s new initiative after being presented by Jim Austin, SCBC executive director-treasurer.
The 2009 operating budget reflects a $300,000 increase, or almost 1 percent, over the previous year. The budget includes the South Carolina Cooperative Program Advance Plan, which stipulates that any Cooperative Program monies collected beyond the budgeted goal be allocated equally to the Southern Baptist Convention and to state ministries.
“Experiencing Kingdom Life” succeeds “Empowering Kingdom Growth” as the five-year emphasis for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Austin said the Cooperative Program is the primary vehicle for the Experiencing Kingdom Life vision “- to urgently take the whole gospel to the whole world that all might be whole.” He said the mission of the SCBC staff will be to “provide servant leadership with kingdom partners.”
Messengers adopted eight resolutions on a variety of social and family issues, including mainstream media influence, activities scheduled on the Lord’s Day and protection of infants born alive. Newly elected president Rudy Gray, nominated by Don Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, said it is a “privilege and honor” to represent South Carolina Baptists. Gray has served the convention in various roles, including a five-year term on the Executive Board and as chair of the Committee on Committees and the Resolutions Committee.
A regular columnist for The Baptist Courier, Gray has also served as a trustee for the Courier. He is a graduate of Anderson College, holds degrees from Southern Wesleyan University, Luther Rice Seminary and Liberty University, and completed postgraduate studies at Southeastern Baptist Seminary.
As president, Gray plans to highlight his personal passion for ministering to families and helping strengthen marriages. (See related story.)
“I think the operational word for helping South Carolina Baptists to ‘Experience Kingdom Life’ would be ‘faithfulness,’?” Gray said. “When God’s people are faithful, they will experience kingdom life.”
Gray and his wife, Anne, have been married for 31 years. They have three adult daughters and two sons-in-law, all of whom are graduates of Anderson University.
Frank Page receives the Order of the Palmetto.In addition to Gray, messengers elected the following officers: first vice president, Terry Corder, pastor of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Jefferson; second vice president, Terry Pleasant, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Gaffney; recording secretary, Lynda Hopkins, member of Hilton Head First Baptist Church; and, registration secretary, Dusty Bradshaw, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, North Charleston.
In other news, Frank Page, pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church and Southern Baptist Convention president from 2005-2007, was presented the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina. In a statement read by Senator Larry Martin, Gov. Mark Sanford recognized Page’s community service, national and international mission work, and leadership.