Meeting Dec. 11 at the convention building in Columbia, members of the Executive Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention elected new officers and addressed a potential shortfall in 2008 Cooperative Program receipts.
Dennis Sartain
Glenn Taylor
David AndersonThrough Nov. 30, CP gifts from churches totaled $778,380, more than 2.5 percent below budget expectations. In response, the Executive Board approved a recommendation from the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee, if necessary, to tap a contingent reserve fund that was created as a means to meet budgeted needs for the Southern Baptist Convention, SCBC institutions and convention work in the event that CP gifts fail to meet budget goals.
The board also elected 2009 officers. David Anderson, pastor of Maple Cane Baptist Church, Cottageville, was elected chairman. Glenn Taylor, pastor of Pleasant View Baptist Church, Anderson, will serve as vice chairman. Dennis Sartain, pastor of Mizpah Baptist Church, Florence, was elected to a second term as secretary.
The Nominations Committee recommended the following to lead 2009 standing committees:
Administrative Committee – D.J. Horton, pastor of Anderson Mill Road Baptist Church, Spartanburg, chairman; Wofford Caughman, pastor of Southside Baptist Church, Gaffney, vice chairman/secretary;
Budget, Finance and Audit Committee – Dennis Wilkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bluffton, chairman; Bill Gaines, member of Holly Ridge Baptist Church, Simpsonville, vice chairman/secretary;
Planning and Ministries Committee – Ray Mims, pastor of Bellview Baptist Church, Woodruff, chairman; Dennis Sartain, vice chairman/secretary;
Properties Committee – John Charping, member of Oakdale Baptist Church, Townville, chairman; Eddie Fulmer, member of Bethel Baptist Church, Prosperity, vice chairman/secretary;
Scholarship Committee – James West, member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Roebuck, chairman; Chad Rickenbaker, pastor of Gowensville First Baptist Church, vice chairman/secretary.
In other business, the executive director review committee presented a favorable evaluation of SCBC executive director-treasurer Jim Austin. The committee’s report described Austin as “a man who loves the Lord with all his heart.” Wofford Caughman, chairman of the review committee, said that Austin is “a man of vision – willing to make tough decisions when needed. He is a man who is founded on tradition, but he is also a student of today’s culture.”
In other staff-related news, the board approved the creation of a compensation study committee and named Tim Williams, pastor of Roebuck Baptist Church, as chairman. Other members of the committee include David Anderson, Dennis Wilkins, D.J. Horton and Glenn Taylor.
The board recognized retiring South Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union executive director-treasurer Evelyn Blount. Outgoing SCBC Executive Board chairman Tom Swilley read a letter of appreciation from Gov. Mark Sanford lauding Blount’s service to South Carolina Baptists.
An updated SCBC logo, designed to work better with electronic media and Web design, was adopted. The new logo will retain all of the elements from the existing logo, which has been used since 1988. The transition to the new logo in print and online will be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2009.