The Southern Baptist Convention begins tonight in Birmingham with the first session of the annual Pastors’ Conference. The Illinois Baptist is in town to cover the business session June 11-12 and other meetings and events in Birmingham.
The annual meeting is an opportunity for Baptists to unify around the Great Commission and our cooperative missions effort, to be exhibited this week through a commissioning service for international missionaries and a variety of conversations on a “CP stage” focused on the Cooperative Program, Baptists’ main channel for supporting missions and ministry around the world.
The meeting is also the first opportunity for the SBC to meet together since the release of a Houston Chronicle report on sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches. Baptists are likely to consider a constitutional amendment that would allow the SBC to withdraw from fellowship with churches that have exhibited indifference toward abuse. They also could vote on whether to establish a standing committee to investigate allegations of misconduct against churches.
The meeting will include a report from the Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse Advisory Study, appointed last year by SBC President J.D. Greear to advise him on issues related to abuse. The group released their full report June 8 and will make their presentation to the convention the afternoon of June 12.
This year’s business sessions will feature three panel discussions on racial reconciliation, keeping the gospel above all secondary issues, and the value of women in God’s mission. The Birmingham gathering will include several new opportunities and gatherings for women, including the launch of the SBC Women’s Leadership Network.
For more from Birmingham this week, visit IllinoisBaptist.org and Ib2News.org. The Pastors’ Conference and Southern Baptist Conventions are also available through live streaming. Go to sbcannualmeeting.net to tune in.