Messengers gathered in Metro East welcomed 13 new churches to the Illinois Baptist State Association, heard about additional plans to prevent sexual abuse and the hidden movement of offenders, and on the subject of Covid, were told by the outgoing President to let it go.
These actions marked the first session of the 116th IBSA Annual Meeting, held this year at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville.
The yearly event brings elected representatives from IBSA churches together to worship, approve budgets and mission plans, receive reports from ministry partners, and hear challenges from two preachers.
Heath Tibbetts of First Baptist Church of Machesney Park told the 372 messengers and guests that as President he would bring together an ad hoc group of committees already in existence to put extra teeth into enforcement of sexual abuse prevention guidelines.
“I felt what was important instead of adding to our constitution, we could make use of the documents we already have,” Tibbetts said. IBSA staff produced additional plans for abuse prevention after the national SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force issued recommendations in May. IBSA’s plan expands previous guidelines with five new recommendations.
“We were surprised and glad to find that there were already a number of trauma-informed counselors,” IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams reported. “The most important thing is that we all be vigilant in our churches” with training and background checks. “Sadly, predators look to churches as vulnerable places where they might have contact with children and vulnerable adults.”
In addition, Tibbetts’s actions will give extra force to the IBSA Credentials Committee. “It seemed best to clarify language to help the Credentials Committee to identify what is a cooperating church,” Tibbetts said. “This will identify the tools they will need to take action” if a church fails to act on credible claims of abuse.
In other business, messengers heard reports from Lifeway, the SBC Executive Committee, and the Baptist Foundation of Illinois. BFI brought three church leaders to the stage to tell about the legacy church program. Churches on the verge of closure were able to bless the kingdom by providing resources for new church starts and replants.
Vice President Michael Nave of Marion was elected to succeed Tibbetts as President, and Assistant Recording Secretary Charlene Moe of Chatham assumed the role as Recording Secretary.
‘Let it go’
In his final message as IBSA President, Tibbetts talked about ministry life after Covid-induced failures. “God is encouraging us to stop us to stop talking about 2020,” he said. “Stop apologizing for where your church is, for the people who remain…. They’re either back or they’re not, get over it.”
Instead, focus on a new season of intimacy with God. “Start fresh, my friend. Start fresh,” Tibbetts urged. “One way is to evaluate our ministries and our churches rightly. We need to stop using the metrics.”
Renewed intimacy with God means elevating time spent with God over reliance on personal ability. “You’ve got ability,” the pastor said. “Ability and humility can walk side by side. If God has given you gifts, lean into it. But also lean into a more intimate relationship with Jesus.”
Tibbetts quoted preacher Vance Pittman: “Ministry is the overflow of intimacy.”
The planter and pastor of Metro Community Church for 31 years, Paul Westbrook, will bring the Annual Sermon in the evening session. The IBSA Annual Meeting will conclude on Thursday.