By Tony Martin
Editor
Messengers from Mississippi Baptist Convention (MBC) churches across the state opened the Oct. 29 morning session of the 2024 Annual Meeting in the worship center of First Church, Jackson, with the election of Bill Hurt, senior pastor, Pleasant Hill Church, Columbus, for a second term.
Other highlights of the Tuesday morning session included:
The president’s address, shared by Bill Hurt;
A presentation detailing the amendment process for the Mississippi Baptist Convention’s Constitution and The Plan of Organization and Action, presented by Doug Gunn, Chair of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee and member of First Church, Jackson;
A celebration of 100 Years of the Cooperative Program, which was an ongoing theme throughout the Convention;
Worship led by Combined Choirs and Orchestra with the Praise Team of Pleasant Hill Church, and the Worship Ministry of Broadmoor Church, Madison;
Bible Treasures, presented by Ben Mandrell, president of LifeWay Christian Resources;
Two resolutions, one offering thanks to First Church, Jackson, for hosting the Convention, and a resolution on the Centennial Anniversary of the SBC Cooperative Program;
Jacob Vollm, Messenger and Pastor, Grace Memorial Church, Gulfport, made a motion that the Mississippi Baptist Convention authorize a new method of cooperative giving for its churches, allowing churches the option to withhold funds from selected Southern Baptist Convention entities without withdrawing from Cooperative Program support altogether. It was seconded from the floor. He spoke for the motion. Jonathan Greer, Messenger and Pastor, Franklin Creek Church, Moss Point, spoke against the motion. Jerry Watts, Messenger and Senior Pastor, New Hope Church, Foxworth, questioned the nature of making this motion to the entire body of messengers. Tommy Mitchell, Messenger and Senior Pastor, Agricola Church, Lucedale, made a motion to Refer the original motion to the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board’s Executive Committee. Parliamentarian Gee Ogletree advised the messengers that a 2/3 majority vote would be required to pass the motion to Refer. President Hurt clarified that the report from the Executive Committee would be presented during next year’s Convention. The Call for the Question on the motion to refer was made by Dan Sandlin, Messenger and Pastor, Union Chapel Church, Clarksdale. It was seconded from the floor. Call for the Question was approved by raised ballot. The motion to Refer the original motion to the MBCB Executive Committee was approved by a visible 2/3 vote of messengers present by raised ballot.
President, Bill Hurt, Pastor, Pleasant Hill Church, Columbus; Second Vice President, Shane Freeman, Pastor, Macedonia Church, Petal; (Front row) Will McNeese, Pastor, First Church, Polkville, Associate Recording Secretary;
Michael Weeks, Pastor, Pleasant Hill Church, Olive Branch, Recording Secretary
Votes “all for one and one for all” were taken for the following men:
First Vice President, David Hayes, Senior Pastor, First Church Senatobia;
Second Vice President, Shane Freeman, Pastor, Macedonia Church, Petal;
Michael Weeks, Pastor, Pleasant Hill Church, Olive Branch, as Recording Secretary, and Will McNeese, Pastor, First Church, Polkville, as Associate Recording Secretary.
The final count of Messengers registered at the 2024 Annual Meeting was 803, with 70 guests in attendance.
To view the Second Day Bulletin, click here.
