October 15, 2001

Georgia group proposes all-laity slate
___MACON, Ga.--A group of "mainstream" Georgia Baptists has announced a plan to promote a slate of all laypeople in officer elections at this year's Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting.
___Currently, only nine of the 120 members of the state convention's Executive Committee are laypeople. The more powerful Administration Committee that brings recommendations to the Executive Committee is comprised totally of ministers.
___ That's reason enough to have an all-laity slate of officers, according to leaders of the Baptist Heritage Council, a "mainstream" Baptist organization.
___ "The laity of this state are vital resources," said Becky Matheny, a former campus minister who directs the council. "For many years, they have been on the sidelines, outside the policy-making body of the convention."
___Preston Williams, retired president of Southern Frozen Foods and an active community leader, will be nominated as president. A member of First Baptist Church of Montezuma, Ga., he will oppose Wayne Robertson, pastor of Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Ga., who has served on the Administration Committee and headed the Executive Committee in recent years.
___"We're going to make a statement," said Drayton Sanders, a retired physician and member of First Baptist Church of Dalton, Ga., who will be nominated as a vice president.
___No layperson has held the Georgia convention presidency since 1947.

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend



News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook