SBC program draws Texans mainly from alternative state convention

April 30, 2001

SBC program draws Texans mainly
from alternative state convention
___NEW ORLEANS--Half the theme interpretations at this year's Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting will be given by Texans, but all three of those Texans lead churches that have been highly critical of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and have affiliated with the alternative Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
___Mac Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas; Robert Webb, pastor of First Baptist Church of Malakoff; and Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, will deliver theme interpretations when the SBC convenes in New Orleans June 12-13.
___First Baptist of Dallas and Prestonwood both have become dually aligned with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention within the last year, while threatening to break all ties with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. First Baptist of Malakoff has left the BGCT to become uniquely aligned with the alternative convention.
___Other Texans on the SBC program come largely from SBTC-affiliated churches as well.
___The choir of Gardendale Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, a uniquely aligned SBTC church, will perform in New Orleans. Rudy Hernandez, an evangelist and member of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Grand Prairie who also serves as president of SBTC, will lead a prayer. Chris Machen of Pres-tonwood will bring inspirational music, as will Keith Ferguson, minister of music at First Baptist of Dallas.
___Texans not directly affiliated with SBTC but with roles on the SBC program include Steve White, minister of music for the Woodway Campus of Second Baptist Church in Houston, and Ralph Douglas West, pastor of The Church Without Walls in Houston. White will lead music in one session, and West will offer a benediction.
___Other theme interpretations at the SBC annual meeting will be given by Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in suburban Memphis, Tenn.; Kenneth Whitten, senior pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla.; and Calvin Wittman, senior pastor of Applewood Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
___Keynote speakers for the annual meeting are James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family Ministries, who will speak in the closing session; Fred Luter Jr., pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, who will preach the convention sermon; and James Merritt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Snell-ville, Ga., who will bring the president's address.
___This year's convention also will feature a report from the new Council on Family Life, headed by Tom Elliff, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Del City, Okla. The task force was created to increase awareness of the needs of families throughout the SBC and to work in cooperation with other SBC agencies to provide resources for local churches.
___The theme of the meeting, "Until He Comes ... Go!" will keep the convention "focused like a laser beam on evangelism and missions," said Merritt, who apparently will run unopposed for re-election.
___The New Orleans convention will debut a new schedule for SBC annual meetings, with a Wednesday afternoon session replacing the previous Wednesday evening session. Under this new structure, convention sessions will be held Tuesday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday evening, Wednesday morning and Wednesday afternoon.
___The Wednesday afternoon session will begin at 3 p.m., after seminary luncheons, and conclude by 6 p.m.
___The International Mission Board will present its annual report on Tuesday afternoon, and the North American Mission Board will report on Wednesday morning.

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