November 25, 2002
Kentucky Baptists elect president unopposed
___WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (ABP) --For the first time in more than a decade, Kentucky Baptists elected a president unopposed.
___Both conservative and moderate spokesmen had supported the election of Paul Badgett, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pikeville, Ky., since his nomination was announced in June.
___"I really do want to be for all Kentucky Baptists. That really is my heart," Badgett said after the election. "I pray that Kentucky Baptists will be unified in trying to reach the world for Christ."
___The election set the tone for a harmonious Kentucky Baptist Convention, held Nov. 12-13 at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky. That is a departure from some recent conventions, where factions vied for control of convention leadership posts.
___In other business, President Harold Greenfield ruled out of order an attempt to resurrect a motion that would have denied membership in the Kentucky convention to churches that sever ties with the Southern Baptist Convention.
___The motion was introduced last year and referred to a constitution committee for study. Jerry Oakley, chairman of the panel, said Baptist associations, state conventions and the SBC are "completely separate and independent." Decisions about joining each entity, he said, are up "to the independent, individual, autonomous Southern Baptist church."
___Another motion that would change the way churches qualify for messengers to the state convention's annual meeting was referred to the constitution and bylaws committee for study.
___Under the current constitution, churches may qualify for additional messengers based on their giving to the Cooperative Program unified budget. A motion proposed by Bob Fox of Faith Baptist Church in Georgetown, Ky., would change the formula so that designated gifts also are counted.
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