Messengers to consider changes to Constitution of the Georgia Baptist Convention during annual meeting

Calvary Baptist Temple in Savannah will be the site of the 195th annual session of the Georgia Baptist Convention on Nov. 14-15. CALVARY BAPTIST TEMPLE/Special

SAVANNAH ‑ Messengers to the 195^th annual session of the Georgia Baptist Convention will consider changes to the entity’s Constitution when they meet here on Nov. 14-15. The gathering will occur at Calvary Baptist Temple at 4625 Waters Av. in midtown Savannah.

The changes cover a variety of topics, many which are simply refining of nomenclature such as changing the posting of notices in the print edition of The Christian Index to posting the information on the newspaper’s online website and/or that of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, formerly known as the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Changes in the downloadable document, available with changes clearly highlighted in yellow, relate to Name and Purpose (Article I), Meetings (Article III), Boards/Commissions/Committees (Article VI), Recognition of Associations For Representation On The Executive Committee (Article VII), Institutions (Article VIII), Amendments (Article IX), and Parliamentary Authority (Article X).

2017 budget to also be considered

In other business, messengers will consider a 2017 proposed $41,000,000 Cooperative Program budget. Of that total, 42% – $17,220,000 –  will be forwarded to Southern Baptist Convention ministries. Another 11.74%  ­– $4,812,500 – will be allotted to Georgia Baptist Mission Extension Ministries such as colleges and universities, the Ministerial Education Fund, the Education Commission, Baptist Village, Baptist Retirement Communities of Georgia, and the Georgia Baptist Foundation.

The balance of 46.26%  – $18,967,500 –  will fund Georgia Baptist Mission Board ministries beginning in Georgia and extending around the world. The Board is expecting to receive additional non-Cooperative Program income of $2,983,745 from the Mission Georgia Offering of $1,450,000; Cooperative Agreements of $522,000; and Investment/Registration/and other Income of $1,011,745.

Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director J. Robert White has thanked churches, associations, and laity statewide for promoting and sacrificially supporting the state missions offering.

He noted that 34% of the proposed budget is invested in the future “by providing ministry to children, youth, and college age students.” He called the earmarked funds among the best investments that Georgia Baptists could make in the future.

White also said that nearly 54% of budget receipts are sent off to other ministries before any funds are spent by the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.