“There really is no razor blade in the apple, here,” he said. “We simply want to provide resources and coaching and help where we can help.”
Other questions centered around funding and how adding collegiate ministries could impact what was available for churches. Ezell responded that the investment in collegiate ministry will benefit those churches when students look for a church home.
SBC President Ed Litton, presiding over business sessions from the stage, noted that Redemption Church of Saraland, Ala., where he is pastor, has made a commitment toward California due in part to NAMB’s work in the state.
Three other recommendations passed easily. Recommendation 1 amended the SBC Constitution regarding officer elections and clarified that no person may be eligible as a candidate for two offices simultaneously. Per the Convention’s bylaws, this was the second of two votes in consecutive annual meetings to make the change.
Recommendation 2 for approval of the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget and Recommendation 3 to approve the 2022-23 SBC Operating Budget also passed.
Jay Adkins, lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Westwego, La., discussed a motion he introduced at last year’s annual meeting that was referred to the Executive Committee. That motion addressed a perceived conflict of interest regarding the roles of legal counsel for the EC.
Stating his disappointment that the EC’s response at that time suggested there was no conflict of interest, Adkins then pointed out that the individuals about whom he held concerns were no longer with the Executive Committee.
“Let’s move on from this,” Adkins said. “In my very encouraging conversation with our current counsel and with [Interim CEO and] President [Willie] McLaurin, I believe we are all on the same page about our ultimate concerns.
“I am pleased to say that I’ve been assured there are intentions to bring forth, in the near future, some guardrails regarding the hiring of legal counsel and their role as advisors to our work not the leaders of our work. This is being brought about to ensure we will never see this sort of thing happen again.”
This article originally appeared here.
