LITTLE ROCK – The 171st annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) will take place on Oct. 22-23 at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock.
The theme for this year’s annual meeting, “Faithful,” is taken from Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who promised is faithful.”
Items of Convention business will be conducted which will include the election of Convention officers and ABSC team, agency and institution reports.
The 2025 ABSC Cooperative Program (CP) budget of $21 million will be presented as well as the 2025 goals of the ABSC Executive Board teams.
Messengers will vote on the report of the Convention Nominating Committee’s recommendations of Arkansas Baptists for service on the various ABSC Boards. Click here for the Convention Nominating Committee Report.
Messengers for the second year, and final approval, will be presented with a recommendation from the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws Committee amending and restating the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Click here for the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. For an Interpretative Note of Clarification from the Articles and Bylaws Committee, click here.
Click here for the Amended and Restated Bylaws.
Click here for the rationale and summary of the changes.
Continue reading for more information and to download schedules and lists of times, dates and locations.
Pastors’ Conference
Monday, Oct. 21
The Pastors’ Conference will kick off at 11 a.m. with lunch in Sanders Hall at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church. There is no cost, but registration is required no later than Friday, Oct. 18. Click here to register for the lunch.
This year’s Pastors’ Conference theme is “Advance,” a verb that means to move forward. In Joshua 14:6-14, Caleb had been advancing for 45 years toward the promise made to him. At 85 years old, he still had the passion to keep advancing. In Joshua 14:12, Caleb declares “give me this hill country the LORD promised.” He knew it meant more battles, but he was not stopping.
Preachers for this year’s Pastors’ Conference include Fred Luter Jr. of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, John Venable of New Life Baptist Church in Alexander, Arkansas, Brian Mills of Together We Church in Yukon, Oklahoma, and Jordan Easley of First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Click here to view the schedule.
Ministers’ Wives Conference
Monday, Oct. 21
The Ministers’ Wives Conference and lunch will be held in the Venue, upstairs at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, beginning at 11 a.m. with registration. Childcare will be provided. Click here to register for childcare.
All ministers’ wives are invited to join in this time of fellowship and worship to establish friendships and to share in the joys and challenges that come with being a minister’s wife.
Click here to pre-register and view this year’s schedule.
Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention
Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 22-23
Convention President Brad Lewter, pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith, will preside over the meeting. The annual meeting will include the election of officers, recommendations from the Executive Board and the Articles and Bylaws Committee, miscellaneous business, reports from the Credentials Committee, Convention Nominating Committee, the Sexual Abuse Response and Resource Team, and Cooperative Program ministry reports from Arkansas Baptist leaders.
Only elected messengers are eligible to vote on Convention business, but everyone is welcome to connect and fellowship with other Arkansas Baptists from around the state as we join to worship, hear timely sermons, pray together, and celebrate all that God is doing around the state. Childcare will be provided and must be reserved in advance.
Click here to download information on becoming a messenger.
Click here to view a list of convention committees.
Click here to download a complete schedule for the Annual Meeting.
Click here for information on childcare.
Featured Events
In addition to the Pastors’ Conference and Ministers’ Wives Conference, several other meetings and meals will be hosted during the Annual Meeting.
These events include Young Leaders lunch, Hispanic Pastors’ Conference, AR Kids Ministry Network luncheon, chaplains’ lunch, and seminary alumni luncheons in addition to a Williams Baptist University alumni and friends dinner, Arkansas Baptist Foundation’s 75th anniversary dessert fellowship, and the Associational Missionary fellowship breakfast. Registration is required for most of these events. See the link below for registration information.
New this year is “Conversations with the Exec,” where attendees will have the opportunity to speak and pose questions to ABSC Executive Director Dr. Rex Horne. The dinner will be from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21. Registration is required.
Resolution Submission
Anyone desiring to present a resolution to the committee should provide a copy of the proposed resolution to the address below before Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Arkansas Baptist messengers may submit proposed resolutions by mail to:
Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Attn: Mrs. Vera Clancy, 10 Remington Drive, Little Rock, AR 72204 or by email to [email protected]
Proposed resolutions may also be submitted at the annual meeting until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The published convention schedule calls for resolutions to be considered during the morning session Wednesday, Oct. 23.