ABSC officers Wade Totty, Brad Lewter, and Laramie Lequieu elected to serve a second term. Photo by Cassidy Higgins
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Baptists gathered in Little Rock Oct. 22-23 for the 171st Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church.
The theme for this year’s annual meeting, “Faithful” was taken from Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who promised is faithful.”
Several items of business were conducted such as the election of Convention officers and ABSC team, agency and institution reports. The Convention sermon was delivered by Jeremy Greer, dean at Pruet School of Christian Studies, Ouachita Baptist University. Messengers also heard messages shared by ABSC Executive Director Dr. Rex Horne, Senior Pastor Jarrett Stephens of Champion Forest Church in Houston, Texas, and Senior Pastor Tim Hobbs of First Baptist Church in Branch.
Election of officers
On Wednesday, messengers at the 2024 Annual Meeting re-elected Fort Smith Pastor Brad Lewter to serve a second term as president of the ABSC.
In addition to Lewter, messengers re-elected Laramie LeQuieu, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Paragould, as first vice president and Wade Totty, associational missionary of Liberty Baptist Association, as second vice president.
On Tuesday, Paul Williams was re-elected as chair of the Executive Board of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Messengers give final approval of amendments to Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws of ABSC
Messengers at the annual meeting gave final approval of a recommendation from the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws Committee amending and restating the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the ABSC.
The proposed changes were first presented at the 2023 annual meeting and were presented a second time this year for a final vote.
One of the changes, in Article III Section 1 of the Articles of Incorporation, further defines “cooperating Baptist church” to include financial support of the Cooperative Program. Additionally, in Article I Section 1 of the Bylaws the ABSC treasurer is now separated from the executive director and established as a stand-alone officer position.
The full amended and restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws can be found under resources on the ABSC website. For an Interpretative Note of Clarification from the Articles and Bylaws Committee, click here.
Additionally, messengers on Tuesday approved the 2025 budget and goals of the Executive Board.
Messengers pass three motions during miscellaneous business
Arkansas Baptist messengers approved three motions during the 2024 Annual Meeting.
On Tuesday, Dr. Emil Turner, a messenger of Southside Baptist Church in Stuttgart, made a motion for the Executive Board of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention to evaluate the current budget formula of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and consider bringing to the messengers of the 2025 State Convention a new budget formula which would begin with the 2026 budget year.
Holding up his phone, Turner said from time to time it gets automatic updates.
“I find that the tool becomes more effective after the update. More secure, it does more things, easier to use. Our Arkansas Baptist State Convention budget formula is a majestic tool for distributing funds to reach a lost world. But like every tool, it needs an update from time to time. This motion simply asks the Executive Board, which is elected by this convention, to study an update and, if possible, bring an update for this convention’s approval,” Turner said.
The next motion was brought forward by Aaron Chastain, messenger of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Smith. He moved the Sexual Abuse Response and Resource Team be transitioned to the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Executive Board, effective Jan. 1, 2025, with the Sexual Abuse Resource and Response Team serving in a consultation role during the year 2025 until being dissolved at the adjournment of the 2025 Arkansas Baptist State Convention Annual Meeting.
On Wednesday, Ron West, a messenger of Little Rock Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church, motioned for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Executive Committee to study the state convention policy on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
All three motions were approved by the messengers of the 2024 Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Messengers approve three resolutions
Messengers to the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Annual Meeting approved three resolutions during the morning session on Wednesday Oct. 23.
The first resolution expressed appreciation to the ABSC president, executive director, convention officers, the staff and members of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church and the Program Committee “for their diligent and sacrificial service in the successful preparation and guidance” of the 171st session of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Resolution No. 2 resolved the messengers to the ABSC “encourage all Arkansas Baptists to support their brothers and sisters in Pope County as they continue to fight to save their county from the ills of the casino gaming industry; and, be it finally resolved, that Arkansas Baptists reaffirm their position to make every effort to assist in fighting against the casino industry through prayer and by voting for Issue 2 and advocating in favor of Issue 2.”
The third resolution also focused on casino gambling and resolved messengers of the ABSC “will fight against these evils by refusal to participate in the casino gambling industry.”
Each year, messengers to the annual meeting approve resolutions that express their opinions and concerns on a wide variety of issues.