State Board expands theological education, prepares Orlando for “hub” designation
By Barbara Denman / June 1, 2007
LEESBURG, FL (FBC)—Florida Baptists’ statewide system of theological education was expanded with funding and staff during the State Board of Missions meeting May 25.
Convening at Lake Yale Conference Center, the board also commended Florida Baptists’ efforts to monitor pro-family issues during the 2007 Florida Legislative Session, heard a report on the Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2006 and approved four personnel actions (see related story).
Providing readily accessible theological education to all Florida Baptists has long been a conviction of John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention. Since 1991, the Convention developed a strategy for theological education which evolved into a department in 2000. During the past six years, the Convention has administered and developed a program that has grown to between 500 and 600 students studying in seven locations across the state.
The current student enrollment in Florida is as large as many seminaries, observed Sullivan.
“Theological education is crucial to strengthening the Kingdom’s work in Florida,” he added. “We start an average of 125 churches a year. If we don’t provide theological training, we will find ourselves without equipped men to pastor these churches and other churches as well.”
The Convention has partnered in this effort with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and The Baptist College of Florida.
In action taken during this meeting, the three organizations will once again collaborate to provide additional funding to create a new position of associate director, Theological Education and Distance Learning. Responsibilities previously handled by the department director will be divided between the two positions as the associate is expected to focus on student recruitment and assist in endowed giving solicitation to support the program.
The expertise of long-time NOBTS administrator Jimmy Dukes was tapped to lead the department and the expansion of theological education in the state. Charles Harvey of Orlando, former department director will serve as associate.
The actions will poise the Orlando Extension Center to become one of three NOBTS “hubs” as proposed by Seminary President Chuck Kelley. The
concept, developed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, calls for a new seminary model—one seminary with three campuses, located in New Orleans, Atlanta and Orlando.
Board member Jeff Williams of Tampa applauded the expansion. He told how he had earned his master of divinity degree at the Orlando Center, but said he was required to go to New Orleans 15 times throughout the period. “I was able to do that because my church helped with the expenses. Many of the students I attended classes with in Orlando have never finished because they could not go back and forth between the two cities.”
Final approval for the new seminary hub concept is expected to be given by the Association of Theological Schools in June.
The Board learned that the Convention’s concerted effort to influence legislation considered by the Florida Legislature in the areas of family/children, gambling, non-profit organizations, pornography and other issues of concern to Christians had completed its twelfth year of implementation. Throughout these years, Tampa layperson Bill Bunkley, has served as the Convention’s lobbyist/representative in Tallahassee as a contract worker.
In action taken during this meeting, the Board reviewed a final summary of the more than 250 proposed bills that created concerns from a religious and moral perspective during the 2007 Legislative session and commended Bunkley for his “energetic and positive efforts” in successfully representing the Convention’s legislative agenda.
In other business transacted during the meeting, the Board heard a report on the Convention’s 2006 Strategic Plan learning that of the 178 goals identified for implementation last year, 98 percent were attempted through action plans and 64 percent of the goals were met or exceeded. A detailed report of all 178 goals and results of the efforts were outlined for the Board.
Among the highlights: the Convention’s 81 board-elected staff made 6,254 gospel presentations resulting in 2,690 professions of faith; a goal of 41,000 baptisms by Florida Baptist churches resulted in 33,461 baptisms reported; a goal to start 180 new churches resulted in 121 new church plants, including 16 African-American; 45 Anglo and 60 Hispanic, International and Haitian congregations; and a goal to enroll 550 persons in seminary extension courses resulted in an enrollment of 500 students.
According to Glen Owens, assistant executive director, the year 2006 was “another good year for the Florida Baptist Convention. He noted that it was “the first year since 2003 we have not been interrupted by disaster relief efforts that greatly affected our fourth quarter of program operations.”
The Convention’s 2006 audit, prepared by the auditing firm of Batts, Morrison, Wales and Lee, P.A. of Orlando, and reviewed by the board, received an “unqualified opinion of the financial statement in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.” The auditors identified several internal control issues for the Convention staff to consider. These are expected to be addressed in staff recommendations to be presented to the Board in September.
Audit reports on the Florida Baptist State Convention’s agencies noted as “unqualified opinion,” the highest level of assessment that can be made by auditors.
Sullivan shared with Board members that as property values in the state escalate an increasing number of congregations—mostly with older and declining membership--are in danger of losing their church properties due to some unscrupulous parties and legal wrangling.
The Board authorized the Convention to help these churches, when requested, by providing assistance in three ways: to undertake an educational campaign to raise awareness among church leaders and members regarding church property issues; to encourage congregations to insert reverter clauses in their title deed designed to benefit other Southern Baptist entities; and to enlist attorneys, specializing in not-for-profit organizational law, to provide counsel and to bring lawsuits on behalf of these congregations and the Convention.
In other action, the board approved multi-year extensions of mission partnerships with three state conventions: the 200 congregations of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists, years 2008-2010; the 425 congregations in the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana, years 2008-2009; and the 200 congregations in the Nevada Baptist Convention, years 2008-2010.
In other business, the board:
—agreed to guarantee a $1,500,000 bond program for the Palm Coast Community Church in Palm Coast, contingent on authorization from the congregation;
—authorized the Convention to make a “good faith effort” to assist First Baptist Church of Davie in Cooper City in satisfying a second mortgage indebtedness;
—designated the continuation of The Baptist College of Florida as the permanent office headquarters for the Baptist Historical Society and site of the Florida Baptist Historical Collection; and
—granted church-at-large status to the Mission Church of Gainesville.
The next full board meeting will be Sept. 20-21 at Lake Yale Conference Center.
