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Mission Board Approves Great Commission Task Force
11/09/2009
(L-R) KBC President John Mark Toby stands with John Bennett during the Mission Board meeting just prior to Bennett's appointment as KBC preschool and children's ministry director. Bennett, who currently serves as children and family pastor at Severns Valley Baptist Church, will begin his new post on Jan. 1, 2010.Click here to download this photo.
The Mission Board also approved a recommendation for a Cooperative Program budget of $23,500,000 for the 2010-11 fiscal year to be brought to messengers tomorrow during the annual meeting, along with an increase in the percentage of funds designated for Southern Baptist Convention causes. Currently at 37.32 percent, the percentage will increase to 38 percent for SBC causes in the 2010-11 fiscal year, with 62 percent designated for KBC causes.
The approved recommendation for a Great Commission Task Force calls for KBC President John Mark Toby to present the recommendation to messengers during the Tuesday morning session of the annual meeting. The purpose of the task force would be to study “how Kentucky Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”
“I have prayed over this since June, and Dr. Mackey and I have certainly consulted together on this,” Toby said of the Great Commission Task Force. “I’ve tried to do my very best job with this as president…and I’m excited about the opportunity for Kentucky Baptists to be engaged at that level.”
If approved, the task force will work throughout the coming year to study the work of the KBC’s Mission Board, agencies and institutions, and will report any recommendations it might have to messengers attending the 2010 annual meeting at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington.
Task force members would be appointed by Toby before the close of the Nov. 10 annual meeting.
Based upon the recommendation of Church Development Team Leader Alan Witham, the Mission Board approved the appointment of Bennett to preschool and children’s ministry director, effective Jan. 1, 2010.
Bennett will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of strategies for the faith development of children, and will work to network church specialists in preschool and children’s ministries across KBC churches.
Throughout his ministry career, Bennett has served in children’s and family ministry roles in a variety of Kentucky Baptist churches, most recently as children and family pastor for Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown. Prior to that, he served at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington and West Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville.
“John is an equipper and a visionary minister,” said Church Development Team Leader Alan Witham. “He is a minister to children, but also has been effective in his ministry to families. He has a strong commitment to the belief that families need to realize their role in the spiritual development of their children.”
Bennett is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.
Board members received information about proposed changes in the Covenant Agreement and Articles of Incorporation of the Kentucky Baptist Foundation. The changes will be brought before convention messengers at the annual meeting on Tuesday.
Board members also received information about a proposed change in the KBC constitution that would reduce the size of the Mission Board. Coming from the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and based upon the work of the ad hoc Mission Board Size Study Committee, the recommendation will be presented to the convention tomorrow during the annual meeting and voted upon at the 2010 annual meeting in Lexington.
While the proposed change did not require approval from the Mission Board itself, Toby opened the floor for a motion to approve the proposal. A motion was brought forward, and Mission Board members indicated their approval by a large majority.
The Mission Board heard a report on personnel actions previously approved by the KBC’s Administrative Committee. The report included mention of Greta Wilson’s appointment as part-time missions education consultant, and Gene Bracken’s appointment as part-time campus minister in Prestonsburg. The committee also approved a one percent bonus for Mission Board staff employees.
Two other recommendations brought by the Administrative Committee were approved, including a change in the KBC Mission Board staff’s retiree medical insurance benefit and a revision to the work schedule for employees who work less than seven hours.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, Ky. including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more.
Release prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
