Nominating Committee unanimously passes anti-alcohol consumption provision
- Dec 14, 2007 - comment
JEFFERSON CITY – An alcohol abstinence provision has been added to the profile sheets nominees to Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) boards must complete before selections are made.
The provision was unanimously approved by the Nominating Committee during its Nov. 29 meeting at the Baptist Building. Fifteen of the 24 members were present.
The motion to adopt the new provision was made by Bill Jetton, pastor, Ozark Baptist Church, Houston, and was seconded by Earl Nance, pastor, Ravanna Baptist Church, Trenton.
The action comes just four weeks after messengers to the MBC’s annual meeting at Tan-Tar-A passed a resolution, 503-360, that in part urged that “no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Missouri Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.”
The anti-alcohol provision has already been inserted in the 2008 Nominating Committee Profile Sheet that nominees must fill out.
The insertion states: “At the 2007 Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting a resolution on alcohol was passed stating: ‘Resolved, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Missouri Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.’ That is followed by this question: “Have you consumed alcohol as a beverage in the last 12 months?” Nominees are then required to check either a yes or no box. That is followed by this statement: “My signature below indicates my agreement to refrain from alcohol use as a beverage.”
Committee Chairman Rodney Albert of Hallsville Baptist Church urged the committee to adopt the measure.
“I feel the resolution passed by messengers at Tan-Tar-A is related to our work and we need to address it,” Rodney Albert, committee chairman, told the committee before the vote.
After several minutes of debate, in which no opposition was expressed, the committee unanimously passed the addition to the profile sheet.
In other action, Albert urged all committee members to be pro-active in soliciting nominations of people to serve on various convention boards. He said the number of nominations continues to be woefully too small.
Albert also appointed Jeff White, pastor, South Creek Church, Springfield, as chairman of the Administrative Committee; Rick Seaton, pastor, First Baptist Church, Kahoka, as chairman of the Educational Committee; and Don Colborn, a biology professor at Hannibal-LaGrange College and a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Hannibal, as chairman of the benevolent committee.
Members assigned to the Administrative Committee included White, Rick Powell, member of Oakwood Baptist Church, Kansas City; Aaron Weibel, pastor, New Site Baptist Church, Monett; Louis Hunt, pastor, Sulphur Lick Baptist Church, Troy; Kim Petty, member of Grace Community Church, Smithville; Jennifer Pritchett, of Elsberry; Marlowe Scott, member of First Baptist Church, Rolla; Earl Nance, pastor, Ravanna Baptist Church, Trenton; John Garland, associate pastor, First Baptist Church, East Bonne Terre; and E. J. Barnes, director of missons, North Grand River Baptist Association, Trenton.
Members assigned to the Educational Committee include Seaton, Tim Abanathy, director of missions, Southeast Missouri Baptist Association, Hayti; Angie Hurd, member of First Baptist Church, Herculaneum-Pevely; Scott Lamb, pastor, Providence Baptist Church, St. Louis; Bill Jetton, pastor, Ozark Baptist Church, Houston; Will Owens, of Chillicothe; Kay Smith-Horn, member of NorthBridge Baptist Church, Springfield; and Becky Quinn, member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Hartsburg.
Members assigned to the Benevolent Committee include Albert; Colborn; Chris Brandt, member of Solid Rock Baptist Church, Boonville; Jim Barnhart, associate pastor, Miner Baptist Church, Sikeston; Bill Newton, member of First Baptist Church, Mansfield; and Nancy Hicks, member of Bethel Baptist Church, Independence.
The board agreed to hold its next meeting March 27 at 10 a.m. at the Baptist Building.
This article is reprinted from the December 11, 2007, issue of The Pathway, the newspaper of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Addictions, Substance Abuse