In a called meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) board of directors on Feb. 20, new officers were elected for 2014. The meeting at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church near Greensboro lasted less than one hour and was necessary since the board’s Jan. 28-29 meeting at Caraway was cancelled due to winter weather.
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The current board president, Michael Barrett, was re-elected without opposition for the third year. Perry Brindley was re-elected as vice-president of the board, also without opposition. Pam Young, executive assistant to the executive director-treasurer of BSC, was elected uncontested to serve as secretary of the board.
The board is required to elect four of its members to serve at-large on the executive committee. Four nominations were offered from the floor and all four were elected. They are Sandy Marks, pastor at Alexis Baptist, Alexis; Bobby Lewis, pastor at Salem Baptist, Dobson; Mitchell Shields, director of missions, Truett Association; and Robert Garbett, bi-vocational pastor of New Hope Baptist, Richlands.
The composition of the executive committee also includes the chairs of the board’s committees. The newly elected chairs are Business Services: Jimmy Adams, Greensboro; Christian Higher Education: Gordon Benton, Weaverville; Christian Life and Public Affairs: Ray Barnhill, Wilson; Christian Social Services: Wanda Dellinger, High Point; Church Planting and Mission Partnerships: Ben Whitmire, Weaverville; Communications: Michael Pardue, Icard; and Evangelism and Discipleship: Chris Hawks, Hamlet.
In other action at-large members of the Business Services Special Committee were approved. Jimmy Adams nominated two men to serve: Russell Reaves, pastor, Immanuel Baptist, Greensboro, and Alan Taylor, director of missions, Robison Association, Lumberton.
The convention officers are responsible for nominating new members for the Committee on Nominations each year. The board approved the officers’ nomination of Charlie Martin, Winston-Salem, to serve as the committee’s chair. The following individuals were also approved to serve on the committee: Charles Hester (filling a one year unexpired term), Riegelwood Baptist, Riegelwood; Eddie Yount Jr., Mount Hebron Baptist, Taylorsville; Reginald Bakr, Saint Paul Baptist, Greensboro; Pao Ly, First Hmong Baptist, Morganton; Noah Crowe, First Baptist, Robbinsville; Alex Casio, Apex Baptist, Apex; and Hak Ung, Promised Land Community Church, Butner.
Brian Davis, associate executive director-treasurer of BSC, presented a revision of an indemnification resolution that was approved by the convention several years ago. It is part of the convention’s legal documents to identify those key individuals responsible for conducting business on behalf of the convention. Davis explained that the current resolution uses titles and or positions that no longer exist since the staff restructuring in 2013. The new resolution corrects those titles and properly indemnifies the appropriate leaders. The board approved the resolution.
Jimmy Adams presented three property-related recommendations from the business services committee.
The first motion dealt with construction projects at Caraway Conference Center in Asheboro. It called for the board to “… approve the use of $2.25 million from the convention contingency fund for purposes of constructing Hollifield Hall auditorium and additional lodging units at Caraway Conference Center with the reserve to be replenished from the five annual payments to be received on the note from the sale of the Hollifield Leadership Center (HLC).”
The HLC property was sold to the North Carolina Boy’s Academy last year. The organization will be making payments to BSC over five years. The recommendation was approved.
Adams said the action allows Caraway to move forward with the planned construction of a new auditorium and additional lodging. The auditorium, Hollifield Hall, will be named in honor of Wyndolyn Royster Hollifield, the namesake for the Lake Hickory facility. The new building could be ready for occupancy early next year.
The second motion asked the board to approve the sale of property the BSC owns on the campus of East Carolina University (ECU) in Pitt County. The motion called for the sale of “… the Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM) building for $775,000 to East Carolina University, with the net proceeds being placed into a designated reserve for collegiate partnerships.”
Adams explained that the proposal was part of an “… Option Agreement proposed by ECU.” The BCM property is one of several properties the university needs to acquire in order to build a new student center. In exchange the university will provide a 5-year renewable lease to guarantee space for the Baptist ministry in the current student center and in the new student activities center.
John Butler, executive leader for business services was authorized by the board to execute all necessary documents to complete the sale of the property. The board approved the motion with no opposition.
The final motion asked the board for permission to proceed with a construction project at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell.
The board approved construction of a 6,000-sq.-ft. cottage that will house 60 campers and chaperones. Funds are in hand and previously reserved for the project. Construction will begin as soon as an acceptable bid is negotiated.