INDIANAPOLIS (BP)—Southern Baptists will gather in Indianapolis June 15-16, continuing their Empowering Kingdom Growth initiative by focusing on the theme “Kingdom Forever.”

The theme, drawn from Matthew 6:13 — “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” — is the second consecutive year in which the theme has centered on the EKG (Empowering Kingdom Growth) initiative, which began in 2002. The initiative asks all Southern Baptists to examine if they are Kingdom-focused.

The annual meeting will feature “Kingdom Challenge” sermons by such speakers as David Jeremiah and Franklin Graham, singing by the Gaither Vocal Band, and will coincide with the release of “EKG: The Heartbeat of God,” written by EKG national strategist Kenneth Hemphill. The book traces the history of God’s Kingdom from biblical days through today.

SBC president Jack Graham will preside over his final convention, having served his second one-year term. He will deliver his president’s address at approximately 11:10 a.m. Tuesday, June 15. That afternoon, around 2:30, messengers will elect a new president.

Bobby Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach is expected to be nominated to succeed Graham.

Some significant business matters will be presented to messengers, including:

• The Baptist World Alliance. Messengers are scheduled to vote on a recommendation adopted by the Executive Committee to withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance.

• Sole membership. A motion pertaining to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and sole membership may be considered. The seminary remains the only SBC entity not to adopt the corporate model of sole membership, which would clarify that the SBC owns the seminary. Recently New Orleans trustees voted to present two alternatives to messengers in 2005 instead of adopting the recommendation of the Executive Committee to name the convention as sole member of the seminary’s corporation [see Point/Counterpoint in this issue.]

• Annuity Board name change. Messengers will consider a proposal to change the Annuity Board’s name and expand its ministry opportunities. It has been approved by the Executive Committee. The entity’s name would change to GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, and it would be permitted to serve evangelical ministry organizations outside the SBC.

The week prior to the convention, hundreds of Southern Baptists will come together for “Crossover Indiana,” an evangelism-focused strategy that uses block parties, door-to-door visits and other efforts to spread the Gospel in and around Indianapolis. In addition, in an effort to plug new believers into churches, harvest revival services will be held June 10-12 in churches across the region.

“We are so fortunate to have the pre-convention activities of Crossover, which will greatly boost God’s Kingdom work here,” Davis, the Indiana Baptist official, said. “Our pastors and churches are very appreciative of the host of volunteers who will be arriving early to help us penetrate the Indianapolis area and beyond with a tremendous evangelistic effort. We are expecting an increase in new church starts as a result.”

Messengers wishing to propose resolutions must submit them at least 15 days prior to the annual meeting, giving the Resolutions Committee a two-week period in which to consider them. Detailed guidelines on submitting resolutions are available on the Internet at www.sbcannualmeeting.net.

For the second consecutive year, online registration is available to churches and their messengers at the SBC Web site, www.sbc.net. More than 40 percent of messengers to the 2003 annual meeting in Phoenix registered online, and more are expected this year.

On the Sunday before the convention various Southern Baptist leaders and pastors, such as Jimmy Draper and Chuck Kelley, will be preaching at churches in and around Indianapolis.

A schedule of the speakers is available by clicking on “events” at www.sbcannualmeeting.net.

In addition, driving directions from the convention center to the churches are available on the Web site.

C. Barry McCarty of Dallas will serve as the chief parliamentarian at the annual meeting. Jimmy E. Jackson of Huntsville, Ala., and John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention in Jacksonville, also will serve as parliamentarians.