Clearwater pastor elected 2007 President of Florida Baptist State Convention

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FORT MYERS (FBC)-William Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater since 2004, was unanimously elected as the 2007 Florida Baptist State Convention President during the annual meeting Nov. 13-14 at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers.

More than 1,600 Florida Baptists, including 1,241 messengers, attended the meeting, which was convened in a church facility for only the second time in recent history.

Addressing the theme, "Rivers of Revival," speakers during the two-day meeting lamented the dearth of revival and urged the Holy Spirit to bring a fresh wave of renewal to the state.

In the convention sermon, Craig Connor, pastor of First Baptist Church of Panama City, said revival will not come unless Florida Baptists preach the "inerrant" Word of God to a culture that is sick politically and morally.

Messengers approved a record $41 million 2007 Cooperative Program budget, representing a 6.69 percent increase, or $2,572,485, above the 2006 budget of $38,462,531. The 2007 budget will be allocated in a manner similar to the 2006 distribution: Southern Baptist Convention mission causes, 40 percent or $16.4 million; Florida Baptist Convention mission causes, 51.50 percent or $21 million, and priority items-church pastoral assistance, 4 percent, and church annuity program, 4.5 percent.

In other business, messengers approved a three-year Cooperative Program plan for 2008-2010 with the same percentage distribution as in 2007; authorized the selling of property which now serves as that Florida Baptist Children's Homes campus in Miami and relocating it in another location in Dade County; and approved a partnership with the Kentucky Baptist Convention to help reach Hispanics in the Bluegrass State.

The Committee on Order of Business refused to hear a resolution presented by Don Roberts, a messenger from Leisure Lakes Baptist Church in Lake Placid, on developing an exit strategy from public schools. Convention officials cited previously adopted resolutions opposing homosexuality and action taken at the 2004 state convention meeting that authorized the convention to work through the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools. That motion affirmed those Christians who are employed in the public school system as teachers and administrators.

Addressing the decision not to consider the resolution, John Sullivan said while he serves as executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, "I would never lead our staff or the State Board of Missions to develop an exit strategy from the public schools."

In response to a resolution presented by William Perkins of Pensacola, the convention recognized and expressed appreciation to military veterans and families of current military who were present in the meeting.

Resolutions of appreciation were approved for eight retiring Florida Baptist Convention employees.

Other FBSC officers elected were Wesley Green, pastor of ChristWay Baptist Church in Miramar, first vice president; Marvin Pittman, layperson from First Baptist Church of Bartow, second vice president; and Ron Hobbs, minister of music, College Road Baptist Church in Ocala, recording secretary.

Rice, who was nominated by Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa and ran unopposed, is a fourth generation Florida Baptist who accepted Christ while living in Tampa and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in Largo. He spent his formative years at Calvary, mentored by long-time pastor William Anderson.

Rice will be eligible for re-election to a second one-year term.

Describing the new president as "conventional, transitional and intentional," Whitten said Rice's 23 years of ministry have been spent serving as pastor of five churches, ranging in size from 50 members to over 4,500 members at Calvary.

"He understands there is no such thing as a small church in the Kingdom of God," said Whitten, "He believes bigger is not better, smaller is not better, but better is better."

While at Calvary, Rice oversaw the relocation of the church facility from its downtown location to a new 30-acre campus with buildings that provide 180,999 square feet of space.

"God has used Willy Rice's leadership and wisdom to transition a downtown church with a great history to a suburban church with even a brighter future. Willy has demonstrated that you do not have to abandon the truth of God's word to reach the next generation for Jesus Christ," said Whitten.

Before coming to Calvary, Rice was pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola for seven years. During that time the church experienced great growth and more than doubled in size, building a 2,000-seat worship center in 2002.

He led the Pensacola congregation to give 10 percent of budget receipts through the Cooperative Program. The Calvary Church presently allocates eight percent through the Cooperative Program.

Time was allowed during the meeting for Florida Baptist State Convention President Hayes Wicker and Sullivan to surface special concerns about current events not addressed in the Convention program.

During his time, Wicker decried the "sharp left turn" taken recently in American politics as a "slippery slope" and challenged Florida Baptists to stand against stem cell research and abortions.

Sullivan urged Florida Baptists to sign the state constitutional amendment petition that defines marriage as between a man and a woman, noting that only 40,000 signatures are needed to get the amendment on the 2008 state ballot. He promised to ensure that only board members committed to total abstinence from alcoholic beverages will be elected to serve in Convention-related positions; pledged to have the Cooperative Program as the centerpiece of the 2007 convention meeting; and planned to make theological education in Haiti a priority.

Next year's meeting is set for Nov. 12-13, 2007 in Daytona Beach.