Notice of proposed document revisions

The following recommendations, which are to be presented to the Florida Baptist State Convention, November 12-13, 2007, by the State Board of Missions, will require changes in the Bylaws of the state convention, and therefore must be published in the Witness 30 days in advance. Revisions to the By­laws require a majority vote at one session.

Recommendation 1: Document Revision: Bylaw 4,D(6)(a), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention revise Bylaw 4,D(6)(a), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention, to read as follows (changes noted in italics):

(a) Each nominee shall: (1) give evidence of having received Jesus Christ as personal savior and Lord; (2) have been a member for at least one year of their present church, which cooperates with the Florida Baptist State Convention by giving to world missions through the Cooperative Program; (3) be in good standing in their local congregation; (4) give evidence of good stewardship including the tithe through their church; (5) agree to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages and using any other recreational drugs; and (6) support all the principles set forth in the Baptist Faith and Message, revised in the year 2000, or any other declaration of faith which parallels the tenets of our historic Baptist faith, as the theological framework.

Recommendation 2: Document Revision: Bylaw 2,B(3), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention revise Bylaw 2,B(3), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention, to read as follows (changes noted in italics):

(3) Acceptance of New Congregations:

Each year, during the annual meeting of the State Convention, a report shall be made by the State Board of Missions identifying the then known newly-constituted Southern Baptist churches organized within the past year in Florida. The report shall include both those new congregations recog­nized as being a Church-at-Large, as well as those churches which have made commitments through a respective Baptist association's credentialing process to cooperate and affiliate with a local Baptist association that cooperates with this State Convention.

(a) The recommended Church-at-Large congregations shall be endorsed by the State Convention, through an affirmative vote of the messengers present during a designated business session.

(b) Following the action of the State Convention, the State Board of Missions in accordance with its policy guidelines, shall send a written notification to the pastor of all newly-constituted and cooperating churches. This notification shall summarize the By­law 2 criteria and benefits for cooperation.

Note: The present wording of Bylaw 2, B(3) is as follows:

(3) Acceptance of New Congregations: Each year, during the annual meeting of the State Convention, a report shall be made by the State Board of Missions identifying the newly-constituted Southern Baptist churches, including those new congregations recognized as being Church-at-Large, and which have made commitments to cooperate and affiliate with this State Convention. These churches shall be endorsed by the State Convention, through an affirmative vote of the messengers present during a designated business session. Following the action of the State Convention, the State Board of Missions in ac­cor­dance with its policy guidelines, shall send a written notification to the pastor of each church accepted as a cooperating church. This notification shall summarize the By­law 2 criteria and benefits for cooperation.

Recommendation 3: Document Revision: Bylaw 2, B(4), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention revise Bylaw 2,B(4), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention to read as follows (changes noted by italics):

(4) Existing Relationship: Any Southern Baptist church or church-type mission, including those designated as Church-at-Large, which were organized, functioning and cooperating with the Florida Baptist State Convention at the time this bylaw was approved [November, 1996], shall be considered and designated as cooperating for the purposes of these bylaws.

(a) In recognition of its historic role as the theological guardian of Baptist faith and practice, a cooperating local Baptist association that approves for affiliation any Southern Baptist church, for the purposes of this bylaw, those churches will be accepted for affiliation with this State Convention.

(b) It is the desire of the State Con­ven­tion to encourage any cooperating church, which does not presently fulfill the parame­ters of cooperation, to do so.

Note: The present wording of Bylaw 2, B (4) is as follows:

(4) Existing Relationship: Any Southern Baptist church or church-type mission, including those designated as Church-at-Large, which were organized, functioning and cooperating with the Florida Baptist State Convention at the time this bylaw was approved [November, 1996], shall be considered and designated as cooperating for the purposes of these bylaws.

It is the desire of the State Convention to encourage any existing cooperating church, which does not presently fulfill the parameters of cooperation, to do so.

Recommendation 4: Document Revision: Bylaw 2, B(5), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention revise Bylaw 2,B(5), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention, to read as follows (changes noted by italics):

(5) Assignment to the State Board of Missions:

The State Convention directs and empowers the State Board of Missions to determine and mediate questions involving churches which seek affiliation on the basis of Church-at-Large status with the Florida Baptist State Convention.

(a) The Board shall assign this task to its appropriate committees and approve any guidelines and procedures to be followed by the Board.

(b) The Board shall annually report and recommend to the Florida Baptist State Convention for endorsement affirmation of those churches at-large which have made commitments to cooperate and affiliate with this State Convention.

Note: The present wording of Bylaw 2, B(5) is as follows:

(5) Assignment to the State Board of Missions:

The State Convention directs and empowers the State Board of Missions to determine and mediate questions involving churches which seek affiliation on the basis of Church-at-Large status with the Florida Baptist State Convention.

The Board shall assign this task to its appropriate committees and approve any guidelines and procedures to be followed by the Board.

(b)The Board shall annually report and recommend to the Florida Baptist State Convention for endorsement affirmation of those churches which have made commitments to cooperate and affiliate with this State Convention.

Recommendation 5: Document Revision: Bylaw 2, F, Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention revise Bylaw 2, F, Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention, to read as follows (changes noted by italics):

F. Compliance Remedies-Cooperation

Every cooperating church is expected to demonstrate its commitment to cooperation with the State Convention on an annual basis by doing two things as defined within these bylaws: (1) making an annual $250 financial contribution through the Cooperative Program; and (2) providing an annual church statistical profile on the health and vitality of the church. A church which fails to fulfill its commitment to either requirement for three consecutive years shall be counseled by the State Board of Missions. The Florida Baptist State Con­vention assigns to the State Board of Missions the authority to make a final determination and recommendation of the appropriate response towards a church which is chronically in non-compliance with the expectations of cooperation. The procedures for reviewing compliance and the making a determination of whether or not to finally withdraw fellowship from a non-contributing or non-reporting church shall be developed, defined and implemented by the State Board of Missions, as stated in its policy on "Baptist Cooperation."

Note: The present wording of Bylaw 2, F is as follows:

F. Compliance Remedies-Cooperation

Every cooperating church is expected to demonstrate its commitment to cooperation with the State Convention on an annual basis by doing two things as defined within these bylaws: (1) making an annual $250 financial contribution through the Cooperative Program; and (2) providing an annual church statistical profile on the health and vitality of the church. A church which fails to fulfill its commitment to either requirement for three consecutive years shall be subject to having fellowship withdrawn by the Florida Baptist State Convention. The Florida Baptist State Convention assigns to the State Board of Missions the authority to make a final determination for withdrawal of fellowship from a church. The procedures for reviewing compliance and the making a determination of whether or not to withdraw fellowship from a non-contributing or non-reporting church shall be developed, defined and implemented by the State Board of Missions, as stated in its policy on "Baptist Cooperation."

Recommendation 6: Document Revision: Bylaw 12, G(5), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention revise Bylaw 12,G(5), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention, by adding new item (j) to read as follows (noted by italics):

(j)In compliance with requirements by the Convention Corporation's auditor-of-record, the executive director-treasurer shall on a periodic basis submit his monthly travel expense reports to the State Board of Missions' President for review and sign-off.

Recommendation 7: Document Revision: Bylaw 16, D(2)(3), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention revise Bylaw 16,D(2)(3), Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention, to read as follows (changes noted in italics):

(2)The State Board of Missions, acting on behalf of the State Convention, shall have the authority to approve permanent loans, as hereafter provided, requested by an agency, institution, or the Florida Bap­tist Convention, Inc. The State Board shall have the authority to approve loan guarantees for churches or other State Convention agencies and institutions as hereafter provided.

(a) This approval shall be limited to loans which: (1) represent 10 percent of the agency's prior year actual operating income; (2) when combined with the respective agency's outstanding debt, does not exceed 15 percent of the agency's total annual income; and (3) have a projected maturity date of 120 months or less.

(b) The church loan guarantee and/or a State Convention agency loan guarantee ap­proved by the State Board shall not be governed by previous item (a). However, the combined value of these loan guarantees shall not exceed 25 percent of the Florida Baptist Convention, Inc., annual total operating budgetable income.

(c) The approval for loans and/or loan guarantees shall require a two-thirds affirmative vote of the State Board of Missions, when a quorum is present at a regularly scheduled or called meeting of the Board.

(d) All requests for loan approvals and/or loan guarantees shall be made to the Con­vention's Executive Director-Treasurer, at least 10 business days prior to presentation to the State Board of Missions' Budget-Allocations and Administrative/ Personnel Committees. Upon approval, either committee may recommend action by the State Board of Missions. The loan or loan guarantee request shall identify: (1) the amount of loan or loan guarantee; (2) annual percentage rate of loan (whether fixed or variable and the terms); (3) amortization schedule; (4) funding sources for repayment; (5) collateral which would be pledged against the loan, if any; (6) purpose for which loan is required; (7) total of all outstanding debt, prior to this request; and (8) date of board of trustee action approving loan request.

(e) All loan and loan guarantee requests approved by the State Board of Missions shall be reported as a part of the Board's report during the next annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention.

(3) The Florida Baptist State Convention shall approve any loan request, by any agency, institution, or the Florida Baptist Convention, Inc., which represents: more than 10 percent of the agency's prior year's operating income; and/or when combined with other outstanding debt, causes the agency's total debt to exceed 15 percent of the agency's annual income; and/or which has a projected maturity date of 121 months or longer. The same procedure, as specified in Bylaw 16,D(2)(d) shall be followed, and be approved by the State Board of Missions, before being recommended to the Florida Baptist State Convention.

Recommendation 8: Document Revision: General Provisions, Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention

The State Board of Missions recommends that the Florida Baptist State Convention authorize and direct the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention to make any necessary editorial and/or gram­matical corrections to any By­law of the Florida Baptist State Convention that may be affected by the proposed revisions to the proposed and existing Bylaws of the Florida Baptist State Convention to en­sure clarity, continuity and parity of these Bylaws.