Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

TBC MESSENGERS CONDUCT BUSINESS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Tennessee Baptist Convention President Steve Freeman, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, delivers the annual president’s address during the Tuesday (Nov. 14) session of Summit.
— Photo by Corinne Rochotte

HENDERSONVILLE — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention overwhelmingly spoke against racism and elected David Leavell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington, as president.

The annual meeting, held during The Summit Nov. 12-16 at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, drew 993 messengers from 422 churches. Attendance was down from the 1,228 who attended last year’s sessions in Sevierville but was up from the 984 who registered for the 2015 Summit in Millington. The messenger count did not include messengers from First Baptist Church, Jefferson City. Messengers voted overwhelmingly to not seat the eight messengers from First Baptist which called a woman senior pastor earlier this year (see story). [Read more…]

TBC MESSENGERS ELECT NEW OFFICERS

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

The “Rescue Now” display in the lobby of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville.

HENDERSONVILLE — David Leavell, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington, was elected president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention on Nov. 14 during the opening session of the convention’s annual meeting.

Leavell, who served as vice president of the TBC in 2015, was unopposed for the presidency. The session was moderated by current TBC president Steve Freeman, who opened the floor for nominees and conducted the voting via raised ballots.

Leavell currently serves as a director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. He was a member of the 2017 Committee on Resolutions for the Southern Baptist Convention, and is a trustee of New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary, where his late father, Landrum P. Leavell II, served as president from 1975-94.

Charles Fowler, of Germantown Baptist Church, nominated Leavell. Fowler announced his plans to nominate Leavell to the B&R earlier this year, and said Leavell is an “excellent preacher and evangelist.” Fowler added, “He has been involved in Baptist life in multiple ways that uniquely qualify him to serve in this role for this season.”

In addition to Leavell, two others were elected as convention officers on Tuesday — Todd Stinnett, vice president and Brian Carmichael, second vice president.

Stinnett, who is currently serving as second Vice President, is the senior pastor at Black Oak Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville, and Carmichael is the senior pastor at Holy Temple Baptist Church in Memphis.

Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church, Morristown, nominated Stinnett, and Michael C. Ellis, Sr., pastor of Impact Church in Memphis, nominated Carmichael. Both were unopposed.

MESSENGERS AFFIRM COMMITTEE DECISION

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

TBC Registration Secretary Dan Ferrell, left, speaks with Ellen Di Giosia, right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, and other church members. Messengers to the annual meeting later upheld a decision by the Committee on Credentials to not seat messengers from FBC. –B&R photo by Lonnie Wilkey

HENDERSONVILLE — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly during the opening session on Nov. 14 to not seat messengers from First Baptist Church, Jefferson City.

First Baptist attempted to register seven messengers, including new pastor Ellen Di Giosia, who has been in the position since Aug. 1.

In mid-October, the TBC’s Committee on Credentials met and agreed that a church with a woman pastor does not fit the definition of a “cooperating church” as defined by convention bylaws. The committee based its decision on Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 declaring that “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” [Read more…]

SUMMIT BEGINS WITH WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP

By Lonnie Wilkey and David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

Flags from 34 countries were represented during the All Nations Worship Service. Photo by Corinne Rochotte, Baptist and Refector.

HENDERSONVILLE — Praise, fellowship and prayer were the focal points on the first day of the the 2017 TBC Summit.

The annual event opened on Sunday night with two memorable events —  the Sunday Night Service and the All Nations Worship Celebration — being held simultaneously at First Baptist Church Hendersonville and Long Hollow Baptist Church, respectively.  [Read more…]

THREE REASONS WHY YOU NEED THE SUMMIT

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

Summit 2017 at FBC Hendersonville, Nov. 12-15.

I loved family reunions when I was growing up. Those reunions always landed on or near my Grandpa Davis’ birthday. My Grandpa Davis was my hero. He and Granny Davis were faithful saints and I loved them dearly. Granny Davis was the greatest prayer warrior I’ve ever known, and Grandpa Davis served as treasurer at Little Escambia (Ala.) Baptist Church for over 40 years.

I remember that nearly 100 kinfolks would show up and pack out the church. Afterwards, we’d head to Granny’s and Grandpa’s small house for dinner-on-the-grounds. It was always a blast seeing cousins, aunts and uncles I only got to see once a year. [Read more…]

TBC COMMITTEE PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE ISSUES

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention possibly will decide if churches with women pastors can have messengers seated.

The annual meeting will take place during Summit: The Annual Gathering of Tennessee Baptists scheduled for Nov. 12-16 at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville. [Read more…]

SUMMIT 2017 BEGINS NOV. 12

By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBMB

FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s annual Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists is rapidly approaching and once again kicks off with a worship celebration.

After being held at a convention center last year, First Baptist Church Hendersonville will host the Summit Nov. 12-16. The Summit was expanded last year to include a Sunday evening community worship service, and also includes the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference, the annual business meeting and a golf tournament Thursday, Nov. 16. [Read more…]

SUMMIT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE

By Steve Freeman
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

Serving as your Tennessee Baptist Convention president has been, is, and will be one of the greatest highlights of my personal ministry! What a blessing it is to be a Tennessean, much less a Tennessee Baptist.

God has indeed blessed our state and convention, and I have had the privilege to experience it firsthand. I truly believe we are on the cusp of a great revival in our state. Much progress has been made in achieving our Five Objectives, especially in the area of salvations and baptisms! Praise the Lord! What I am most excited about is the opportunity that we have to gather at “The Summit” and celebrate what God is doing among the great churches of our state. [Read more…]

Address

4017 Rural Plains Circle
Franklin, TN 37064

Contact Information

Mail: Baptist & Reflector, P.O. Box 682789, Franklin, TN 37068
Physical Address: 4017 Rural Plains Circle, Franklin, TN 37064
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 615-371-2003

2025 © The Baptist and Reflector. All Right Reserved.