Illinois Baptist in focus
Can we save congregational singing? Table Talk with Steve Hamrick P. 15
Dramatic moments
Team coverage from the SBC Annual Meeting Important actions Follow declining baptisms, membership Summer silence After a winter of discontent with the ERLC June harvest Crusade becomes prototype for annual SBC soul-winning event Illinois gallery Photos and stories of our own Sandy Wisdom-Martin, Illinois pastors, and busy Baptists from all over
Cool convention turns hot in Phoenix
SPECIAL SECTION P. 5-10
‘Alt-right racism’ condemned
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
JUNE 30, 2017
Messengers call for rare special vote
Vol. 111 No. 09
BY ERIC REED
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Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
I am resolved In addition to alt-right racism, messengers speak on gambling, atonement, and other issues
Phoenix | The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention will be remembered for actions it took that were not on the agenda—the condemnation of “alt-right racism.” One committee’s misMcKISSIC DUKE calculation set into motion dramatic actions over the two days of the meeting June 13-14 that drew national attention and emotional response. The chairman of the 2017 Resolutions Committee, former ERLC Vice-President Barrett Duke, opened his final presentation of a resolution condemning “alt-right racism” with an apology: “We regret and apologize for the pain and confusion we created for you and the watching world when we chose not to report out the resolution on alt-right racism.” After what the proponent of the original resolution called “a 24hour roller coaster,” the committee brought for a vote a new statement on racism. Messengers to convention approved it, then gave their action a standing ovation. “Today is a great day for all Southern Baptists,” said Byron Day, president of the SBC National African American Fellowship of 4,000 churches. “The resolution to denounce racism and white supremacy is in my view the strongest statement to date by the Southern Baptist Convention,” Day said. P. 3
She made it! P. 13
RITES OF SUMMER
Vacation Bible School It started right here P. 11
DAVE RAMSEY
Too good to be true Financial advice P. 14