Convention Elects New 2nd VP
The International Baptist Convention held a called business meeting during the Ministry Leadership Conference on 25 March in Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece. According to the constitution and operations manual adopted in October 2016, the IBC can hold a called business meeting to conduct any needed business between annual meetings.
The messengers elected Richmond Ofori, pastor of Hope International Baptist Church, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as second vice president. First Vice President Jim Goforth resigned as pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Kaiserslautern, Germany, in January. Second Vice President Carsten Lotz succeeded Goforth as 1st Vice President. As required by the operations manual, the Executive Leadership Team of the convention brought the recommendation of Ofori to the business session.
The convention also approved the addition of two new members to the Council of Trustees Finance Team. Joseph Meijs from Koinonia International Christian Fellowship, Aalborg, Denmark, and Douglas Pek, Calvary International Church, Sao Paulo, Brazil, were brought as a recommendation by President Scott Chadwick.
Carsten Lotz, presiding in the absence of the president, announced the Nominations Team as appointed by the president: Lee Hanson, pastor of Koinonia International Christian Fellowship, Aalborg, Denmark; Nick Howard, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, Wiesbaden, Germany; and Dina Dreessen, IBC San Jose, Costa Rica.
The messengers also heard reports from the five strategy directors of the convention. Judith Lynn Maxwell, Developing Resources, highlighted the work her team is doing with planned or legacy giving as well as a redesign of Highlights. Scott Corwin, Building Connections, announced the newly adopted project with the European Baptist Mission International — Turkey. David Fresch, Empowering Leaders, encouraged pastors and leaders to explore the educational and training opportunities available through BH Carroll Institute. Mike Walk and Frontline City Church in Kaiserslautern, Germany, are running the first institute classes with BH Carroll. Gary Preston, Strengthening Churches, highlighted the benefits of a transitional interim. Transitional interims can help churches understand who they are, determine what type of leader they need, and make positive steps to find that leader. Darryl Evetts, Multiplying Churches, introduced church planters who are currently raising support or newly on the field to the convention.
