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Brothers & Sisters,

Shawn and I were blessed to attend the Missouri Baptist Convention together. From a personal experience it is always a good time to get to spend the extra time together. Thank you for allowing us to represent FBC Weston! If you did not know, Shawn serves on the Nominating Committee for our convention and for the last three years I have served on the Executive Board. As of Tuesday's vote I was nominated to serve another three years. It has been a joy and undeserved privilege to have a seat at the table as a representative from the northwest region of our state. Not only do I believe that this opens up the opportunity to represent our area but I also believe it allows for the opportunity to represent what our conventions of churches is largely made up of. 

Shawn and I will gladly answer any questions you may have regarding the business that was conduction during our time in Branson. My report here is simple; it was largely uneventful. On Monday we gathered for a time of worship and preaching from Pastors all over the state and some from different parts of the country. Business began Monday afternoon where we heard from our Executive Director, Wes Fowler and several of the groups (Church Renewal, Disaster Relief, Missions Mobilization, Prayer & Evangelism, etc.). On Tuesday we regathered for updates from our three Universities (Hannibal-LeGrange, Missouri Baptist, & Southwest Baptist), and heard as preached by Allistair Begg. After lunch we gathered again to finish electing Officers for the following year, welcomed new churches into the Convention as well as received a report on those that have left, received updates from the Women's Missionary Union, Christian Life Commission, and received reports from the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, Baptist Homes & Healthcare, and the Missouri Baptist Foundation. 

The biggest decision that was made came from the Credentials Committee Task Force. The Southern Baptist Convention has been in a dispute for some time over the definition and qualification of Pastors and women in ministry. In 2024 a Messenger made a motion that asked the "Executive Board form a task force to provide guidelines to the Credentials Committee for evaluating a church's position on Baptist identity including office and function of pastor/elder/overseer being limited to men as qualified by scripture, and report a recommended process to the messengers of the 2025 Annual Meeting for immediate implementation." According to our Convention Bylaws we cannot vote to implement their recommended plan without approval from the Executive Board. The Messengers voted to approve sending their recommendation to the Executive Board where we will give final approval. The findings and the process are both encouraging as they hold to the Biblical qualification of the office of pastor/elder/overseer to be reserved for biblically qualified men while providing a way forward for our Credentials Committee when a church is found to be outside of these bounds. 

I have left a special edition of the Pathway, the Book of Reports, and a Bulletin from Tuesday's time on the Free Resource Table for anyone who would like to take a look. 

Overall, the Convention was one of unity and I walk away encouraged to be a Missouri Baptist! 

-Pastor Ricky