SCHROON LAKE, N.Y. (BP) -- The Baptist Convention of New York, at its 43rd annual meeting, approved the recommendations of its Vision Task Force along with the formation of an ad hoc team to implement the plan.
The Vision Task Force, which BCNY messengers approved last year, made recommendations to refine the convention's vision and improve its effectiveness, made recommendations to improve cooperation and communication among BCNY staff, directors of missions, church planters and ministers; review and amend as necessary the BCNY constitution and bylaws; cooperate with member associations and churches to increase community and global impact; and to equip, empower and multiply church leadership.
Vision Task Force chairman Ted Harvey said the group reached its recommendations after several meetings and retreats, and often consulted with the BCNY executive board.
"Please know that our recommendations continue to be a work in progress as opposed to a concrete document," Harvey said in the task force's report to BCNY messengers. "Our team welcomes ongoing input that will help improve and clarify the direction of our convention." Harvey is senior pastor of Somerset Hills Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, N.J., in the New York City metro area.
Other task force members were George Russ, John Mulligan, Richard Goforth, Milton Kornegay, Dale Suel and BCNY leaders Terry Robertson, the convention's executive director; Jim Hundley, outgoing BCNY president; and Mark Davis, chairman of the BCNY Executive Board.
The task force recommended the BCNY offer an online roadmap that churches could use to chart their future and recommended state-of-the-art communication technology for meetings, training and communication.
The BCNY should evaluate its staffing needs as well as whether to keep, sale or relocate its offices, currently in East Syracuse, N.Y., the task force said.
"A study would be made on the need to keep our present facility in East Syracuse, versus selling the property and relocating remaining staff to strategic locations," the task force said. "Findings and/or recommendations would be brought before the executive board and eventually to the 2013 annual conference."
The BCNY also adopted its 2013 budget and elected officers for the coming year during its Sept. 23-25 sessions at Schroon Lake, N.Y.
The 2013 budget of $1,764,026 is just 1.8 percent below the current amount, but increases Cooperative Program giving to 28.50 percent of the budget, up from this year's 28.25 percent. The convention's CP gifts totaled $207,515.77 during the SBC's 2011-12 fiscal year.
Ed Hart, director of missions for the Central New York Baptist Association, was elected as the BCNY's new president, joined by Edwin Attaway, pastor of First Christian Church in Brushton, N.Y., as first vice president and Scott Gillette, administrative pastor of Amherst Baptist Church in Amherst, N.Y., as second vice president.
Dale Suel was elected as Executive Board chairman. Amherst Baptist Church in Amherst, N.Y., where Suel is senior pastor, will host the 2013 BCNY annual meeting Sept. 22-24. Andy Smith, associate pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Cortland, N.Y., is the new Executive Board vice chairman.
Van McClain, a professor and administrator at the northeast branch of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Schenectady, N.Y., will serve as recording secretary for both the BCNY and its executive board. Assistant recording secretary is Wayne Sibrava, pastor of Living Water Baptist Church in Owego, N.Y.
BCNY selected Sam Macri, pastor of Crosspoint Church in Whitesboro, N.Y., to preach the 2013 annual sermon, with Jae Lee, pastor of Ebenezer Mission Church in Oakland Gardens, N.Y., as the alternate preacher.
Compiled by Baptist Press staff writer Diana Chandler. The task force report, in two parts, is posted at the Baptist Convention of New York website, http://www.bcnysbc.org.
Copyright (c) 2012 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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