More than 900 messengers from Baptist churches across North Carolina gathered at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro on Monday, Nov. 8 for the opening session of the 191st annual Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSCNC) annual meeting. The theme of this year’s meeting is “On Mission Together,” emphasizing unity around the Great Commission. The theme is based on John 17:23.

Monday Recap

  • As of 5:40 p.m. Monday, 390 pastors, 204 pastor’s wives, 141 church staff and 208 laity registered for this year’s annual meeting for a total of 943 messengers. An additional 142 visitors registered for an opening-session total of 1,085 in attendance.
  • Messengers approved a motion for next year’s annual meeting to be held Nov. 7-8, 2022, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention in Greensboro.
  • Messengers also approved a motion for next year’s annual meeting to include two sermon speakers: Mac Brunson, senior pastor of Valleydale Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and Derrick DeLain, lead pastor of Proclamation Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Messengers approved a motion for Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board (IMB), to deliver the convention sermon for the 2023 annual meeting, which will include tentative plans to include an IMB commissioning service as part of the meeting.
  • In his first address to messengers at an annual meeting, Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Unzicker preached from Revelation 5 on being “On Mission Together” and outlined several goals for the state convention. He also celebrated the “Fill the Tank” baptism initiative, which saw nearly 1,800 baptisms in North Carolina in September.
  • The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina made a $300,000 contribution to the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina’s (BCH) “Every Child” initiative, a joint partnership designed to encourage foster care and adoption among N.C. Baptists. Near the end of his address, Unzicker presented a check to BCH President and CEO Michael C. Blackwell.
  • Monday’s activities concluded with a meet-and-greet session that allowed attendees to interact with Unzicker, state convention staff and other ministry partners.

Tuesday Highlights & Reminders

  • Download the N.C. Baptist mobile app for access to information, resources and details pertaining to the annual meeting.
  • The exhibit halls are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Attendees will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions at two designated times during Tuesday’s program. Breakout sessions are scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon and again at 3:30-4:30 p.m. A complete list of breakout session titles and descriptions is available at ncannualmeeting.org/breakouts and on the N.C. Baptist mobile app.
  • A listening session for the proposed 2022 Cooperative Program budget and proposed amendments to the state convention’s bylaws is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. in the Pinehurst Room.
  • Institution and agency reports from representatives of the N.C. Baptist Foundation, N.C. Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina and Biblical Recorder will be presented at 8:50 a.m.
  • The first board of directors’ report, which will include the presentation of proposed amendments to the convention’s bylaws, is scheduled for 9:20 a.m.
  • Time allotted for miscellaneous business is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
  • State convention president Micheal Pardue, pastor of First Baptist Church Icard in Connelly Springs, is scheduled to deliver his president’s address at 10:25 a.m.
  • Election of convention officers for 2022 is scheduled for 1:50 p.m. This is a fixed order of business.
  • A series of reports from N.C. Baptists on Mission, the Committee on Nominations, and the Committee on Resolutions and Memorials is scheduled for 2 p.m.
  • The second board of directors’ report, which will include the presentation of the 2022 Cooperative Program budget proposal, is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. This is a fixed order of business.
  • The evening session will include a worship service, featuring the convention sermon by H.B. Charles Jr., pastor/teacher at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville and Orange Park, Florida.
  • Messengers are encouraged to provide feedback on this year’s annual meeting through the N.C. Baptist mobile app, by texting the word EVALUATION to 313131, or by completing the evaluation form in the back of the annual meeting program.
  • Receive live updates about annual meeting through the official Baptist State Convention of North Carolina social media channels by following @ncbaptist on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The official 2021 annual meeting hashtag is #OnMissionTogether.