nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

COMMITTEE ON CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
PROCEEDINGS 113
V
Regarding the resolutions presented by Dr. Walter L. Johnson of Mississippi
and a Committee of the Baptist Pastors Conference of Richmond, your Committee
finds that in general they cover parallel and largely similar problems and
proposals. They deal with relationships existing between our denominational
agencies and within the organizational structure of the auxiliary organizations
of our churches and their field of work, teaching and objectives. Your Committee
makes .the following observations and recommendations:
First, It is obvious that there has developed duplications, overlapping and
in some respects too much organization in our churches wherein the same groups
belong to different organizations who do the same work.
Second, Inasmuch as the agencies have gradually evolved through the last
fifty years their program and methods independently of each other we, your
Committee, recommend that a Committee of fifteen be created by this Convention
to carefully study the organizational needs of our churches wdth respect to their
auxiliaries; to define the functions and spheres of each; to propose in the light
of our experience and need what changes or additions should be made and to
report to the 1947 session of the Southern Baptist Convention their findings and
recommendations. It is the hope of your Committee that the Committee to be
appointed shall be led of the Holy Spirit to find a way whereby every good
thing we have shall be conserved and such changes made that will enable our
churches to evangelize, teach, train, instruct, enlist, and make more effective
our entire stewardship of life and substance in the service of Christ.
Third, That the work of this Committee include that of study and recommendations
concerning the utilization of principles and methods in the field of
Religious Education in our churches and whole mission program.
Fourth, We recommend that the Committee of fifteen hereby recommended be
composed of brethren Gaines S. Dobbins, Chairman; J. M. Price, A. E. Tibbs,
W. 0. Carver, W. L. Howse, Ellis A. Fuller, E. D. Head, Roland Q. Leavell,
and Louie D. Newton, plus six pastors to be named by the Committee on Committees.
Fifth, We suggest that the first three named be a steering committee to
make all necessary preliminary study of this proposal between now and October
1, 1946, and that the full Committee begin its work following that date.
Sixth, That the Committee hereby created be instructed to publish their report
in the denominational press not later than April 1, 1947.
Seventh, That the expenses of this Committee be limited not to exceed $2,000
which shall be provided by the Executive Committee of the Convention according
to the way the Convention provides for the expenses of its special Committees.
ADOPTED
VI
Regarding the resolution presented by A. G. Hause, Missouri, concerning
temperance lessons, your Committee finds that this question of offering a lesson
on temperance each quarter has been fully considered by the Sunday School
Board and the International Bible Lessons Committee, and it can see no valid
reason for opening the question at this time. We therefore cannot recommend
the passing of the resolution.
RESOLUTION NOT ADOPTED
67. Chas. F. Sims, South Carolina, read the report on Luther
Rice Memorial, and it was adopted.
LUTHER RICE MEMORIAL
At the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta, 1944, the
Luther Rice Memorial Committee reported that, due to Government restrictions
on building, the Pine Pleasant Baptist Church, located near Newberry, S. C,
had been unable to use the $1,069.38 of the Luther Rice Memorial Fund granted
to it by the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.