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Leaders sign marriage amendment petition in symbolic gesture, told to fight worldview

Florida Baptists re-elect Wicker in Ocala

Nov 23, 2005
BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention

Nearly 2,000 messengers and visitors attended the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting held at First Baptist Church in Ocala Nov. 14-15. FBC photo

OCALA (FBC)—Seeking to galvanize the 1,975 messengers and visitors in at­ten­dance to action, leaders of the Florida Baptist State Convention publicly signed the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment during its 144th annual meeting Nov. 14-15 in Ocala.

Click on image for related coverage

WICKER

Among those signing petitions to be sent to their local county supervisors of election for certification was Hayes Wicker, president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, who was unanimously elected without opposition to a second one-year term. Wicker, pastor of First Baptist Church of Naples, was nominated by Dwayne Mercer, pastor of Oviedo First Baptist Church and a past state convention president.

Others to sign the petition that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman included John Sullivan, state executive director-treasurer; Michael Landry of Sarasota, state convention first vice president; and Ben Bryant of Starke, president of the State Board of Missions, the Florida Baptist Convention’s governing body.

The symbolic signing “helped to un­derscore the importance of the petition,” said Bryant, who asked for “a point of personal privilege” in calling for the signatures. A total of 611,009 petition signatures are needed by Feb. 1, 2006 to place the measure on the November 2006 Florida ballot. Prior to the convention meeting only 108,669 signed petitions had been certified by the Florida Division of Elections.

Florida Baptists have been engaged in the petition drive since the 2004 Convention meeting when messengers unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the amendment. A coalition of Christian organizations embraced the cause, writing the amendment’s language and campaigning for its passage.

Ben Bryant (l), president of the State Board of Missions for the Florida Baptist State Convention promotes the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment with John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention. FBC photo by Ken Touchton

Bryant challenged messengers to become “Defenders of Marriage” by recruiting 10 persons to sign petitions and make a commitment to enlist another 10 petitions. During the two-day meeting at least 400 persons signed the petition, 200 pastors asked for helps to promote the petition among their congregations and nearly 500 made a commitment to become a “Defender of Marriage,” reported Jon Rogers, grassroots coordinator of the Florida Family Policy Council, who collected petitions at the meeting.

Bill Bunkley, Florida Baptists’ legislative consultant who is overseeing the Convention’s progress in this effort, has been speaking at churches and associational meetings, trying to galvanize leaders to sponsor petition drives. “I’m ready to crisscross the state or whatever we need to do to secure those petitions,” he said in an earlier report.

The annual meeting was convened at First Baptist Church of Ocala, representing the first time in more than 30 years that it was held in a local church rather than a convention center.

Nearly 2,000 persons attended the Nov. 14 session to hear Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship ministry, urge Christians to fight the clash of worldviews and cultures in today’s world [see related story on page 5].

COLSON

Colson, a member of First Baptist Church of Naples, used the opportunity of his appearance to show support for his pastor, Hayes Wicker, by calling him “one of the great preachers in America today.”

Among resolutions passed at the meeting was one in support of President George Bush and the U.S. military for “preserving and protecting freedom” [see the full resolution on this page].

Messengers stood to their feet after loud and sustained applause in support of the resolution which encouraged “prayer, support and appreciation” for service members and their families and “gratitude and respect for President George W. Bush in light of the gravity of the decisions he must make.” Further, messengers encouraged “all Florida Baptists to pray regularly for our President and to stand with him in opposing global terrorism as he makes decision that potentially impact the entire world.”

Other resolutions expressed appreciation to the North American Mission Board for financial assistance after Hurricane Wilma and to fourteen Baptist state conventions that sent disaster relief volunteers to South Florida.

Messengers learned Florida Baptists contributed more than $2.6 million to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and an additional $100,000 to Hurricane Rita and Wilma relief combined.

A resolution presented by Robert Dreyfus, a member of Moss Bluff Baptist Church, in Ocklawaha, encouraged parents to remove their children from public schools that “present homosexuality as a normal alternative lifestyle” through such organizations as clubs which affirm homosexualty was not considered.

Lois Wenger of Orlando, chairman of the Committee on Order of Business, told messengers the Convention had “previously addressed and clearly spoken to the issue of homosexuality through prior resolutions.” Also, she added, a collaborative relationship established formally this year with the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools provides Christian educational alternatives.

Stepping to a microphone after Wenger spoke, Dreyfus, who presented a similar motion at last year’s meeting, introduced himself as a full-time missionary for Exodus Mandate, and said he believes “this is the most important issue facing the church and the nation.”

Referring to Chuck Colson’s talk about a “culture war between the secularists and the church,” Dreyfus said he did “not feel like this Convention has given adequate consideration” to the issue.

Wicker reminded Dreyfus an explanation had been made and the issue was given “prayerful” consideration by the Committee on the Order of Business. “We will continue to pray about these important matters,” Wicker said.

Messengers also recognized Sid Smith, who retired Oct. 31 as director of the Convention’s African-American Ministries Division. In receiving a plaque and handshake from Sullivan, Smith said he was appreciative of the state’s leadership and support.

“May your next days in ministry be your best days,” Smith told messengers.

Clockwise from left: Marvin Pittman, Ronald Hobbs, Mike Landry, and Hayes Wicker stand together as newly elected officers. FBC photo by Ken Touchton