Southern Baptists proposed 37 motions from the floor of the convention’s 2022 Annual Meeting. Most were referred to various entities or groups for consideration, one even going to the soon-to-be named Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force.
Ten motions were ruled not in order, including the one calling for a forensic audit of the North American Mission Board, because they directed an entity, were in conflict with the convention’s governing documents or were submitted incorrectly (see below).
Three of the 37 (not listed below) were not allowed and are different from being ruled “not in order.”
Two of those three were ruled out of order, one because it related to a resolution and the other because the person making the motion had already made a motion and was supposed to wait until all others had a chance to present a motion. One was “not well received” because the subject was already under review — Saddleback Church.
•A motion by Joshua Scruggs (North Carolina) to abolish the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission was allowed to go to a vote but was defeated by messengers (read full story here).
•The motion referred to ARITF was made by Greg Davidson (California) and calls for full support of those who are sexually abused.
The following motions were determined to deal with the internal operations or ministries of convention entities.
Under SBC Bylaw 26B, these motions are automatically referred to the appropriate entities for consideration and to report to the 2023 annual meeting in New Orleans.
Referred to seminaries
•Referred to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary — A motion by Michelle Lesley (Louisiana) for an investigation into an alleged case of mishandling sexual abuse by employees of Southeastern.
•Referred to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary — A motion by Dwight McKissic (Texas) that names of buildings, scholarships and other items at Southern connected to slaveholders be removed.
•Referred to all the seminaries — A motion by Ryan Ogle (Tennessee) that a seminary library science program be considered by the Council of Seminary Presidents.
Referred to SBC EC
The following motions were referred to the SBC Executive Committee for consideration and to report to the 2023 annual meeting:
•Scott Smith (Indiana) requested an internal evaluation of SBC EC organizational structure.
•Parker Roberts (Alabama) moved to add a sentence to the Baptist Faith & Message about Scripture holding the ultimate authority.
•Timothy Livingston (Oklahoma) moved for a change in the bylaws relating to the resolutions committee.
•Bill Tackett (Oklahoma) moved Bylaw 26b be amended.
•Scott Frady (North Carolina) moved to require all churches to adhere to BF&M 2000.
•Craig Hartzog (Georgia) moved for messengers to be vetted and monitored at the local association for participation in SBC annual meetings at remote locations.
•Tom Rush (Georgia) moved that EC cease to use executive sessions.
•Michael Law (Virginia) moved the convention amend its constitution to read “does not affirm … a woman as pastor of any kind.”
•Matt Dunn (Missouri) moved a pro-Israel amendment be added to BF&M.
•Samuel Gilliam (Louisiana) moved trustees’ contact information be published and accessible.
•Toby Brogden (Tennessee) moved EC help all cooperating churches have a voice and vote at the 2023 annual meeting.
•Nathan Stuller (Illinois) moved the SBC Constitution be amended to add a “transparency and accountability” section.
•Sherri Martin (Florida) moved that EC study the impact of waiving attorney-client privilege.
•Rob Collingsworth (Texas) moved a workgroup be formed to study the editorial independence of Baptist Press.
•Mark Spence (Colorado) moved the Resolutions Committee be suspended for the sake of unity.
•Jerry Watts (Mississippi) moved a legal study be made about the polity and relationship of the larger body of messengers and the entity trustees.
•Jay Adkins (Louisiana) moved the position of recording secretary no longer have a seat on EC.
•Jason Sampler (Georgia) moved Bylaw 15 be amended regarding trustee selection and who can serve.
•Keith Myer (Maryland) moved a day be added to the SBC Calendar to raise awareness of abuse.
Ruled not in order
—Motions ruled not in order were:
•David Um (Massachusetts) moved that a task force be formed to audit use of funds by NAMB.
•William Hester (Oklahoma) moved a more transparent vetting process be developed for those nominated to serve as EC trustees.
•Mike Haines (Oklahoma) moved executive salaries from all SBC entities be made public.
•Corey Smith (Louisiana) moved Lifeway provide teaching resources related to the covenant sign of the rainbow to counteract the promotion of the LGBTQ agenda.
•John Jones III (Missouri) moved IMB provide a method for exempting missionaries from actions of conscience, such as receiving vaccines.
•Matthew Boyle (South Carolina) moved the convention develop and fund a mental health commission.
•Jacob Jackson (Virginia) moved that SBC “equip, fund and support sidewalk missionaries (for the unborn).”
—The following motions were ruled not in order as they direct the president or make a request beyond the scope of the president’s authority:
•Brant Frost (Georgia) moved for the formation of a task force to study all the governing documents of the convention and its entities.
•Christopher Whitney (Arizona) moved the new SBC president obtain all the records from Guidepost Solutions and turn them over to proper law enforcement.
—Also ruled not in order because it wasn’t in the form of a motion:
•Kirby Shepard (Montana) moved “we of the SBC boycott Disney Corp. and all affiliates.”
Editor’s Note — This article was updated June 24 to clarify a few details related to several motions and add a note about two that were left out of the original post — Saddleback (ruled not well received) and Disney boycott (ruled not in order).
