Henard Elected KBC President 11/13/2007 ELIZABETHTOWN – William Henard, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, was elected president of Kentucky’s largest denomination today by acclamation. Click here to download a high-resolution portrait of Henard. Messengers affirmed Henard during the afternoon session of the 170th annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention at Severns Valley Baptist Church. The annual meeting convened today and will continue through Wednesday morning. Henard was elected by the vote of Wilma Simmons, convention secretary, after no other nominees were named. The last time a KBC president has been elected unopposed was at the 165th annual meeting in 2002. Henard was nominated by Hershael York, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, who also served as KBC president in 2005. York praised Henard’s leadership in missions, evangelism and support of the Cooperative Program. According to York, Henard has “led his congregation to keep Cooperative Program giving at the heart of the budget,” despite the fact that the church is currently preparing financially to relocate. “Bill Henard will keep us working together to reach Kentucky for Christ,” York said. “He is a humble, meek and godly man.” Prior to becoming pastor at Porter Memorial Baptist Church, Henard served in pastorates at churches in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas. Henard is assistant professor of evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He also serves as a board member for the KBC’s Mission Board, chairman of the KBC’s Administrative Committee, and chairman of LifeWay Christian Resources’ board of trustees. Henard is a graduate of Cumberland College (1977), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1981, 1985), and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2006). Messengers also learned about a three-year partnership with the Baptist Convention of Tanzania beginning Jan. 1, 2008 and continuing through Dec. 31, 2010. The partnership was approved by the KBC Mission Board. Funded by year-end requests, the targeted relationship will focus on strengthening churches and helping the convention’s new leadership equip its churches for evangelism and missions. “They’ve called on Kentucky Baptists to be a partner with them,” said Randy Jones, Missions Growth Team leader for the KBC. “I’m very excited about this opportunity.” Messengers approved a recommendation from the mission board for the 2007-2008 total Cooperative Program budget goal of $25,300,000 to remain the same again for 2008-2009. Messengers also approved a recommendation to send 37.04 percent of Cooperative Program funds to Southern Baptist Convention causes, an increase of .34 percent over 2007-2008. Messengers also approved a motion from the Committee on Order of Business for future annual meeting business to be conducted on a single day. The motion authorizes the convention to conduct all business in one day, with the option of a second day for workshops or other activities as needed. Kentucky Baptists voted to welcome 13 new churches into fellowship and six churches to watchcare status. Churches accepted into the convention include Bethel Baptist Baptist Church in Salyersville, Galilee Baptist Church in Louisville, Grace Baptist Church in Somerset, Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Neon, Linwood Baptist Church in Magnolia, Mountain Community Fellowship in Paintsville, Muddy River Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville, New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church in Henderson, New Hope Baptist Church in Louisville, Potter’s Place Church Ministries in Somerset, Safe Harbor Baptist Fellowship in Georgetown, The Point Community Church in Frankfort, and Unidos En Cristo Baptist Church in Covington. Churches accepted under watchcare status include: Cardinal Valley Baptist Church in Lexington, Crosspoint Baptist Church in Richmond, Crossings Church in Louisville, Gospel of Grace Baptist Church in Hodgenville, New Hope Baptist Church in Fordsville and Westside Baptist Church in Cecilia. Watchcare churches are usually those just beginning their acquaintance with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. These churches begin contributing to KBC missions as they learn about the convention and its programs. During a special Tuesday afternoon session, two individuals and several churches were recognized for outstanding leadership and support of the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ method for collectively funding mission and ministry efforts. Anna Mary Byrdwell and John Christian were recognized for their leadership in supporting the Cooperative Program. Byrdwell served for 37 years in a variety of positions with the Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union. Christian’s ministry career lasted 61 years and included pastorates across Kentucky and Tennessee. Six churches were recognized as top givers to the Cooperative Program. Three were recognized for total dollars given in 2006: Living Hope Baptist Church, Bowling Green, which gave $417,356.09; Immanuel Baptist Church, Lexington, $332,671.38; and Porter Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington, $303,435.36. Three were recognized as the top per capita givers, including: Mexico Baptist Church, Marion, whose 212 members gave a total of $81,898.17, or $215.52 per member; Lighthouse Fellowship, Louisville, whose 11 members gave $2,128.87, or $212.89 per member; and Riverview Baptist Church, Cattlesburg, whose 10 members gave $2,011.87 or $201.19 per member. Churches reaching significant cumulative giving milestones in the 2006-2007 budget year were also recognized. Messengers also affirmed KBC President Darren Gaddis’ nominations to the Committee on Committees, the committee that names members to all other standing Convention committees. Those named include: Steve Rutherford of New Salem Baptist Church in Nortonville, George Crabtree, Jr. of First Baptist Church in Russellville, and Wesley Noss of New Hope Baptist Church in Versailles. Gaddis also presented the president’s address during the Tuesday morning session. The convention sermon was delivered by Allen Harrod, pastor of Nicholasville Baptist Church in Nicholasville, during the Tuesday afternoon session. During a report from the Committee on Arrangements, messengers approved a motion to move the 2009 annual meeting to Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown. Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green was previously scheduled to host the 2009 meeting, but construction on the new facility will not be complete as originally anticipated, according to Layne Johnson, member of Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green. New board members for the coming year were also approved by messengers during a report from Hershael York, chairman of the Committee on Arrangements. At the open of the Tuesday afternoon session, 811 messengers were registered, along with 201 church members and seven visitors. Release prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications