Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

CONFERENCE HONORS ‘UNKNOWN HEROES’

By Tim Ellsworth
Contributing Writer, Baptist and Reflector

Officers of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference are, from left, Derek Smith, pastor, Living Hope Baptist Church, Collierville, secretary/treasurer; Tim McGehee, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Tullahoma, president-elect; and Jim Collier, Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, president.

Officers of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference are, from left, Derek Smith, pastor, Living Hope Baptist Church, Collierville, secretary/treasurer; Tim McGehee, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Tullahoma, president-elect; and Jim Collier, Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, president.

SEVIERVILLE — Pastors must guard against ambition and pride if their ministries are to be characterized by faithfulness and not by failure, Paige Patterson told pastors attending the 2016 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference Nov. 14.

“The Lord is serious about this business of ministry,” said Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. “We need to make up our minds now that to the end we’ll be faithful to the Lord.” [Read more…]

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TENNESSEE BAPTIST MISSION BOARD

Messengers approve new name for Executive Board, elect Freeman

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

New officers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention are, from left, Todd Stinnett, pastor, Black Oak Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, second vice president; Steve Freeman, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, president; and Michael Crandall, pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Dyersburg, vice president.

New officers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention are, from left, Todd Stinnett, pastor, Black Oak Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, second vice president; Steve Freeman, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, president; and Michael Crandall, pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Dyersburg, vice president. -Photos by Corinne Williams

SEVIERVILLE — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention approved a new name for the Executive Board and elected Springfield pastor Steve Freeman as their new president.

The two actions were among many that took place during Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists held Nov. 13-17 at the Sevierville Convention Center.

The final unofficial registration tallied 1,211 registered messengers from 503 churches throughout the state. The numbers do not reflect the total number of people who attended various sessions. On Nov. 13, there was an estimated 2,000-plus people who attended the worship service led by Steve Gaines (see story here) and a concurrent Hispanic worship service.

Registration exceeded the 953 messengers from 322 churches who attended last year’s Summit in Millington and the 1,172 messengers who attended Summit in 2014 in Brentwood. [Read more…]

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MCGEHEE NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT OF TENNESSEE PASTORS CONFERENCE

Baptist and Reflector

Officers of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference are, from left, Derek Smith, pastor, Living Hope Baptist Church, Collierville, secretary/treasurer; Tim McGehee, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Tullahoma, president-elect; and Jim Collier, Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, president.

Officers of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference are, from left, Derek Smith, pastor, Living Hope Baptist Church, Collierville, secretary/treasurer; Tim McGehee, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Tullahoma, president-elect; and Jim Collier, Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, president.

SEVIERVILLE — Tim McGehee, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Tullahoma, was elected president-elect of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference on Nov. 14.

McGehee, who was chosen without opposition, will succeed incoming president Jim Collier, pastor of Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, next year.

McGehee was nominated for the position by David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville. [Read more…]

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CHURCH REVITALIZATION MORE THAN NUMBERS

80-year-old pastor proves age is not a factor in reaching younger families

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Jerry Heflin

Jerry Heflin

SPRINGFIELD – The numbers may not reflect it, but Eastland Heights Baptist Church in Springfield is truly being revitalized, says Pastor Jerry Heflin.

And, what’s more, the church is being revitalized by an 80-year-old pastor who has a knack for connecting with people of all ages.

After Heflin retired in 2006 as associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, he became pastor at Eastland Heights the following year. [Read more…]

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SIX SPEAKERS HEADLINE PASTORS CONFERENCE

Baptist and Reflector

pastorsconf2016-homeSEVIERVILLE —  The 2016 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference will feature six speakers including Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson.

The speakers will help “Honor the Unknown Heroes of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.”

The afternoon session on Nov.  14 from 1-4:15 p.m. features Jim Collier, pastor, Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, and president-elect of the conference; Stephen Rummage, pastor, Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Brandon, Fla.; and James Noble, assistant professor of pastoral ministry at Anderson (S.C.) University. The evening session will be held from 6-9:30 p.m. and features Monty Hamilton, pastor, Come As You Are Bible Fellowship, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Dean Haun, pastor, First Baptist Church, Morristown; and Patterson of Fort Worth, Texas, who will give the closing address. [Read more…]

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TBC MINISTERS’ SALARIES ABOVE AVERAGE

Baptist and Reflector

Office and Custodial Personnel: Compensation = Salary (Part-time salary is calibrated to reflect 50 weeks per year at median number of hours: 18) Pay Package* = Salary + Retirement Benefits Paid by the Church + Insurance Paid by the Church *The Employer portion of Social Security is not included in the figure for Pay Package. The study assumes that the church pays the Employer portion of Social Security for these employees. Ministerial Personnel (Non-Ordained Ministers): Compensation = Salary (Part-time salary is calibrated to reflect 50 weeks per year at median number of hours: 10) Pay Package** = Salary + Retirement Benefits Paid by the Church + Insurance Paid by the Church **The Employer portion of Social Security is not included in the figure for Pay Package. The study assumes that the church pays the Employer portion of Social Security for these employees. Ministerial Personnel (Ordained Ministers): Compensation = Salary + Housing Allowance + Fair Rental Value of Church-owned Housing + Utilities for Church-owned Housing (Part-time salary is calibrated to reflect 50 weeks per year at median number of hours: 20) Pay Package*** = Salary + Housing Allowance + Fair Rental Value of Church-owned Housing + Utilities on Church-owned Housing + Social Security Equivalent + Retirement Benefits Paid by the Church + Insurance Paid by the Church ***While the Social Security Equivalent could be included with compensation since it is taxable, the Compensation Study has chosen for a number of years to treat the Social Security Equivalent as a benefit so as to be consistent with the general treatment of Social Security for non-ministers. It is suggested the church pay the same percentage for Social Security for the minister that they would pay for a non-minister. Thus it should be budgeted and classified the same way as the regular FICA employer Social Security for non-ministers. The only difference for ministers is that it does become taxable. This study assumes all ministry-related expenses are paid by the church using an accountable reimbursement plan and are NOT INCLUDED in the “Pay Package.” These include travel expense; expenses for conventions and continuing education; expenses for ministry-related books and periodicals; and ministry-related hospitality expenses. Amounts paid to cover these ministry-related expenses are IN ADDITION TO the above amounts. Report Date: 9/26/2016

Office and Custodial Personnel:
Compensation = Salary (Part-time salary is calibrated to reflect 50 weeks per year at median number of hours: 18)
Pay Package* = Salary + Retirement Benefits Paid by the Church + Insurance Paid by the Church
*The Employer portion of Social Security is not included in the figure for Pay Package. The study assumes that the church pays the Employer portion of Social Security for these employees.Ministerial Personnel (Non-Ordained Ministers):
Compensation = Salary (Part-time salary is calibrated to reflect 50 weeks per year at median number of hours: 10)
Pay Package** = Salary + Retirement Benefits Paid by the Church + Insurance Paid by the Church
**The Employer portion of Social Security is not included in the figure for Pay Package. The study assumes that the church pays the Employer portion of Social Security for these employees.
Ministerial Personnel (Ordained Ministers):

Compensation = Salary + Housing Allowance + Fair Rental Value of Church-owned Housing + Utilities for Church-owned Housing (Part-time salary is calibrated to reflect 50 weeks per year at median number of hours: 20)
Pay Package*** = Salary + Housing Allowance + Fair Rental Value of Church-owned Housing + Utilities on Church-owned Housing + Social Security Equivalent + Retirement Benefits Paid by the Church + Insurance Paid by the Church
***While the Social Security Equivalent could be included with compensation since it is taxable, the Compensation Study has chosen for a number of years to treat the Social Security Equivalent as a benefit so as to be consistent with the general treatment of Social Security for non-ministers. It is suggested the church pay the same percentage for Social Security for the minister that they would pay for a non-minister. Thus it should be budgeted and classified the same way as the regular FICA employer Social Security for non-ministers. The only difference for ministers is that it does become taxable.

This study assumes all ministry-related expenses are paid by the church using an accountable reimbursement plan and are NOT INCLUDED in the “Pay Package.” These include travel expense; expenses for conventions and continuing education; expenses for ministry-related books and periodicals; and ministry-related hospitality expenses. Amounts paid to cover these ministry-related expenses are IN ADDITION TO the above amounts.

Report Date: 9/26/2016

BRENTWOOD — The average compensation (salary and housing) and pay packages for senior pastors and staff ministers in Tennessee Baptist Convention churches exceeds the national average in most categories.

The 2016 SBC Church Compensation Study, a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources, and LifeWay Christian Resources, was released in early September. The biannual study collects compensation and congregational data anonymously from ministers and office/custodial personnel of SBC churches and missions. [Read more…]

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SPEAKERS SOUGHT FOR CONFERENCE

Baptist Press

Phoenix, AZ.

Phoenix, AZ

NASHVILLE — The 2017 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors Conference in Phoenix is expected to highlight the contributions of the convention’s smaller churches and celebrate the diverse landscape that makes up the SBC. To that end, Pastors Conference officers are seeking nominations for event speakers who represent these churches.

To help fill the slate of preachers for the conference, the leadership team is inviting Southern Baptists to recommend expository preachers for the event. The online nomination process opened Sept. 12 at www.sbcpc2017.com. Nominations can be made through Sept. 30.

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A ‘TENNESSEE REUNION’ PLANNED

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

160913tnreunionBRENTWOOD — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s annual Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists is expanding this year.

As always, the Summit (scheduled for Nov. 13-17) will include the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference and the annual business meeting, but this year will include the “Tennessee Reunion” on Sunday night, Nov. 13, and a golf tournament on Thursday, Nov. 17. [Read more…]

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NEARLY 90 YEARS OLD, CORLEY KEEPS SERVING

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Damon Corley, left, pastor of West Fentress Baptist Church, Jamestown, visits with Chris Ward, director of missions for Riverside Baptist Association, based in Livingston.

Damon Corley, left, pastor of West Fentress Baptist Church, Jamestown, visits with Chris Ward, director of missions for Riverside Baptist Association, based in Livingston.

LIVINGSTON — Damon Corley will be 90 years old in November, but you would never know it by looking at him.

Still spry and active, Corley is not only the pastor of West Fentress Baptist Church in Jamestown, he also just recently accepted the role of associate moderator of Riverside Baptist Association, based in Livingston. He has been the moderator of the association before and would be in line for another term if elected in October.

“He has more energy than many of our young pastors,” observed Chris Ward, director of missions for Riverside Association. [Read more…]

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THOM TAPP, RETIRED MINISTER, CARTOONIST, DIES

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

160629tappKINGSTON — Thomas “Thom” Tapp, 65, retired pastor and cartoonist, died June 11 in Kingston. His cartoons were published for many years in the Baptist and Reflector and are still featured on Baptist Press.

He was retired pastor, Oral Baptist Church, Lenoir City. He also was pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Loretto; Orchard View Baptist Church, Oliver Springs; and Daysville Baptist Church, Rockwood. Tapp also was the author of several books featuring his artwork. [Read more…]

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