Columbia — Churches and individuals would be able to become members of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri at less cost if a director-approved proposal is adopted at the BGCM's annual meeting in April.
Meeting Dec. 8, directors agreed to changes in the organization's corporate documents that would drop required annual minimum contributions from $500 to $200 for an individual to be a messenger or for a church to send a messenger to the annual meeting.
In addition, document changes would allow churches to send one messenger for the first $200 given, and would allow an additional messenger for each additional $200, down from the current $500 requirement.
Under current provisions, churches can send a maximum of 10 messengers. If changes are adopted, churches would be allowed up to 20 messengers, based on contributions in the year preceding the annual meeting.
BGCM directors approved a request to continue contributing $300 per month to Sanctuary Fellowship, St. Louis, through 2007. They also granted a one-time start-up gift of $1,000 to South Town Family Church, St. Louis.
They agreed to help sponsor a First Freedom Dinner in Jefferson City on Jan. 30. A coalition, with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State as the primary sponsor, will host the dinner to promote religious freedom.
BGCM also will become a member of the St. Louis Interfaith Partnership. A $200-per-year contribution will allow the BGCM to have a representative on the partnership's cabinet. BGCM director Rudy Pulido, pastor of Southwest Baptist Church, St. Louis, will represent the convention.
The directors also agreed to a $500 gift to the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. A proposal to join the organization will be presented at BGCM's annual meeting.
