Anchor Way Baptist Church, Steamboat Springs, hosted the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Colorado Baptist General Convention on October 16, 2007. One hundred eighty-eight messengers from 84 affiliated churches and many guests met at the Steamboat Grand Resort and Hotel for a day of praise, worship and business.

The theme of the meeting was “Living by the Word” and the theme scripture was “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Speakers were Rod Compton, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Craig; Curt Dodd, Pastor of Westside Church, Omaha, NE; and Tim McKenzie of On Every Word Ministries, Houston, TX.

Messengers voted to welcome four new churches into affiliation with the Convention: Christchurch, Superior – Pastor, Scott Kelly; Cornerstone Christian Chapel, Montrose – Pastor, Clark Tanner; First Southern Baptist Church, Penrose – Pastor, Larry Packard; and Woodrow Baptist Church, Woodrow – Pastor, Bob Shaw.

Messengers also voted to change the by-laws thereby decreasing the size of the executive board. Prior to the by-laws change, the Convention elected a president, 1st vice president and 2nd vice president, and the executive board elected a chairman and vice chairman. Board members were elected based on the church membership in each associational area, with a maximum of six board members from any association. Under the new structure, the Convention officers will also serve as the Executive Board officers. The new Executive Board will be made up of the Convention officers, one board member from each of the eleven associations and three “at large” board members. The elected board members will have three scheduled meetings per year and will report on these meetings to the associations and churches.

Newly elected officers for the Convention are: President – Bob Bender (Pastor, First Baptist Church of Black Forest, Colorado Springs); 1st Vice President – Darrin Crow (Pastor, Heart of Junction, Grand Junction and Christian Challenge Director for Mesa State College); 2nd Vice President – Sean Cole (Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Sterling); Recording Secretary – Ginger LeBlanc, and Assistant Recording Secretary – Katee Goode (both are Ministry Assistants for the Colorado Baptist General Convention).

Resolutions were passed expressing appreciation for the host church; for outgoing Convention President, Charlie Jones; for appreciation and encouragement of the Colorado Baptist General staff; and for the staff of the Rocky Mountain Campus of the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

The 53rd Annual Meeting of the CBGC will be October 21, 2008 at the Four Points Sheraton Denver Southeast. The host church will be University Hills Baptist Church of Denver. Plans are also underway for the 54th Annual Meeting to be held in Estes Park in October, 2009.