The annual meeting at Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem includes four sessions beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 15 and concluding around 9 p.m. the following day. A fifth session traditionally held on Wednesday morning was eliminated by the convention program committee, primarily because of the low attendance at the Wednesday session the past several years.

The shared leadership proposal, to be presented as a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds affirmative vote, was overwhelmingly adopted by the General Board, which will present the amendment as part of its report at 3:35 p.m., Nov. 16. If it passes, it will take effect in 2000.

The shared leadership amendment calls for messengers to elect a president, president-elect and two vice presidents for the state Convention one year and the next year elect the same four officers for the General Board.

The individual receiving the most votes would be elected president, the one with the second most votes would be president-elect. The president-elect would automatically become president the next year with the current president serving as past-president that year, effectively allowing all the officers to serve two-year terms.

In a separate election, the vice presidential candidate receiving the most votes would become first vice president, and the candidate coming in second would become second vice president, both serving a two-year period.

Election of Convention officers this year will follow the existing format, with the presidential election set for the morning of Nov. 16, with votes for vice presidents and other officers that afternoon.

The convention sermon by Bill Grisham, pastor of First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, will be at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 15. The president's address by Mike Cummings, director of missions for Burnt Swamp Association, will be at 11:30 a.m., Nov. 16. Executive Director-treasurer Jim Royston will address the messengers at 9:50 a.m.

All business sessions will be held on Nov. 16. The three General Board reports are scheduled for 8:45 a.m., 3:35 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. The shared leadership proposal will be presented in the afternoon report with the budget presentation set for the evening report.

The Budget Committee will be available to meet with any interested messengers on Nov. 16 from 8-8:40 a.m., 1:30-2 p.m. and 5:30-6 p.m. in Team Room B in the coliseum.

Miscellaneous business sessions are set for Nov. 16 at 11:05 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.

Special reports will include Mission Growth Evangelism on Nov. 15 at 7:15 p.m.; Resource Development and Promotion, Nov. 16, 10:15 a.m.; Baptist Foundation, Nov. 16, 2:15 p.m.; and Christian Higher Education, Nov. 16, 3 p.m.

The convention will conclude Tuesday evening with an inspirational message by Anne Graham Lotz of Raleigh.

(EDITOR'S NOTE-Boatwright is director of public relations for the BSC.)