Oklahoma Baptists will gather Nov. 15-16 at Oklahoma City, Southern Hills, 8601 S Pennsylvania Avenue, for the 115th Annual Meeting.
As in previous years, the 2021 Annual Meeting will feature times of preaching, prayer, ministry reports and other convention business. Yet for only the 10th time in state convention history, Oklahoma Baptists will have the opportunity to affirm the election of a new state executive director-treasurer.
Todd Fisher to be presented as 10th executive director-treasurer
Messengers at the Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to affirm Todd Fisher as Oklahoma Baptists’ 10th executive director-treasurer.
On Monday evening, Nov. 15, a special installation service will be observed for Todd Fisher, who is poised to become Oklahoma Baptists’ 10th executive director-treasurer. Messengers at the meeting will have the opportunity to affirm Fisher, who was unanimously approved by the state convention’s board of directors at a special-called business meeting on Oct. 5.
Fisher has served as pastor of Shawnee, Immanuel since 2003 and will succeed Hance Dilbeck, who stepped down as executive director-treasurer in the summer of 2021 to become president-elect at GuideStone.
Following formal approval from Oklahoma Baptist messengers during the upcoming annual meeting, Fisher would officially fill the role as executive director-treasurer in January of 2022. Joe Ligon, who has been serving as interim executive director-treasurer, would continue in that role through December 31.
Charlie Blount, pastor of Moore, First, will be preaching at the Annual Meeting, Nov. 16.
Fisher is scheduled to preach at the annual meeting. In addition, Moore, First Pastor Charlie Blount and Michael Butler, pastor of Chickasha, First who is serving as president for Oklahoma Baptists, will preach.
“The annual meeting is always a great opportunity for Oklahoma Baptists to join together in worship, fellowship and to be connected with the ministries of our state,” Fisher said. “I am especially hopeful that many of our pastors will be able to attend the meeting this year and be refreshed and encouraged through our coming together.”
2021 Annual Meeting theme: ‘One’
Michael Butler, pastor of Chickasha, First, will deliver the President’s Address at the Annual Meeting.
The theme of the 2021 Annual Meeting is ‘One,’ to focus on the unity believers have in Jesus Christ. Joe Ligon, who serves as Oklahoma Baptists senior associate executive director, said that churches are ministering amid a culture that is increasingly divided, so “the annual meeting will highlight the unity Oklahoma Baptists have as we advance the Gospel together.”
The theme is based on Eph. 6:1-4, which says, “Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting ONE another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. There is ONE body and ONE Spirit—just as you were called to ONE hope at your calling — ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
Reports & other key information
The annual meeting will feature various reports from several Oklahoma Baptist ministries, a resolutions report, officer elections and more.
Leaders from the four affiliate organizations—Oklahoma Baptist University, Baptist Village Communities, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children and WatersEdge Ministry Services (formerly the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma)—will make presentations to messengers.
Prior to Annual Meeting, the annual Oklahoma Baptists’ Pastors’ Conference is set to take place (see story on page 7), along with various meals and meetings connected to the annual meeting.
The Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting consists of church members who are elected as messengers to represent their respective local church bodies in business decisions during the meeting.
Church members interested in serving as a messenger can contact their church office for information. Every elected messenger will receive a messenger booklet and voting ballots upon check-in at Annual Meeting. Anyone can attend, but only elected messengers have voting privileges at the Annual Meeting.
Messenger pre-registration is open for churches to register their elected messengers prior to the Annual Meeting, allowing for a quick and easy on-site check-in process. To access pre-registration, visit oklahomabaptists.org/annualmeeting. For further information contact Kdie Nix at knix@oklahomabaptists.org.
Onsite check-in begins Monday, Nov. 15. Pre-registering online and early check-in are strongly encouraged. Childcare is available on a reservation basis. At the annual meeting resources page online, there is also information about lodging in the area. Visit oklahomabaptists.org/annualmeeting for the latest information on the 2021 Annual Meeting.
