The 2006 annual Assembly of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches was held August 23-26 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia with a paid registration of nearly 950 people and with a crowd of nearly 1,500 people attending the open evening rallies. Dr. Harry Gardner, Executive Minister, attributed the dramatic growth in attendance to many fresh new additions to the program including an increased focus on worship and concerts by East Coast sensation Stephanie Mainville and the black gospel Revival Choir from East Preston Baptist Church. Seminars on highly relevant topics and opportunities for increased fellowship following the evening programs also likely played a part, he noted. Assembly Program Coordinator, Dr. Bruce Fawcett noted that these were the first in a series of aggressive program changes to position the Assembly as a “can’t-miss event” for local church leaders.

The Assembly speaker was David Coffey, President of the Baptist World Alliance. He challenged the attendees to take missional risks for the sake of the gospel. Attendees were led in dynamic worship by Rev. Joe Page’s worship band from Main Street Baptist Church in Saint John.

Key program elements included a stirring presentation on mission in Atlantic Canada by Dr. Malcolm Beckett in which he highlighted that our Convention was involved in six new church plants, several French evangelism projects, several urban mission programs and 32 congregational revitalization projects. Rev. Greg Jones, Director of Development also gave the attendees a sneak peek at the fall Growing Healthy Churches United in Mission congregation campaign.

The Executive Minister, Dr. Harry Gardner, delivered a powerful address on Wednesday evening clarifying the six core priorities of the Convention including: Healthy Churches, Effective Pastors, Creative Mission, Passionate Next Generations, Focused Compassion and Celebrated Community.

In a bold step to foster racial reconciliation among Baptists in Atlantic Canada, Assembly delegates - who were elected by their churches - voted to hold a joint Assembly with the African United Baptist Association in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, August 17-20. Following the unanimous vote one Assembly attendee said, “if the music next year is anything like the music we heard from the Revival Choir I wouldn’t miss next year’s Assembly for anything!”

Other decisions made by delegates from churches across the Convention included:

• Unanimous votes to reappoint Dr. Malcolm Beckett and Mr. Daryl MacKenzie as Director of Atlantic Baptist Mission and Director of Operations, respectively.
• Unanimous votes to appoint Dr. Bruce Fawcett as Associate Executive Minister and Rev. Rob Nylen as Director of Youth and Family Ministries.
• Rev. Peter Reid of Truro, Nova Scotia was confirmed as Convention President for 2006-2007 and Dr. Margaret Munro of Stratford, PEI was elected Vice-President.
• Delegates agreed with the Convention’s Council proposal to add to the Regulations Concerning the Ministry a prohibition on accredited ministers officiating at a same gender union ceremony.
• Delegates approved a 2007 budget of $2.65 million that included increased allotments for Canadian Baptist Ministries, Atlantic Baptist University and Acadia Divinity College.