Southern Baptist Convention Presidents Urges More Missions, Minority Members

The Southern Baptist Convention's president says the denomination's vision for the future should include more giving to worldwide missions and an increased effort to attract minorities.

The Rev. Johnny Hunt, a pastor from Georgia, addressed thousands of attendees Tuesday shortly after the opening of the two-day convention in Louisville.

Hunt acknowledged during the 45-minute speech that membership in the nation's largest Protestant denomination is shrinking. He says Southern Baptists are aging and the denomination could lose half of its 16 million members by 2050.

He urged members to engage "our brothers in ethnicity." The convention is expected to vote on a resolution to honor the election of Barack Obama as the nation's first black president.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Southern Baptists are beginning their national assembly in Kentucky and are looking at ways to energize missionary efforts.

The two-day Southern Baptist Convention begins Tuesday. Church leaders are asking attendees to put aside squabbles over political and social issues and to take a look inward this year.

The convention won't escape politics altogether. One resolution asks the denomination to acknowledge the historical importance of President Barack Obama's electoral victory despite the convention's opposition to his policies.