2026 BCNM Annual Meeting
The 2026 Annual State Convention will be October 19-20 at Eastern Hills Baptist Church of Albuquerque (3100 Morris St. NE, Albuquerque.) PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A MONDAY AND TUESDAY. The theme of the meeting will be “Treasuring Christ Together.” A registration reception will kick off events on Monday afternoon, October 19, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the foyer of Eastern Hills Baptist Church and the opening session will begin that evening at 5:00 p.m. The Pastors’/Laymen’s Conference and the WMU Annual Meeting will be held Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. The second session of the convention will be Tuesday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m., the third session at 1:00 p.m. and the final session will be Tuesday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Our special guest for the convention will be Ronni Kurtz, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Midwestern Seminary; and Matt Celoria, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church of Alamogordo, will bring the annual sermon; Ryan Blackwell, President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, will bring a message; President Chris Promersberger, pastor of Mountain Valley Baptist Church of Edgewood, will bring the president’s address; and Steve Ballew will present his executive director’s report.
Online messenger registration is available by clicking one of the buttons on this page. Please note that the moderator/church clerk is not necessarily a messenger. Please list ALL messengers as such. If you choose not to register online, you may request a form by calling Nancy Faucett at 505.924.2325 or emailing her at nfaucett@bcnm.com.
Guidelines for seating messengers are listed in the BCNM Bylaws.
Baptist Convention of NM Bylaws
ARTICLE TWO: Seating of Messengers.
Section 1. At any meeting of the messengers, messengers shall be seated upon presentation of proper credentials or satisfactory authorization of their election by their churches. The required credentials shall be the BCNM registration form which can be submitted electronically or by paper copy and shall be presented to the Credentials Committee of the Convention before being seated.
Section 2. As an autonomous State Baptist Convention, the Convention in session reserves the right to determine what constitutes a cooperating Baptist church. Churches shall be considered in friendly cooperation who are sympathetic with the purpose and work of this Convention, having demonstrated cooperation by contributing a percentage of their undesignated gifts through the Cooperative Program. The faith and practices of each cooperating church, in the opinion of the Convention in session, shall not be in conflict Convention’s affirmed Statement of Faith.
Section 3. Each church shall be entitled to two messengers and one additional messenger for every twenty-five members or major portion thereof above twenty-five; but in no case shall any church be entitled to more than eight messengers.
State Convention Schedule
OPENING SESSION – Monday, October 19, 2026
Chris Promersberger, Presiding
5:00 Worship – Mountain Valley Praise Team
Call to Order – Chris Promersberger
Welcome/Invocation – Bill Connors
Greetings from SBC Entities – Chris Promersberger
Business Session
- Seating of Messengers – Joel Gunn
- Appointment of Committees – Chris Promersberger
- Adoption of Program – Ira Pinkston
- State Mission Board Report – Todd Sullens
Benediction – Nathan Sherman
SESSION 2 – Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Chris Promersberger, Presiding
9:00 Music Worship – Eastern Hills Praise Team
Scripture and Invocation – Charlie Riddick
President’s Address – Chris Promersberger
Music Worship – Eastern Hills Praise Team
Message – Ryan Blackwell
Business Session
- Introduction of New Business
- State Mission Board Report – Todd Sullens
Video Highlight
Message – Ronni Kurtz
Music Worship – Eastern Hills Praise Team
Benediction – Steven Soto
SESSION 3 – Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Joel Gunn, Presiding
1:00 Music Worship – New Mexico Singing Churchmen
Scripture and Invocation – Alfredo Gomez
Children’s Home Report – Serenity Richard
Foundation Report – Rick Breeden
Music Worship – New Mexico Singing Churchmen
Introduction of New Staff/Presentations – Steve Ballew
Business Session
- Election of Officers
- Committee on Committees Report – Chris Lethgo
- Camp Assessment Committee Report – Todd Sullens
- Nominating Committee Report – Chipper Moore
- Resolutions Committee Report – Phillip Smith
- Miscellaneous Business
- New Business
Panel Q&A
Music Worship – New Mexico Singing Churchmen
Annual Sermon – Matt Celoria
Music Worship – New Mexico Singing Churchmen
Benediction – Solomon Nakka
SESSION 4 – Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Sam Swann, Presiding
6:00 Music Worship – Mountain Valley Praise Team
Scripture and Invocation – Kuan Chen
Video Highlight
Executive Director’s Report – Steve Ballew
One Day Celebration – Rick Brittain & Matt Thackerson
Executive Director’s Message – Steve Ballew
Guided Prayer – Chris Promersberger
Music Worship – Mountain Valley Praise Team
Benediction – Joe Vivian
Attendees at the 2021 BCNM Annual Meeting, Roswell, participate in a prayer service as part of the Annual Meeting agenda.
Why do we have an Annual Meeting?
Southern Baptists are congregational, meaning that any authority given to the Baptist Convention of New Mexico and its entities ultimately comes from the local churches that choose to cooperate with the Convention. This is different from most denominations where an outside organization has authority over local churches.
The Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico is a time for messengers who represent local churches to approve the budget and board members for the Convention and its entities. Messengers will also hear reports of what the convention and its entities have accomplished in the last year, thus providing accountability for the Convention.
It’s not all business at the Convention, though. Messengers also worship together through music and the preaching of God’s Word, helping us focus on the ultimate reason why BCNM exists: to advance God’s Kingdom in the Land of Enchantment. The Annual Meeting is also a time for churches to network with one another, helping each other fulfill the Great Commission throughout New Mexico.