FBNN Report, May 25, 2008
Newscaster: Good Morning, this is FBNN (First Baptist News Network) reporting from the First Baptist Church in the City of Williamsburg, KY. This network was formed for the purpose of sharing with the church highlights of the 125th Anniversary Year.

The FBC of Williamsburg has always had a unique relationship with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Green Clay Smith, pastor of FBC of Somerset, assisted in the organization of FBC of Williamsburg while he was serving as Moderator of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky. (Later this title was changed to President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention).

In 1891 the FBC of Williamsburg hosted the annual convention of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky. The registered attendance totaled 111. The FBC has been host to numerous area-wide and regional meetings. Other state-wide meetings include:

1903 General Association of Baptists in Kentucky (GABK) Convention
1939 GABK Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) Convention
1940 GABK Baptist Student Union (BSU) Convention
1983 KY Baptist Historical Society (FBC's Centennial Year)
1988 KY Baptist Historical Society (Cumberland's Centennial Year)

In recent years statewide Kentucky Baptist Convention meetings have been held at the O. Wayne Rollins Center on the campus of the University of the Cumberlands. Small group meetings have been held in the buildings of FBC of Williamsburg. Members of FBC assisted in the details of the local arrangements.

1994 KY Baptist Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) Convention
1998 KY Baptist Student Union (BSU) Convention
2002 Kentucky Baptist Convention

In 1906 the Baptist Education Society of Kentucky was organized for the purpose of joint fund raising for Baptist educational institutions in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Ancil Gatliff was named one of three directors, and he was a major contributor to the joint fund. It is stated that this cooperative fund raising in 1906 was a forerunner to the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program.

During the past 125 years four laymen of FBC have served as Moderator/President of the KBC for a total of seven years. This list includes three generations of one family. No other KBC church has anything similar. The list includes:

Today, we have present with us the Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr. Let us hear from him.

Eugene E. Siler, Jr.:

In addition, Waunita Sowders Kearney has served as state-wide Secretary for the KY BSU in 1948-49, and Hunter Bates has served as state-wide President for the KY BSU in 1988-89.

The University of the Cumberlands was organized one hundred twenty years ago. The original trustees were members of FBC, and many members of FBC have served one or more terms as trustees of the university.

In addition to participation in activities of the KBC members of FBC of Williamsburg have participated in the work of the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship (KBF). This group of Kentucky Baptists was organized as an alternate fellowship in 1991. It is a regional affiliate of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). It is coordinated by John Lepper who has filled the pulpit of FBC for a few Sundays.

Members of FBC of Williamsburg have served on the Coordinating Council of the KBF. These include:
Pastor Ed Talley, Charles M. Dupier, Jr., Patricia Ramey, David Honeycutt

A printed copy of News Release #7 is available for you on the table near the Church office. There are additional historical notes on the printed copy. Additional information can be found on the church's website and in the Church library, especially in Chester Young's book, "To Win the Prize." Also, please read Baptists in Kentucky, 1776-1976, by Leo Crismon and other publications of the KY Baptist Historical Society.

Partial list of members of FBC of Williamsburg who have participated in KBC activities

Three alumni of Cumberland College who participated in FBC have served as president of the KBC.

Charles Barnes
Floyd Price
Bill Messer

In addition to the ten years during which members and former members of FBC have served as President of the KBC, other members have served as officers of the Convention or have served on convention committees.

Eugene E. Siler, Sr., Parliamentarian
Harold Mauney, Second President
Eugene E. Siler, Jr., Parliamentarian and First Vice President, two years
George Ramey, Chair of the Committee on Public Affairs
Patricia Ramey, Chair of the Committee on Arrangements
Donna Colegrove, Member of Nominating Committee

Members have served on the KBC Mission (Executive) Board.

Clyde Freed
Robert Palmer
James Highland, Co-Chair of Committee to Study the Higher Education Formula
David Perkins, Chair of Committee to Renovate Children's Homes
Eugene E. Siler, Jr.
Jo Florence Cordell

Members have served on the KBC Woman's Missionary Union Board.

Morrine Masden
Patricia Ramey, also on Search Committee for Director

Members have served as employees of the KBC:

Robert Jones, Director of Direct Missions
Student Ministries Department
Don Blaylock, Director of Student Ministries Department
Ralph Hopkins, Northern KY Univ. & Associate Director of Department
Elwyn Wilkinson, Cumberlands & Western KY University
James Wilson, Cumberlands & Carson Newman College
Edwin Pavy, Campbellsville University
Wyndee Holbrook, Cumberlands & Berea College
William Ellis, Northern KY University
L. Dean Whitaker, Cumberlands

The 125th Anniversary Committee is interested in any corrections to the news releases and additional information or stories. If you have corrections or additions, please contact George Ramey (email: gramey@ucumberlands.edu) or the church office (phone: (606) 549-0280, email: fbcwoffice@bellsouth.net).