NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - Online registration for the 2005 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn. opened Feb. 21.

Churches will be able to register their messengers online at the SBC website, www.sbc.net, to avoid waiting at the counter upon arrival at the convention while a registration volunteer types in various lines of information.

By registering online, the SBC website gives a church a "messenger reference number" form to be printed out and presented by each messenger at the SBC registration booth in exchange for a nametag and a set of ballots.

The appropriate church-authorized representative must complete all online registration.

Online registration ends at midnight June 18 - after which registration must be done at the registration desk beginning at 4 p.m. June 19.