Archive for March, 2016
Introducing Our 2016 SBC Committee on Resolutions
As President of the Southern Baptist Convention, one of my major tasks is to appoint the 2016 Committee on Resolutions. From now through Tuesday, June 14, this committee will work diligently.
This is not an easy assignment for these ten Southern Baptists. For example, they will arrive the Wednesday before our convention and begin their detailed responsibilities together on Thursday morning. Before this time, they will work via conference calls and email exchanges.
A Challenging Process
There are by-law requirements that must be adhered to in making these appointments. Additionally, with the plethora of Southern Baptists to choose from to serve on this committee, it is like putting together a complicated puzzle. It is a challenging process.
Introducing The Chairman and Vice-Chairman
Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida, will serve as the Chairman. Dr. Rummage is a recognized leader in ministry, academics, and Baptist denominational life. He previously was professor of preaching and director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and continues to teach on a visiting basis at several institutions. Dr. Rummage earned his Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and his PhD from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a committed pastor who prioritizes evangelism in his church.
Dr. Jason Duesing, Provost and Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, will serve as our Vice-Chairman. He earned his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and his PhD from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Duesing is highly recognized as an outstanding theologian in our convention. Dr. Duesing is a member of Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone, Missouri.
Both of these men served on our Committee of Resolutions last year. I appointed them then due to my personal respect and admiration for their strong commitment to the Word of God and the work of Southern Baptists. They will serve our convention in this capacity in an excellent manner.
The Additional Eight Members on Our Resolutions Committee
Assisting Dr. Rummage and Dr. Duesing in their assignment will be eight additional members. As a team of ten persons, these gifted, unique individuals from all of Baptist life will work together to bring resolutions to our convention for approval.
Kelvin Cochran – Kelvin is the Chief Strategic Officer at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. He is an author, public speaker, former Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, and the former Fire Chief of Atlanta Fire Department in Atlanta, GA. He is a champion for biblical marriage and religious liberty.
Linda Cooper – Linda is the National President of the Woman’s Missionary Union. She has had the important task of naming the Search Committee who will identify the next Executive Director for this key missions organization. Linda is committed to serving others and sharing the gospel across her community, America, and the world. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and is a member of Forest Park Baptist Church in Bowling Green, KY.
Dr. Mark Harris – Dr. Harris is the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Charlotte, NC. He was a founding member of “Vote for Marriage NC”, which helped pass the North Carolina Marriage Protection Amendment in 2012. He has held positions of leadership in the North Carolina Baptist State Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Harris was a 2014 candidate for the United States Senate from the state of North Carolina.
Dr. Brad Jurkovich – Dr. Jurkovich is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church Bossier City in Shreveport, LA. He has served in churches in Arkansas and Texas. Dr. Jurkovich is a gifted communicator of God’s Truth, compelled by a vision to reach the world for Christ.
Shannon Royce – Shannon Royce is the Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer at the Family Research Council in Washington D.C. She has served in various pro-family organizations as a public policy advocate and has served two U.S. Senators as a policy advisor and counsel. From 1999-2003, Shannon also served as Director of Government Relations and Legislative Counsel for the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. In 2013, she was a pivotal leader and contributor to the SBC Consultation on Mental Health Issues. She earned her Juris Doctorate from George Washington University and is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is a member of Colombia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA.
Rev. Rolland Slade – Rev. Slade is senior pastor of Meridian Southern Baptist Church in El Cajon, Calif. He also is a faith community representative on the Regional Continuum of Care Council that addresses issues relating to homelessness in the region. He currently serves on the SBC Executive Committee. This is Rev. Slade’s second year on the Committee on Resolutions. He is a former missionary with the North American Mission Board and one of the founders of the Faith Based Leadership Training Institute through San Diego State University and is the former faith community mobilization coordinator with The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
Jim Smith – Jim is the Vice President of Communications for the National Religious Broadcasters in Washington D.C. Prior to his role at the NRB, he served as the Executive Editor and Chief Spokesman of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. From 1989-1995, he was director of government relations for the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee, and was the primary ERLC staff member who related to the Resolutions Committee. Jim also served as a member of the SBC Resolutions Committee in 1996. Finally, from 2001-2013, Jim was executive editor of Florida Baptist Witness. He is a member of Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville, KY.
Mat Staver – Mat is the Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, an international nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and the family. He is Chairman of Liberty Counsel Action, Salt & Light Council, Freedom Federation, President of Covenant Journey, Christians in Defense of Israel, and Liberty Relief International, a humanitarian ministry to persecuted Christians. He serves on the boards of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference-CONEL, the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition, and The Timothy Plan, a family of Mutual Funds listed on the New York and Tel Aviv Stock Exchanges. He is the former Vice President of Liberty University and Dean and Professor of Law at Liberty University School of Law. He has argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court; over 230 legal opinions; author of eight scholarly law review publications, 10 books, and hundreds of articles. Mat is a member of the First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida.
I am thankful for these ten persons who will serve our Lord and all Southern Baptists in this significant task. We have worked diligently to put together this gifted committee that will represent our convention in the highest manner.
The Process for Submitting Resolutions
The procedure for submitting resolutions is as follows according to Bylaw 20:
- Proposed resolutions may be submitted as early as April 15 but no later than 15 days prior to the SBC annual meeting, giving the Committee on Resolutions a two-week period in which to consider submissions. This year’s cut-off date is May 30. Resolutions may not be submitted during the annual meeting.
- Proposed resolutions should preferably be submitted by e-mail through the resolutions submission page at net/resolutions/submit or mailed to the Committee on Resolutions in care of the SBC Executive Committee, 901 Commerce St., Nashville, TN 37203. Proposed resolutions must be typewritten, titled, dated, and include complete contact information for the person and his or her church. The submission form on the web page will be available beginning April 15.
- Proposed resolutions must be accompanied by a Credentials for Resolutions Submittal form (downloadable from the resolutions submission web page), or by a letter on church letterhead, either of which must be signed by the pastor or other church officer from a church qualified to send a messenger to the SBC annual meeting, certifying that the individual submitting the resolution is a member in good standing.
- No person will be allowed to submit more than three resolutions per year.
- The Committee on Resolutions submits to the Convention only those resolutions the committee recommends for adoption. Such resolutions may be based upon proposals received by the committee or may originate with the committee.
- If a properly submitted resolution is not presented by the Committee on Resolutions to the messengers at the SBC annual meeting, a two-thirds vote is required to bring the proposed resolution to the convention floor for consideration.
Join Me in Praying for These Leaders and for Our 2016 Convention Experience
Please pray for these ten persons who will be serving our convention in this important purpose. Additionally, pray daily for our upcoming meeting in St. Louis. Please read the 2016 HIGHLIGHTS for specific prayer needs.
Registration is now open for our convention meeting. Your church can register its messengers here. All Southern Baptists can attend this meeting; however, only registered messengers have voting privileges. If your church’s slate of messengers is complete, don’t let that keep you from attending. It is our desire to have as many of our Southern Baptist family present as possible.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, Southern Baptist Convention
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is currently serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.7 million members in over 51,094 churches nationwide.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Announcing our 2016 Committee on Committees of the Southern Baptist Convention
Since last September, we have been working to secure our 2016 Committee on Committees of the Southern Baptist Convention. This process requires due diligence because it is one of the, if not the most significant long-term tasks of the President of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Just Like in Our Nation
When we elect the next president of the United States, we are also embracing the appointments he or she is privileged to make. These appointments are not just for the United States Supreme Court, but also for their staff, cabinet, and many other positions across America and the world. This is serious business because it has a long-term effect upon our nation, many times for generations.
The same is true when the Southern Baptist Convention elects a president. You are also embracing the appointments he makes. While there are several appointments I have the privilege of making, the Committee on Committees appointments determine the future of the trustees of our boards and institutions.
When the conservative resurgence began in the Southern Baptist Convention in 1979, it all began with the election of Dr. Adrian Rogers as president. His appointments and the successive presidents helped bring about the conservative resurgence in our convention.
This Cannot Be Minimized
This process cannot be minimized or conducted without the highest level of commitment. If so, the end result will not be good for our convention of churches.
The Role of the Committees on Committees
The Committee on Committees has the responsibility to appoint the Committee on Nominations. The Committee on Nominations has far-reaching influence upon Southern Baptist life. They recommend the trustees of our eleven convention entities and our Executive Committee to the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Process
After receiving nominations from across our convention and working through our own processes of evaluating and examining candidates, it is with great privilege that I announce the 2016 Committee on Committees. Beginning in September and after hours of meetings, countless phone calls, continual research, and due diligence, we completed this task last week. Prayerfully, within the by-laws that guide this process, we are placing some wonderful Christians and Southern Baptists before you.
My Commitment to Diversity
Twenty percent of our Southern Baptist churches are non-white churches. To my knowledge and research, our appointments to this committee last year were the most ethnically diverse we have ever made.
The appointments below are even more diverse than a year ago, not only in ethnicity, but also in gender. Of these sixty-eight persons that comprise the 2016 Committee on Committees, twenty-two percent will be non-white. Additionally, over twenty-six percent of these appointments are women.
This Committee’s Work Begins Today
This entire committee will work together to determine the two very best people at this time from their represented state or region, at least one of whom must not be employed full-time by or retired from a church, to serve on the Committee on Nominations. After working through this process between now and our 2016 Convention, they will meet together in St. Louis on June 13 to determine their final recommendations. On Tuesday afternoon, June 14, they will recommend to our convention the Committee on Nominations. After this process is voted upon by our convention and if the persons are affirmed, the Committee on Nominations will begin their work to recommend trustees of our SBC entities and Executive Committee at the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.
Introducing Our Committee on Committees and Their Leaders
Dr. Willy Rice will serve as the Chairman of the 2016 Committee on Committees. He is the Senior Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Rice is a gifted leader and has served in many areas of our Southern Baptist family. Most recently, he served as the president of our 2015 SBC Pastors’ Conference. Assisting Dr. Rice will be Dr. Ed Litton, Senior Pastor of the Redemption Church in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Litton has a great passion for God and has also served our convention as president of our SBC Pastors’ Conference.
As Chairman, Dr. Rice will chart the work of the Committee on Committees and both he and Dr. Litton will lead these sixty-eight people through their assignment in an exceptional manner. Pray for these two men and our entire 2016 Committee on Committees.
Our 2016 Committee on Committees
Alabama – Jeff Gardner, First Baptist Church, Trussville; Ed Litton, Redemption Church, North Mobile
Alaska – Shirley Bearce, Pioneer Baptist Church, Palmer; Linda Russell, First Baptist Church, Palmer
Arizona – Tim Pruit, Pinal County Cowboy Church, Gila Valley; Monty Patton, Mountain Ridge Baptist Church, Glendale
Arkansas – Jamar Andrews, Central Baptist Church, Jonesboro; Manley Beasley, Hot Springs Baptist Church, Hot Springs
California – Andrew Spradlin, Valley Baptist Church, Bakersville; Gilberto Peralta, Iglesia San Francisco Downtown, San Francisco
Colorado – Ray Shirley, Monument Baptist Church, Grand Junction; Sherry Lambert, Riverside Baptist Church, Denver
Florida – Willy Rice, Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater; Janet Wicker, First Baptist Church, Naples
Georgia – Emir Caner, First Baptist Church, Helen; Liliana Lewis, First Baptist Church, Woodstock
Hawaii – Charles Beaucond, First Baptist Church Pearl Harbor, Honolulu; Stacy Hirano, Waialae Baptist Church, Honolulu
Illinois – Doug Munton, First Baptist Church, O’Fallon; Michael Allen, Uptown Baptist Church, Chicago
Indiana – Barry Rager, New Circle Church, Indianapolis; Laura Smith South Side Baptist Church of South Bend, Mishawaka
Kansas-Nebraska – Casey Casamento, Wichita City Life, Wichita; Elias Bracamonte, Topeka Emmanuel Baptist Church, Topeka
Kentucky – Curtis Woods, Watson Memorial Baptist Church, Louisville; John Flores, Highview Baptist Church, Louisville
Louisiana – Leroy Fountain, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans; Michael Wood, First Baptist Church, West Monroe
Maryland-Delaware-Washington D.C. – Katie Barnes, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.; Jose Rojo Medina, Iglesia Bautista de Waldorf, Waldorf
Michigan – Darryl Gaddy, Victory Fellowship Community Church, Detroit; Mary Allen, Warren Woods Baptist Church, Warren
Mississippi – Gina Headrick, Salem Baptist Church, Laurel; Greg Belser, Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Clinton
Missouri – Josh Hall, Selmore Baptist Church, Ozark; Kim Hardy, First Baptist Church, Kimberling City
Nevada – Sharon Angle, Fellowship Baptist Church, Reno; Sam Crouch, Calvary Baptist Church, Elko
New England – Daniel Cho, Antioch Baptist Church, Cambridge, MA; Sherrill Coberley, Lake Sunapee Baptist Church, Sunapee, NH
New Mexico – Danny Kirkpatrick, Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, Hobbs; Kyle Buserman, First Baptist Church, Alamogordo
New York – Patrick Thompson, New City Church, Queens; Freeman Field, Apostles Church, New York
North Carolina – Greg Poss, Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem; Lori Frank, Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden
Northwest – Tom Gillihan, First Baptist Longview, Longview; Warren Mainard, Essential Church, Bellevue
Ohio – Reginald Hayes, United Faith International, Columbus; Jeremy Westbrook, Living Hope Church, Marysville
Oklahoma – Will Wilson, New Hope Baptist Church, Tecumseh; Lana Melton, Southern Hills Baptist Church, Oklahoma City
Pennsylvania-South New Jersey – Robert Fontell, Calvary Christian Church, Philadelphia; Larry Anderson, Great Commission Church, Philadelphia
South Carolina – Don Wilton, First Baptist Church, Spartanburg; Marshall Blaylock, First Baptist Church, Charleston
Tennessee – Drew Tucker, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova; Donna Avant, First Baptist Church Concord, Knoxville
Texas – Jeff Young, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano; Gloria Irving, First Baptist Church, Euless
Utah-Idaho – Kent Burchyett, Calvary Baptist Church, Idaho Falls; Rob Rowbottom, First Baptist Church, West City Valley
Virginia – Eric Thomas, First Baptist Church, Norfolk; Mary Smith, First Baptist Church, Roanoke
West Virginia – Ryan Navy, New Heights Church, Milton; Brandon Carter, Cross Lanes Baptist Church, Cross Lanes
Wyoming – Dale Thompson, First Southern Baptist Church, Worland; James Fredrick Creason, Boyd Avenue Baptist Church, Casper
Pray for this committee and their work between now and June 14 when they unveil their nominations to the Southern Baptist Convention.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, Southern Baptist Convention
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is currently serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.7 million members in over 51,094 churches nationwide.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.