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 themost 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
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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.
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