Bob Reccord Probable Nominee for NAMB President

by   Herb Hollinger                                                                             Vol. X, No. 4, April 1997

            Dr. Robert E. “Bob” Reccord has resigned as chairman of the Implementation Task Force guiding the restructuring of the Southern Baptist Convention, marking the pastor of First Baptist Church, Norfolk, as the probable nominee for president of the new North American Mission Board. Reccord, 45, announced his resignation as chairman to members of the church at 2 March services. He will remain a member of the Implementation Task Force, but not as chairman.

            Reccord is the probable nominee for NAMB president, but SBC officials stress the final decision has not been made. C.B. Hogue, chairman of the 13 member search committee confirmed the process is still underway and the group has yet to make its final determination, based in part on how a candidate does in a three-step process: psychological testing, management ability and skills assessment, and physical testing. Hogue would not comment on where Reccord is in the process although other sources said he has finished two of the three segments.

            In a meeting with California associational directors of missions last month, Hogue said the committee had received 39 nominations, have had exploratory conversations with six, agreed the group must reach a unanimous decision, and said the new president would choose the NAMB vice presidents.

            Reccord was ordained by Calvary BC, Evansville, IN, in 1973. His first full-time service was as minister of outreach and spiritual development at FBC, Wichita Falls, TX. From there he went to the Home Mission Board’s evangelism section as director of witness training. Later he served as director of leadership training for Evangelism Explosion International. He served as pastor of Carmel BC, Charlotte, NC, and Bell Shoals BC, Brandon, FL, before coming to First BC, Norfolk, in October 1992. He has a doctor of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth. [BP]