Officer Elections

by   Garrett E. Wishall                                                                                                                           Vol. XXII, No. 6, June/July 2009

Johnny Hunt, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church in Woodstock, was elected without opposition to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 23 at the denomination's annual meeting in Louisville, KY.

In nominating Hunt, Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, FL, said as he listened to Hunt's Pastors' Conference sermon June 22 and presidential address June 23, it "became real obvious" to him that "Dr. Johnny Hunt is God's sovereign choice to lead Southern Baptists for such a time as this."

"This past year, we have watched Dr. Hunt and we have seen a man with a mission on his mind and a burden on his heart," Whitten said. "He has been like Moses: He knows the ways of God. He has been like David: A man who has a heart for God. He has been like Daniel: With courage from God. He has crisscrossed our nation to meet with young pastors and future leaders."

John Mark Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, KY, was elected first vice president over Ken Render, pastor of Lakeside Community Church in St. Clair, MI. Toby, who serves as president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, received 64.14% (1,039) of the vote compared with Render's 35% (567).

Steven Rummage, pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla., was elected second vice president without opposition. John Yeats, director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, was re-elected SBC recording secretary, and Jim Wells, director of missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association in Nixa, MO, was re-elected registration secretary, both also by acclamation. [BP]