EDITOR’S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas.
ST. LOUIS (BP) — 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 10 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.
There are bylaw 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
Stephen Rummage, senior pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla., will serve as 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, N.C., 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 Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a committed pastor who prioritizes evangelism in his church.
Jason Duesing, provost and associate professor of historical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., will serve as vice chairman. He earned his master of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Duesing is highly recognized as an outstanding theologian in our convention. He is a member of Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo.
Both of these men served on last year’s Committee of Resolutions. 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.
Additional committee members
Assisting Dr. Rummage and Dr. Duesing in their assignment will be eight additional members. As a team of 10 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. He is an author, public speaker, former administrator of the United States Fire Administration and the former fire chief of the Atlanta Fire Department. He is a champion for biblical marriage and religious liberty.
— Linda Cooper — Linda is the national president of 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.
— Mark Harris –– Dr. Harris is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. 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 U.S. Senate from the state of North Carolina.
— Brad Jurkovich — Dr. Jurkovich is senior pastor of 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 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 adviser and counsel. From 1999-2003, Shannon also served as director of government relations and legislative counsel for the SBC’s Ethics & 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.
— 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 vice president of communications for the National Religious Broadcasters in Washington, D.C. Prior to his role at NRB, he served as executive editor and chief spokesman of 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. From 2001-2013, Jim was executive editor of Florida Baptist Witness. He is a member of Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville.
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; written over 230 legal opinions; authored eight scholarly law review publications, 10 books and hundreds of articles. Mat is a member of the First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla.
Please pray for these 10 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, available in English and Spanish, for specific ways to pray.
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.