fbpx
News Articles

Ind. pastor Jose Burgos to be 2nd VP nominee


ST. LOUIS (BP) — Indiana pastor Jose Burgos will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Missouri pastor Scott Gordon announced June 12.

Burgos has been pastor of the Chicago-area New Creation Ministry in Highland, Ind., since he served as the congregation’s lead church planter in 2011. He also serves as an officer with the Hammond, Ind., police department, a post he has held since 1994. Formerly he was in the U.S. Army.

“As a church planter in a non-traditional area for our convention, his is a voice we need to hear,” Gordon, pastor of Claycomo Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., said of Burgos. “He believes that, just as he learned through his military, law enforcement and church planting training, ‘All of us are smarter than any one of us.'”

Gordon added, “He also believes that we must be mindful of the significant opportunity we, as a convention of churches, have to lead those around us through our influence. … His actions are consistent with his voice. His church is a faithful supporter of our missions and ministry efforts through faithful giving through the Cooperative Program.”

Since its founding, New Creation has grown from 20 people to an average of 90 in worship, Gordon said. The majority of New Creation members are new believers, and the church includes “a vast array of cultures.”

The congregation has given an average of 14.3 percent of its undesignated receipts in Great Commission Giving annually, with an average of 4.3 percent through the Cooperative Program, according to the SBC’s Annual Church Profile database. Burgos confirmed to Baptist Press that New Creation historically has given approximately 15 percent in Great Commission Giving, with the CP component varying according to the church’s perception of the needs of various ministries.

Great Commission Giving is a category of giving established by SBC action in 2011 that encompasses giving through CP, Southern Baptists’ unified program of funding state- and SBC-level ministries, as well as direct gifts to SBC entities, associational giving and giving to state convention ministries.

Gordon noted, “Jose’s heart is that of a disciple-maker, making disciples who also make disciples. The core principles of his church include that they be a house of prayer which reaches into the community building relationships, giving them the opportunity to make disciples who become leaders who carry on this Great Commission ministry.”

Burgos holds a master of arts degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and an undergraduate degree from Calumet College of Saint Joseph in Hammond, Ind.

He and his wife Tina have two children.

Burgos is the second candidate for second vice president announced to BP. The other is Missouri pastor Malachi O’Brien. Jeff Brown, dean of students at Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Mo., also will be nominated, Missouri Baptists’ Pathway newsjournal reported.

Announced presidential nominees are Louisiana pastor David Crosby, Tennessee pastor Steve Gaines and North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear. The only announced candidate for first vice president is Illinois pastor Doug Munton.