fbpx
News Articles

Yeats to be renominated record. secretary


INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–John L. Yeats, recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention since 1998, will be nominated for another one-year term during the annual meeting in Indianapolis, Louisiana pastor T.C. French announced May 28.

Yeats currently serves as director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, edits the magazine LBCLive and is a member of Ridge Avenue Baptist Church in West Monroe, La. He is a former editor of the state Baptist papers in Oklahoma and Indiana and has served churches in six states during his 35-plus years of ministry.

Last year’s annual meeting in San Antonio marked Yeats’ 10th annual meeting as recording secretary.

The SBC recording secretary is responsible for the record of the proceedings of the Southern Baptist Convention, the training of volunteer pages and the final edit of the SBC Book of Reports and the SBC Annual. He also serves as an ex officio member of the SBC Executive Committee.

Yeats designed the process for the flow of information from the convention floor to the convention platform and distribution to the Order of Business Committee, a process that has enhanced the accuracy of the official record.

Yeats is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2006, he received a doctor of ministry degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.

“Yeats is one of the most respected leaders in the SBC,” said French, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. “In all my years as a pastor and convention service, I have worked with hundreds of church and denominational leaders. I am convinced John Yeats is the most skilled and gifted person to do the work of SBC recording secretary. He has earned our respect by his pursuit of excellence and his spirit that reflects the wisdom of the Lord.

“This year, I’ve experienced the passing of my dear wife and John has prayed for me, preached in my pulpit and blessed me personally. He and his precious wife have encouraged me during these days of challenge. He is the kind of leader our younger men can model and respect.”

Information for Ridge Avenue Baptist Church from Southern Baptists’ Annual Church Profile survey for the most recent year, 2007, lists eight baptisms and primary worship service attendance of 250. The church gave $54,175, or 11.2 percent, through the Cooperative Program from total undesignated receipts of $482,775. According to the ACP, the church’s total mission expenditures were $75,391, including $7,173 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and $3,521 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.

“I know John as a biblical conservative and a positive role model,” French said. “In our state we’ve experienced a tremendous turnaround toward missions and Cooperative Program support. Part of the reason is because of John’s leadership and skills.”
–30–
Compiled by Michael Foust, an assistant editor of Baptist Press.

    About the Author

  • Staff