It was reported by Baptist Press yesterday that SBC President, Dr. Steve Gaines, named the 2018 Resolutions Committee. From BP:
Jason Duesing of Missouri was named as the committee’s chairman by Gaines.
Duesing is provost and associate professor of historical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and a member of Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo.
The members are:
— Ken Alford, pastor, Crossroads Baptist Church, Valdosta, Ga.
— Byron Day, pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Laurel, Md.
— Candi Finch, assistant professor of theology in women’s studies, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas; member of Hope Church, Fort Worth.
— Willie McLaurin, special assistant to the executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, Franklin, Tenn.; member of Simeon Baptist Church, Antioch, Tenn.
— Chris Metcalf, pastor, Lihue Baptist Church, Lihue, Hawaii.
— Jason Paredes, lead pastor, Fielder Church, Arlington, Texas.
— Adron Robinson, senior pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Country Club Hills, Ill.
— Alicia Wong, associate professor of women’s ministry, Gateway Seminary, Ontario, Calif.; member of Rosena Church, San Bernardino, Ca.
— Curtis Woods, associate executive director for convention relations, Kentucky Baptist Convention, Louisville, Ky.; member of Watson Memorial Baptist Church, Louisville.
The diversity of this committee is pretty astounding racially, ethnically, and geographically (from Maryland to Hawaii), as well as with people from larger and smaller churches, three seminaries, and two state conventions. It is good to see such a widely dispersed and diverse group of people from many different backgrounds joining the committee. I’m thankful to Dr. Gaines for expanding participation on the incredibly significant Resolutions Committee the way he has. This is welcomed and needed.
Several years ago, Southern Baptists spoke clearly about the need for us to be intentional in pursuing racial, ethnic, geographic, and other forms of diversity. We are making progress there and are working hard to identify godly, qualified leaders from all walks of life and backgrounds. While there is much progress yet to be made, the appointment of this significant committee by Dr. Gaines – the most diverse denominational committee in SBC history that is a majority ethnic minority, the elections of Walter Strickland and Jose Abella for 1VP and 2VP last year, the nominations of AB Vines and Felix Cabrera for 1VP and 2VP this year, the upcoming MLK50 conference next week in Memphis sponsored by the ERLC, the fact that 7 state conventions passed resolutions against White Supremacy/Nationalism and the Alt-Right in 2017, joining the SBC in Phoenix in doing the same – all of these things are signs that the SBC is growing more and more serious about intentionally being a denomination where all people from all backgrounds who seek to walk with Christ and follow Him are welcome to participate and are encouraged to lead.
Please pray for Dr. Gaines and SBC leaders and for the whole Southern Baptist Convention during trying times, especially as we head to Dallas in June. There are many challenges that we face, but there is also much to praise God for as we recognize that He is raising up servant leaders for the SBC from all backgrounds and from all over the country. That is good to see.
