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.
Alan,
Grateful, excited, even pumped, about the racial, geographic, gender, small-large Church diversity and the quality of persons on the committee.
Hopefully this represents a sea change, or the beginning of a trend, that could & should radically change the SBC toward reflecting God’s Kingdom & the broader diversity that constitutes the SBC.
When the executive cabinet or Great Commission Council looks like this, with the same diversity & quality represented, God couldn’t be more pleased, and I would then be ecstatic, that’s a level above pumped -:).
One more thing. The diversity of this committee represents a huge, bold move by President Gaines. Don’t know that I’ve seen any bolder, more biblical by an SBC leader on the racial/diversity in my almost 40yrs of observing the SBC. Great job, Dr Gaines.
I, too, applaud the diversity of the committee. This is a step in the right direction. My wife and I were blessed to be members of Bellevue Baptist Church, where Steve Gaines is the pastor. We were pleased to see the diversity of Bellevue’s membership. We were required to attend a new members’ class in order to become members of the church. We sat at round tables. One of the deacons was our table host. There were five applicants at our table: my wife and I, two African-American ladies, and a young man who was from Mexico City. While we were members, the chairman of the deacons was Chinese-American.
Resolutions Committee has played an very important role in the last two conventions. I’m hugely encouraged by this group and trust they’re going to lead well in this sometimes difficult task.