ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — Behind closed doors and by a reportedly divided vote, trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board elected Kentucky pastor Kevin Ezell president of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board after a four-hour called meeting Sept. 14.
Kevin Ezell (left), pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., talks with Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., following Ezell’s Sept. 14 election as president of the North American Mission Board. Traylor served as chairman of the search committee that recommended Ezell. (NAMB/John Swain)
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NAMB officials did not release a vote count, but according to multiple sources with knowledge of the board's deliberations, the vote was 37-12. Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., was a controversial choice, because during his tenure the church's budget tripled, yet the congregation now gives little more to the Cooperative Program unified budget and SBC mission offerings than it did 10 years ago.
“I am honored and humbled that the trustees put this confidence in me,” Ezell said following the meeting, according to a NAMB press release. “I will do everything I possibly can to honor the Lord in this and to lead NAMB to a place where it is as effective as it possibly can be.”
NAMB board chair Tim Dowdy, pastor of Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga., said Ezell's leadership at Highview convinced them he was the right choice.
“He has demonstrated faithful leadership and character and he has a passion for reaching the world,” he said. “One banner he will consistently wave is that our greatest resource in the SBC is not money, but people. We want to help mobilize our people and partner with them to reach North America for Christ.”
He succeeds Geoff Hammond, who resigned in August 2009 over philosophical differences with trustees. Richard Harris, senior strategist for missions advancement, was named acting interim president.