By Bob Allen
Florida Baptist Witness editor Jim Smith is stepping down July 31 to become chief spokesman for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., the Florida Baptist Convention newspaper reported May 15.
Smith, 48, worked previously at Southern Seminary as news director and director of public relations before succeeding Michael Chute as executive editor of the Jacksonville-based newspaper in 2001.
Smith also worked as information director at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and for six years was director of government relations at the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He was the director of communications for the Republican Study Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1987-1989.
In his new position, Smith will oversee the editorial content of seminary publications, supervise the news operation and lead public and media relations. He is expected to start no later than Aug. 1.