LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention re-elected Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt as president during the June 23-24 convention meeting in Louisville, Ky.
Johnny Hunt talks to reporters following his re-election as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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In his nomination speech, Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Fla., described Hunt as "God's sovereign choice for Southern Baptists for such a time as this."
Hunt took center stage at this year's convention with his call for a "Great Commission" task force aimed in part to help the convention connect with younger leaders, many who use methodologies that give some traditional Southern Baptists pause.
Several messengers at the meeting brought motions raising concern about the influence in Southern Baptist life of what has been called the emerging or emergent church, because of its relaxed attitude on issues of personal morality like using coarse language and social drinking.
Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., said the convention is aging and needs to reach out to a younger generation of church leaders.
"I have found if we can move beyond our perception — and perception a lot of time is reality to the person that perceives — and begin to listen to the heart of some of these young leaders, I am so encouraged to catch their passion," Hunt said.
Hunt said traditional Southern Baptists need to listen to and get to know young leaders in order to earn the privilege to speak to their church-planting philosophy. "If we see some areas of concern, at least we've earned a right to speak to it," he said. "But if we stay abreast from them, I'm not sure we have any option other than criticism of each other."
Hunt appointed an 18-member task force to study how Southern Baptists can work "more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission." Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark., will chair the group, whose meetings will be closed to the press.
Hunt said the presence of news media would inhibit discussion, because members would fear their questions or comments might be misunderstood if quoted out of context.
The convention also elected John Mark Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, Ky., as first vice president. He received 1,039 votes, 64 percent of ballots cast, to win over Ken Render, senior pastor of Lakeside Community Church in St. Clair Shores, Mich., who received 567 votes.
Stephen Rummage, senior pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla., was the only person nominated for second vice president and was elected to the office by acclamation.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.