Messengers to the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Orlando, Fla., elected James Merritt without opposition to a one-year term as president June 14. Messengers also elected Alabama native Ted Traylor as first vice president and Louisiana Baptist Tommy French as second vice president.
Merritt, 47, is pastor of the 12,000-member First Baptist Church, Snellville, Ga., located in a suburb of Atlanta. He is the first “baby boomer” to serve in this leadership position.
Nominating Merritt, Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, said Merritt “connects” with Southern Baptists and their past. “The presidency is a living legacy and a living trust, and James Merritt understands that responsibility.”
Ready to lead
Adding that Merritt is “willing to take the torch” to lead Southern Baptists into the 21st century, Graham said he connects with the future and connects with people. He also said Merritt connects with the principles and priorities of the SBC and is connected to the power of God. “I believe he has been anointed and appointed by the sovereign God. We never need to wonder where he stands … on his faith.”
Graham urged messengers to connect with Merritt as Southern Baptists continue to take the gospel to a new generation.
Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla., won by a vote of 3,054 to 892 over Brad Hoffman, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Tuscawilla, Fla. A Samford University graduate, Traylor is from Pisgah and has served on the University of Mobile board of regents. Traylor served as pastor of New Lebanon Baptist, Odenville, from 1975-78.
French, pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, La., narrowly defeated Paul Russell, pastor of Sundridge Baptist Church, Sebring, Fla., by a vote of 1,349 to 1,102.
John Yeats, editor of the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger was reelected as recording secretary. Current registration secretary Lee Porter, who has held the post for 25 years, was re-elected without opposition.
Merritt, pastor of the Snellville church since 1985, has led the congregation in rapid growth. Church membership has grown from 2,168 to more than 12,000. Sunday School has grown from 800 in the summer of 1986 to an average of 3,250 in 2000.
Merritt has served as chairman of the SBC Executive Committee, and was president of the SBC Pastors Conference in 1995. He also served on Georgia’s executive committee and other state convention-related positions.
A native of Gainesville, Ga., Merritt is a graduate of Stetson University in Deland, Fla., and he received a master of divinity and doctor of philosophy from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
Speaking during a post-election press conference, Merritt told reporters his top two priorities are to reach younger pastors and help increase global missions efforts by encouraging Southern Baptists to take part in international missions.
Missions advocate
“Baptists have gotten better at giving than going,” he stated. “My prayer is that Baptists will at least once in their lifetime take part in a missions trip.”
Discussing the proposed Baptist Faith and Message statement, Merritt said he totally supports the study committee and their recommendations, adding he had expected the proposed statement would pass overwhelmingly if not unanimously.
Addressing the “priesthood of believers” and “soul competency,” Merritt affirmed the Baptist belief, adding that Scripture says Christians have only one Priest and it is Jesus and “you can’t improve on Him. Through Christ, we can enter the holy of holies … and have fellowship with Him.”
Responding to other questions from the media, Merritt addressed several issues.
Concerning the uproar from non-Christian faith groups about Southern Baptists’ mission to share the love of Christ to mega-cities including Chicago, Merritt said Southern Baptists need to continue in their quest by “sharing the greatest message that we have ever known.” He said Southern Baptists’ failure to spread the gospel message would be “unloving.”
Addressing the competency of women to serve as ministers, Merritt said Scripture teaches against women serving as pastors. “The issue is not competency but a calling.”
He added that “Scripture plainly says” the calling into ministry — especially pastors — is for males only. Asked if women can be called by God to service, Merritt said many “people may feel called but they are not, because God would not go against His Word.”
Discussing a denominational split, Merritt said he does not fear this division will take place.
“I think the overwhelming majority of Baptists are extremely happy,” Merritt said, adding this is evident by the record giving to the Cooperative Program (CP).
Responding to a question about how the SBC should relate to state conventions that allow churches to support non-SBC causes, Merritt explained he respects the autonomy of the church and state conventions.
However, he said it “grieved” him to see conventions do anything that could hinder the ministry of the CP. (News Network)
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