For the first time in four years, Alabama Baptists will have a contested presidential election when they gather for their annual meeting Nov. 19–20 at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham.
Joe Godfrey, pastor of Taylor Road Baptist Church in Montgomery, and Gerald Hallmark, pastor of First Baptist Church in Alexander City, both confirmed in telephone interviews that they have agreed to be nominated for convention president.
The last contested presidential election for the Alabama Baptist State Convention was in 1998 when Buddy Gray defeated Tom Whatley by 11 votes. Gray is pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover. Whatley serves the Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals.
Godfrey said the process that led him to agree to be nominated for president began two years ago when he served as president of the Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference. “Some friends came to me and said they wanted to nominate me for first vice president. I agreed,” he said.
That nomination resulted in Godfrey’s election. He was re-elected to the same position in 2001.
“This year those same friends asked if I would allow them to nominate me for president and I said yes. I want to serve any way I can.”
Hallmark’s journey toward nomination also began a few years ago. He said that when friends approached him about being nominated for president a few years ago he declined because his wife had health problems. Since then those problems have been solved. When he was approached this year about being nominated he was willing.
A factor in his willingness to run, Hallmark said, was an editorial in The Alabama Baptist. Following the 2002 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, an editorial observed, “It would be healthy for Southern Baptists if three or four or five candidates were nominated for convention president.”
The comment was made after observing that the last contested SBC presidential election was in 1995.
“I decided Alabama Baptists needed more than a one-candidate election. At least if I agreed, there would be a choice,” Hallmark added.
Both Godfrey and Hallmark have been involved in Alabama Baptist life. In addition to serving as first vice president, Godfrey has been a member of the State Board of Missions and the board’s executive committee. He was a member of the search committee that brought Troy Morrison to the executive director post of Alabama Baptists. For the past two years Godfrey has served on the global partnership and budget advisory committees of the board.
In addition Godfrey has been president of the state Pastors Conference and serves on the board of regents at the University of Mobile and the board of ministerial mentors of Samford University.
Hallmark has also served on the State Board of Missions and on the board’s executive committee. He is the former chairman of the board’s new work committee and served on the personnel committee. Hallmark has also been chairman of the ABSC’s time, place and preacher committee and is chairman-elect of the committee on boards and commissions.
Previously, he served as a member of the reconciliation committee between the University of Mobile and the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He was also a member of the building committee for the recent addition to the Baptist Building in Montgomery.
Hallmark is a member of the board of governors for Judson College, board of regents for the University of Mobile and the board of ministerial mentors of Samford University.
Both men are graduates of Samford University. Godfrey also holds degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and Mid-America Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn.
Hallmark graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Luther Rice Theological Seminary in Lithonia, Ga.
Godfrey has been pastor of the Taylor Road church for 18 years. He was called as mission pastor by Eastern Hills Baptist Church and eight months later led in founding the Taylor Road congregation. Godfrey said the church has experienced periods of dramatic growth as well as a period of leveling off.
“We’re trying to find ways to be creative and innovative in reaching people for Christ,” Godfrey said.
Hallmark has led the Alexander City church for 11 years. “One of the things I am pleased with is the hands-on missions involvement of our people,” Hallmark said. During the past 11 years Hallmark said he has led five missions teams to Brazil, three to Africa, three to Israel, two to Central America and two to Alaska.
“For us missions is more than giving through the Cooperative Program and special offerings, which we do generously,” he added. “This church is very good to do missions.”
Godfrey was active in the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Alabama organization and hosted the group’s last meeting on April 11. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Alabama Christian Coalition.
Hallmark said he has no affiliations and no agendas. “If one looks at my life, it will look like a straight line, old line Baptist because that is who I am,” he said.
Both men denied having personal agendas in the presidential race. “Definitely this is not an ego trip,” Godfrey volunteered. “I do not have to have this. I am secure in who I am.”
Hallmark observed that he was 58 years of age. “I am not trying to build a resumé or looking to move,” he said. “I am doing this because I think Alabama Baptists should have a choice for president.”
Godfrey is married and the father of two daughters, one of whom is a student at Samford University.
Hallmark is married and the father of two sons, one of whom is a pastor in Arkansas. He also has three grandchildren.
Both men agreed they are pleased with the direction of the Alabama Baptist State Convention and hope that whoever is elected will continue to focus on the Great Commission.
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