Arkansas Baptist Convention’s leader to retire

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Emil Turner, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) since 1996, will retire effective February 2013.

 Turner announced his intention to retire at the Aug. 2 meeting of the ABSC executive board.

 “For almost 16 years, Mary and I have enjoyed the privilege of serving the Southern Baptist churches of Arkansas; we have enjoyed the kindness of the pastors and the tolerance of the church members and have enjoyed the friendship of the other ABSC entity leaders,” said Turner, who was joined by his wife, Mary, for the announcement.

ABSC executive committee bylaws call for the current executive director to serve until replaced, but Turner expressed during his announcement the “hope that the operating committee can find a replacement by the time of the December meeting” of the board.

Turner has served as executive director since Jan. 15, 1996. He followed the retirement of longtime state executive director and Arkansas Baptist pastor Don Moore, who served from 1982 to 1996. Turner was serving as pastor of First Baptist Church, Lake Charles, La., when he was elected to lead Arkansas Baptists.

 During Turner’s tenure, the ABSC has grown from 1,378 congregations in 1996 to 1,545 churches and missions today — an increase of about 12 percent. Baptisms in Arkansas Baptist churches have averaged about 13,000 annually under Turner’s leadership. Giving through the Cooperative Program has increased from $15.5 million to more than $21 million.