TYLER, Texas — Paul Powell, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Annuity Board, died Dec. 28, 2016. He was 83.
In addition to leading the Annuity Board (now GuideStone Financial Resources) from 1990 to 1997, Powell served as pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas, for 17 years; president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) in the mid-1980s; chair of Baylor University’s board of regents; and dean of Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary in 2001.
Prior to his Annuity Board presidency, Powell led Green Acres Baptist to grow from approximately 700 in Sunday School to 3,000. The congregation baptized 202 people during his final full year as pastor and was active in international missions, particularly in Belize.
Powell was a Baylor trustee in 1990 when the board voted to become self-perpetuating rather than continue the traditional trustee selection process through BGCT. The next year he was elected chairman of Baylor’s newly created board of regents and helped secure a compromise that allowed BGCT to name 25 percent of trustees. As dean of Truett Seminary from 2001 to 2007, Powell saw enrollment double to nearly 400 students and the endowment increase by more than $38 million.
Powell received a bachelor’s degree from Baylor, a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and honorary doctorates from four Baptist institutions.
The author of more than 50 books, Powell wrote in his 1998 book “The Life Beyond” that if he knew the date of his last night on earth, he would spend it saying goodbye to his “personal treasures,” loved ones and earthly body and “then … spend some time looking forward in anticipation to the adventure of eternity.”
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Cathy, two children, and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Kent. (BP)
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