Suburban Atlanta pastor James Merritt will likely be nominated as president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) when it meets June 13-14 in Orlando, Fla.
Merritt’s nomination was mentioned Jan. 31 at a Florida conference that has in the past served as a launching pad for successful presidential campaigns.
Texas pastor Jack Graham said he was sorry that weather-related travel problems prevented Merritt from attending the annual pastors’ conference at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville.
“I was looking forward to him being here and hearing him preach and to asking him for the privilege of nominating him as president of the Southern Baptist Convention when we meet next. I hope he’ll allow me to do that, but I’ll have to ask him another time, I guess,” said Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas.
Merritt said he “hasn’t spoken directly” with anyone, but he “would be honored” if he were nominated. Graham could not be reached for comment.
If elected, Merritt would become the seventh Georgian to serve as SBC president.
Merritt became a Christian at 9 years of age and was called to preach at 21. He has an undergraduate degree from Stetson University in Deland, Fla. and a master of divinity and doctor of philosophy from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
He is married and has three sons.
The Jacksonville Bible conference, now in its 14th year, drew an estimated audience in excess of 6,300 people from about 38 states.
It has launched successful nominations of past conservative presidential nominations including Adrian Rogers in 1986, Jerry Vines in 1988, Morris Chapman in 1990 and the current president, Paige Patterson, in 1998. (ABP)
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