Messengers to decide between nominees in all 3 convention officer positions

Messengers to decide between nominees in all 3 convention officer positions

Alabama Baptists are facing their first contested state convention president’s election in 12 years. And for the first time in 16 years convention messengers will be deciding between nominees in all three convention officer positions.

The Alabama Baptist has confirmed the following pastors are being nominated for the next slate of Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC) officers. For president:

  • Travis Coleman Jr., pastor of First Baptist Church, Prattville, and
  • Craig Carlisle, pastor of Twelfth Street Baptist Church, Rainbow City, near Gadsden.

Being nominated for ABSC first vice president are:

  • Jim Cooley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Birmingham, and
  • John Thweatt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pell City.

Being nominated for ABSC second vice president are:

  • Tim Cox, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, Chelsea, and
  • Dusty McLemore, pastor of Lindsay Lane Baptist Church, Athens.

Elections will take place Nov. 12 during the ABSC annual meeting, being held this year at Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham. 

Nominees for president

Rick Marshall, pastor of Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, will nominate Coleman.

“I see Travis Coleman as biblically conservative, theologically sound and thoroughly prepared as a servant leader for our convention in these challenging and changing times,” Marshall said. “I look at him as one of the most highly qualified pastors in our state convention. He has served at every state convention leadership position up to this point with distinction. He has served as part of the State Board of Missions, the executive committee, chairman of the executive committee, second vice president of the convention and most recently as first vice president.”

Mat Alexander, pastor of First Baptist Church, Gadsden, will nominate Carlisle.

“I heard about the things the state convention is trying to emphasize right now, and Craig is doing all of those things in Etowah County — church revitalization, missions and church planting especially,” Alexander said. “His church is investing in a rural church in the area and even moved their VBS to that church this year. Craig also is mentoring younger pastors and will do a great job as state convention president.”

Nominees for 1st VP

Buddy Champion, pastor of First Baptist Church, Trussville, will nominate Cooley.

“Jim is a lifelong Alabama Baptist and a product of Samford University and two of our Southern Baptist seminaries,” Champion said. “He has served multiple churches in Alabama in multiple positions, loves Alabama and our leadership and will lead in a way that is best for Alabama Baptists.”

Buddy Gray, pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover, will nominate Thweatt. 

“I’ve known John for about 11 years, right after he came to Pell City. We’ve gone to China together twice and have spent a great deal of time together over the last decade,” Gray said. “He is a loving pastor, a humble leader and is passionate about the gospel going forward in Alabama and around the world. His church gives 10 percent through the Cooperative Program and around another 10 percent to their own church missions efforts. He has a heart for missions and loves people.” 

Nominees for 2nd VP

Teman Knight, pastor of Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery, will nominate Cox.

“I’ve watched him live the life of a godly leader in every area of his life. He has served in ministry for over 25 years,” Knight said. “Since 1998 he has been at Liberty Baptist Church, Chelsea, and I’ve had the opportunity to preach for him and be with his people. He has outstanding pastoral leadership. But watching him walk through personal tragedy in his own life (death of his first wife) is where I’ve seen the depth of his character.”

Daniel Wilson, pastor of West End Baptist Church, Clanton, will nominate McLemore. 

“Dusty revitalized Lindsay Lane Baptist Church on New Testament principles, biblical preaching, Christ-exalted worship, personal evangelism and global missions all for the glory of God,” Wilson said. “He’s committed to reaching the world for the gospel and making disciples. He understands the heartbeat of Alabama Baptists and will unite us around the inerrancy of Scripture, the Great Commission and cooperative ministries.”

All officer nominations are made from the convention floor, so other nominees could be added to the slate during the election time.

Resolutions

Along with electing new officers, Alabama Baptists will vote on a slate of proposed resolutions.

Roger Willmore, chairman of the state convention resolutions committee, said, “While close to 10 resolutions have already been submitted to the resolutions committee, the topic of resolutions won’t be known with certainty before Tuesday at the annual meeting when the committee makes its first report. 

“The events taking place around the world at this very moment give us all a sense of the shifting sands of culture, ethics and morals,” he said. “Alabama Baptists have traditionally used the resolutions process as a means of expressing their concerns and convictions regarding these matters on the home front and around the world. I would anticipate a resolution affirming biblical marriage and opposing sanctions of any kind against Christians who faithfully proclaim and practice what the Bible teaches on these matters.”  

Willmore noted that the resolutions process gives Alabama Baptists the opportunity to express their biblical convictions on issues of this kind.  

“It is my prayer that any resolution brought forward in the upcoming convention will be worded in a way that articulates the convictions and concerns of Alabama Baptists in a Christ-honoring way,” he said.

All proposed resolutions must be submitted to the convention’s recording secretary by the adjournment of the morning session of the ABSC annual meeting Nov. 11.