New Mexico Baptists name executive director

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Messengers to a special meeting of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico (BCNM) Jan. 31 elected Joseph L. Bunce as the BCNM’s new executive director. Bunce reported for duty the next day. The nominee was presented to the convention by the executive director search team formed by the BCNM executive board in July 2004 when BCNM Executive Director Claude Cone announced his intention to retire in March 2005 after 20 years in the convention’s top post.

Bunce, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bloomfield, N.M., since 1993 and BCNM president from 1998 until 2000, was presented as the search team’s unanimous recommendation, and messengers appeared to be unanimous when they approved the nominee in raising their yellow ballots. Bunce is a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University in Portales with a degree in religion; Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1987; and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California with a doctor of ministry degree in 2000.