William “Willie” McLaurin became the first African American to lead a Southern Baptist Convention entity when he was named SBC Executive Committee interim president/CEO effective Feb. 1. His appointment, although temporary, is being greeted positively by Illinois’ representatives on the 86-seat committee that guides SBC operations.
The news, which was expected to be announced during the EC’s upcoming Feb. 21–22 meeting in Nashville, was reported by Baptist Press on Tuesday.
McLaurin, who has served as vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization for the EC since January 2020, fills the position left vacant by Ronnie Floyd, who resigned in October 2021. Floyd’s announcement came a few months following the SBC’s annual meeting in Nashville, when messengers approved a Sexual Abuse Task Force to pursue an independent investigation into allegations the Executive Committee mishandled reports of sexual abuse, and after the EC voted to waive attorney-client privilege in the review process.
Rolland Slade, EC chairman, said he hopes McLaurin can “help reset the tone by which the EC serves Southern Baptists.”
McLaurin was in Illinois for the Midwest Leadership Summit while some EC members met in Oklahoma for a solemn prayer assembly before making their decision, choosing between two EC vice-presidents. That gathering was facilitated by Claude V. King, co-author with Henry Blackaby of the original Experiencing God.
Describing the prayer event, former IBSA President Adron Robinson said, “It was an amazing time of prayer, Scripture reading, reflection and repentance. It gave the EC members time to get to know each other and to have much needed conversations. I am grateful to God for the experience.”
Of McLaurin’s appointment, Robinson, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in the Chicago suburb of Country Club Hills, said, “I believe Dr. McLaurin will do an excellent job as interim president. The EC needs humble leadership and strong administration, and Willie brings both of these qualities to the role. Willie is a man who loves the Lord and that love is evident in his proclamation of the gospel, his love for others, and his support of the Cooperative Program.”
Cooperative Program stewardship is one of McLaurin’s current responsibilities with the EC.
Illinois EC trustee Sharon Carty said she is very pleased with the selection. “Dr. McLaurin has proven his leadership abilities in many ways,” she said, pointing to his work with the Tennessee state convention and most recently with the Executive Committee. “I feel confident that he will lead the EC in the right direction as we face many situations in the future. More importantly I think Willie understands the need to build strong relationships both within the SBC and outside of the Convention. He has demonstrated that he is truly a Man of God, who always greets you with a genuine smile.”
Slade called the period before Floyd’s resignation and some weeks afterward a season of chaos. But with considerable hands-on involvement, Slade reported later that the tumult had quieted before the holidays and EC operations were running smoothly with the paid staff.
While in Illinois, McLaurin spoke about unity in the SBC during the multi-state summit in Springfield. Focusing his message on Acts 1–2, McLaurin said Southern Baptists “need to get on the same side of the rope and pull together.” Listing a variety of differences among Southern Baptists—including theology, ethnicity, and politics—McLaurin told the crowd, “There is not one problem the church has that soul winning cannot solve…. Any way you slice it, we are Great Commission Baptists, because we are better together.”
Who is Willie McLaurin?
McLaurin served at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board for 15 years before joining the EC staff. Before that, he was executive pastor at Greater Missionary Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee. He also previously served as pastor of Greater Hope Baptist Church in Union City, Tennessee, and several other churches.
“I am humbled and honored to be selected and wholly dependent on the Lord to carry out His will in this time of transition,” McLaurin said in a statement released by the EC. “I desire to carry out the daily duties as needed for the cooperation of this convention of churches, and I am dedicated to doing that as a servant leader … [guiding] our staff team of dedicated professionals.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us as we plan for the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, as we continue to cooperate with the Sexual Abuse Task Force investigation, and as we prepare for the upcoming EC meeting later this month where I will address the committee and the SBC,” he said.
“In the meantime, our team at the EC is committed to serve Southern Baptists and serve them well. We seek to serve churches by fulfilling the ministry assignments given to us by the convention over the years. Each one of those assignments starts with the words ‘assist churches,’ and that’s what we will continue to do in a posture of listening and learning. And when we listen well and we learn well, we earn the right to lead.
“As I begin this role as interim of the SBC Executive Committee, I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Acts 1:8 where he gave the mandate that His disciples reach out to our neighbors and nations. The last words of Jesus should be the first priority of our convention.”
Road to selecting an interim
This latest news regarding the SBC Executive Committee follows the resignation of Jeff Pearson, chief financial officer of the EC, who announced his decision last week, effective Feb. 15. Pearson was one of three EC staff up for the interim president role. The third was Jonathan Howe who heads EC communications.
It would appear a vote by the EC’s membership will still be required at their February meeting. According to the SBC EC bylaws in Article VI, Committees, The Officers of the Board, 6.2.3 Duties, item g:
“The Officers of the Board may, pending action by the board of trustees, designate a vice president to act as interim president or as president pro-tem, subject to any restrictions which might be imposed, in the event of the death or resignation of the president, or in the event the president is unable to perform the duties of the office because of physical or mental impairment.”
McLaurin’s pastoral experience was one of reason he was selected, Slade told Baptist Press. A key part of his work will involve connecting with “messengers and churches of all sizes throughout the SBC” and letting them “know that they are seen, heard and appreciated.”
“Immediately before us is the challenge to regain the sense of trust of Southern Baptists,” Slade said. “Regaining that trust includes focusing on relationships within and well as outside of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“That has been the assignment [McLaurin] has carried [during his time] at the EC. It is also an assignment he carried for more than 15 years on behalf of the Tennessee Mission Board while serving as their associate executive director.”
SBC President Ed Litton tweeted, “An exemplary choice! @williemclaurin is a faithful and distinguished leader. He will serve our @SBCExecComm well by leading with excellence and a Great Commission focus.”
–Illinois Baptist staff with additional reporting from The Baptist Paper and information from Baptist Press