Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton announced the appointment of 68 members to the 2022 Committee on Committees in April. Two of those appointed are Illinois Baptists – Cheryl Dorsey, Beacon Hill Missionary Baptist, Chicago Heights, and Burnette Hughes, Hillcrest Baptist, Country Club Hills.
Cheryl Dorsey
Dorsey is prayer coordinator for Beacon Hill Missionary Baptist and Chicago Metro Baptist Association, which includes hosting the 3rd Rooftop Prayer Encounter on the 103rd floor of the “Sears” Tower in Chicago and the CMBA Prayer Bus Tour. She has also served on the faculty of Black Church Leadership Week teaching on prayer topics at the former SBC Ridgecrest, N.C. and Glorieta N.M. conference centers. The pastor’s wife has a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She is also a trustee for the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services in Carmi, IL.
Burnette Hughes
Hughes is the Biblical Counselor/Business Manager at Hillcrest Baptist and has served in that position for nearly 10 years. He is certified by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors and the International Association of Biblical Counselors. He has a master’s in Biblical Counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary where he is also a candidate for a Doctorate of Theology. Hughes recently received his license to preach from Hillcrest Baptist Church. Hughes aspires to build a site for the South Suburban Biblical Counseling Center for the Greater Chicagoland Area on the campus of Hillcrest Baptist Church.
“I am delighted to announce this year’s Committee on Committees,” Litton said in his announcement. “By their own testimonies, each of these men and women have a passion for the Great Commission, a deep love for our convention, and a steadfast belief in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.
Baptist Press reported the committee’s members represent the diverse makeup of the SBC. Of its 68 members, 31% are non-white (14 Black, 2 Hispanic, 2 Asian, 3 Other), and 29% are female. The average church represented sees 396 people in worship attendance each week. Churches represented baptized an average of 19 people in 2021 and forward an average of 8% of undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program.
Litton also commented on the committee’s multiple points of diversity, “This committee intentionally includes men and women of diverse backgrounds and represents the broad scope of our family of churches, from church plants to legacy churches, tenured pastors to lay men and women, including members of churches serving urban, rural, and remote communities. Our cooperative efforts rely upon the faithful service of these men and women, and I am deeply grateful for their willingness to serve.”
The Committee is tasked with nominating members to serve on the 2022-2023 Committee on Nominations and will meet prior to the June 14-15 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif. to prepare a report. Jeremy Freeman, pastor, First Baptist Church, Newcastle, Okla., was named chair, and Amanda Stanton, Calvary Church, Clearwater, Fla., vice chair.
– additional reporting by Baptist Press