Dallas | Clint Pressley was reelected to a second one-year term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention on the first day of the Annual Meeting in Dallas June 10. And his new first vice president is an evangelist familiar to many because of triumph over significant disabilities.
One candidate elected without opposition was presented a bobblehead figure in his honor.
With over 10,400 messengers registered at the time of the elections, Pressley handily defeated an unexpected candidate. Pressley is senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. David Morrill, the publisher of Protestia.com and a military veteran, was nominated to run against him.
A total of 6,009 ballots were cast with 5,567 voting (92.64%) for Pressley and 408 (6.78%) for Morrill. Thirty-four ballots (.57%) were disallowed.
Don Currence moments after he was presented with a bobblehead of himself.
Two candidates were nominated for office of first vice president: Evangelist and author Daniel Ritchie of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C. and pastor and author Larry Helm of Ft. Lawn Baptist Church, S.C., who was nominated by his wife. Ritchie was the winner with 5,409 votes (87.84%). Helms received 722 votes (11.72%) and 27 votes (.44%) were disallowed.
Ritchie is a nationally known speaker and his book, “My Affliction for His Glory,” shares his life story, which includes being born without arms and struggling with a sense of value and worth while growing up.
Don Currence, who is the mayor of Ozark, Mo., and is affectionately referred to as “The Mayor” by messengers and platform speakers, was re-elected to serve what will be his seventh term as registration secretary. He assisted another longtime registration secretary, Jim Wells, for 12 years. Currence is also the administrative pastor at First Baptist Church, Ozark. Upon his re-election he was presented with a bobblehead in his likeness. “Why do you all do this?” Currence asked the crowd, which had offered up a few chants for “The Mayor.” Currence smiled at their appreciation him and for the lighter moments he sometimes brings to the platform.
Recording Secretary Nathan Finn and his wife Leah pose for a selfie with the bobblehead of Registration Secretary Don Currence.
Nathan Finn was re-elected to serve as recording secretary. Finn is a professor and the executive director of the Institute for Faith and Culture at North Greenville University in South Carolina
Three candidates were nominated for second vice-president: Christopher Rhodes, pastor, Dover Baptist Temple in Ohio; Tommy Mann, pastor, Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas; and Craig Carlisle, associational mission strategist, Etowah Baptist Association in north Alabama. Carlisle was the winner with 3,765 votes (56.46%). Mann received 2,057 (30.85%) and Rhodes 806 (12.09%) with 40 votes (.60%) disallowed.
Carlisle is member of First Baptist Church Gadsden is serving his second one-year term as president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.