Reference to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention can be quite confusing, since the term is often used interchangeably to describe two different but related groups of individuals.
The SBC Executive Committee is comprised of 86 representatives (known as “members” and making up what is basically a board of trustees) chosen from qualified states and regions who act collectively on behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention between sessions. The SBC president is an ex-officio member of the EC as is the SBC recording secretary and national WMU president. (Note: One seat has been vacant since the SBC Annual Meeting in June, and three members of the EC have reportedly resigned in recent days, so there are open seats currently. This is a developing story. Read an Oct. 6 update here.)
The Executive Committee elects officers from among its board members. Current officers are Rolland Slade of California, chairman; Stacy Bramlett of Tennessee, vice chair; Monte Shinkle of Missouri, secretary. There are four standing committees, each with a chair.
Committee on Convention Finances and Stewardship Development — Robyn A. Hari of Tennessee, chair
Committee on Convention Missions and Ministry — Rob Showers of Virginia, chair
Committee on Southern Baptist Relations — Jim Gregory of Idaho, chair
Committee on Convention Events and Strategic Planning — Erik D. Cummings, chair
Fiduciary duty
The Executive Committee recommends the SBC’s annual operating budget; reviews the financial statements of Convention agencies; receives and distributes the denominational funds; provides public relations and news for the Convention; and generally serves in a fiscal and advisory role for the SBC’s day-to-day operations.
To help with that, the EC employs an executive and professional staff in its Nashville offices. Currently, that staff consists of 30 individuals. Ronnie Floyd is president and CEO of the staff; Greg Addison is executive vice president; Jeff Pearson is chief financial officer. (Click here for a full listing of EC staff members.)
EC staff members plan and manage the annual meeting, publish the Convention Annual, handle legal and financial matters and provide staff assistance to the elected officials of the Convention. Additionally, the EC staff promotes the Cooperative Program; manages the Southern Baptist Foundation; and operates Baptist Press and the convention relations office, which articulates Southern Baptist positions to the public through the media and produces the SBC Life journal.
More information
Read more about the SBC Executive Committee here.
