Georgia pastor Mike Stone has announced he will seek the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention during its annual meeting scheduled for June 13–14 in New Orleans.
Mac Brunson, senior pastor at Valleydale Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, released a video on Wednesday (April 26) of Stone explaining his intentions to accept the nomination to run against incumbent SBC President Bart Barber of Texas. Brunson noted in a statement that someone else will nominate Stone but did not specify who will make the nomination.
In the video announcement, Stone cited the need for a Bible-based response to the “the horrific issue of sexual abuse” as well as for a commitment to a national evangelism initiative that he called “Crossover America.”
Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, said a biblical approach to sexual abuse would include caring well for victims while “embracing Scriptural principles of due process and of handling and publishing accusations.” He added that the SBC should focus its resources on “helping local churches deal with these matters biblically, legally and compassionately.”
In addition to the issue of sexual abuse, Stone pointed to the latest audit from the Executive Committee that concluded it is on “an unsustainable financial trajectory.”
“Now to be clear, people are infinitely more valuable than financial resources, but we can address this issue wisely in a way that does not lead us into financial ruin,” he said. “For Southern Baptists, unsustainable should be unacceptable.”
Stone noted in the video, “I am thankful for the godly men and women who serve our convention and there is a lot to celebrate in the SBC from church planting to international missions and beyond,” he said. “While I have no desire to disparage anyone, there are also serious causes of grave concern.”
Background
Stone is a member of the national steering council of the Conservative Baptist Network. He is a former chairman of the SBC Executive Committee. He has served the Georgia Baptist Mission Board in numerous capacities including state convention president in 2017–2018. A graduate of Valdosta State University, Stone has served at Emmanuel Baptist since 1996.
In 2021, Stone was nominated for president of the SBC. He lost in a runoff to Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama.
Stone is married to Andrea and they have four children.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was edited for length, brevity and was originally published by The Christian Index, news service of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
