After an experience labeled by several trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee as “a hot mess,” the group is attempting to move forward.
A new presidential search committee was elected in open session following the executive session decision not to accept the previous search committee’s candidate, Jared Wellman of Texas.
Wellman was in his final year as a trustee and had been serving as chair of the trustee board when the initial search committee asked him to consider the nomination after almost a year into the process.
However, the process is ultimately what resulted in a 31 for and 50 against vote count regarding Wellman’s nomination.
With 81 of the 83 EC members participating in the May 1 special-called meeting in Dallas, 41 yes votes were needed for Wellman to become the next president and CEO.
There are 86 EC seats representing the full spectrum of the SBC, but three seats are currently vacant. Two of the 83 members were unable to participate in the meeting due to extenuating circumstances.
Concerns about the search process
In a press conference following the EC meeting, David Sons of South Carolina, who became EC chair when Wellman stepped down April 17, said a lot of factors contributed to the EC’s decision but Wellman’s qualifications were not an issue. To read more on the background of the search, click here to read coverage from The Baptist Paper.
“Most of the concerns we heard from EC members were not about Jared. It was more so about the process. I think the search team did a good job of explaining how we came to Jared as our candidate, how we landed where we landed, but there were enough concerns with the trustees that led them to see this was not the right decision to be made at this time.”
Sons said the group is “disappointed and hopeful.”
“Some are disappointed in the outcome; some disappointed in the process. … There was passionate disagreement in the room today but also a growing sense of working together and needing one another.
“Certainly today what we have seen is that the EC is filled with men and women who will vote their convictions and consciences and, as a chairman, that’s all you can ask for.”
‘Led with grace’
EC trustee Dwight Easler of South Carolina said the following day via Twitter: “Being the chair requires exactly this positional attitude and grace. Thank you for serving and sacrificing and showing servant leadership when it counted. Yesterday was a tough day but everyone left the room feeling like we were led with grace.”
Nick Sandefur, an EC member from Kentucky and member of the new search committee, also shared on Twitter regarding Sons’ leadership during the May 1 meeting: “You led our meeting with grace. You have done an excellent job as chairman. We have agreed on many issues and disagreed on others, but you have loved like Christ in all. Thank you.”
Not everyone was OK downplaying the events of the previous two weeks, however.
‘A hot mess’
Some noted the late April Zoom call in which EC trustees discussed how Wellman, the recent EC chair and ex-officio voting member of the search committee, became the sole candidate being put forth.
The frustration was apparent as trustees shared their concerns, several on the call said.
Additionally, the May 1 meeting was “a hot mess,” according to a handful of trustees, including Mike Keahbone of Oklahoma, who served on the previous search committee. He shared his concerns on Twitter.
“Though I appreciate the attempts to bring dignity to a flawed day, I believe it is important to tell the whole story. I was very disappointed with the outcome but came away just as disappointed with the way we treated each other. Disparaging comments directed at the search team, emotional rants and an unwillingness to listen.
“I fell into the same trap with my body language and sighs of disbelief. We were a hot mess … and there is no way to dress it up. …
“I made my share of mistakes, so I am not innocent. The important next step is for each of us to ask the Lord to search our hearts and find any wicked way in us. He may reveal none, some or a bunch … If anything is found, we must repent and make things right with one another and the Lord. … We must do better. My honest prayer tonight is that each of us will do our part.”
Sons also acknowledged that “much has been said and written these last few days about the personal and procedural integrity of the search team. I’m not going to defend against the attacks on our character or debate our decisions here. The Lord sees and knows our hearts.”
How the process worked
So what happened with the process? A lack of transparency seems to be the main issue.
Even though predictions indicated some opposition to Wellman would have surfaced anyway because of internal disagreements on the board, the tipping factor came down to how Wellman appeared as the “surprise” nominee after participating as a member of the committee since June 2022 when he was elected EC chair.
On April 30, the EC explained that Wellman had recused himself from the search committee Jan. 26 and stepped down as EC chair April 17, but only the officers and some staff knew until the full EC board was told April 19.
In late February, interim president and CEO Willie McLaurin remained a candidate for the position as well, but “we were at a bit of an impasse and could not come to consensus,” Sons explained during the May 1 press conference.
“Jared was invited into the process (by the committee). We didn’t think it [was] a conflict of interest. We’ve seen where this has been done before, felt like there was past precedent and got legal counsel. … We felt good about moving forward with the nomination.”
So what’s next?
McLaurin continues in the interim role and could reapply for the position as could Wellman.
Neither had announced future ministry plans at press time.
For now, McLaurin will work closely with Sons to prepare for the upcoming EC meeting and SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Sons noted, “Dr. McLaurin has served with integrity. He is a godly man. He has become a friend and a brother.”
McLaurin told The Baptist Paper, “What Southern Baptists need from me right now is calling, competency and character to help cultivate the future of our work together.”
The new search team was scheduled to meet the week of May 8 via Zoom to select officers and determine next steps. Members indicated they planned to move the overall process along quickly.
