EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally posted Feb. 14 and was updated Feb. 15.
Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton, in conference with SBC vice presidents, has appointed the 10-member 2022 SBC Committee on Resolutions, which includes two members who served on the 2021 committee, three Executive Committee trustees, one former Executive Committee employee, one state Baptist Convention president, a Gateway Seminary employee, one pastor who is serving a church launched by Lifeway Christian Resources President Ben Mandrell, and the wife of a former SBC president.
Texas pastor Bart Barber has been selected to chair the Committee on Resolutions for this year’s SBC annual meeting in Anaheim, California, on June 14–15. Litton announced his decision Feb. 14 through Baptist Press.
Barber is pastor of First Baptist Church Farmersville, Texas, and served on the committee last year. Litton also announced that Dana McCain, a member of First Baptist Church Dothan, Alabama, who served on the committee last year, has been named vice chair.
Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, noted, “For many decades, the resolutions process has served our convention by allowing us to speak forcefully to significant matters upon which we are resolved.”
Faithful capable leaders
“I have the highest confidence in the men and women I have asked to serve on the 2022 Committee on Resolutions,” he added. “Each of them are faithful and capable leaders who embody what it means to be a Great Commission Baptist.”
Regarding Barber and McCain, Litton noted, “Across our convention, Dr. Barber is esteemed for his character and wisdom, as well as his conviction and charity. I have no doubt that Dr. Barber, along with Vice Chair Dana Hall McCain, will serve all of us by leading this committee to present resolutions for consideration that reflect the biblical priorities and convictions of our Great Commission people.”
Barber expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to chair the committee.
“I believe with all of my heart that whenever two or three believers gather in His name, Christ is present among them to speak to them and through them,” he said. “Our resolutions play a beautiful role in that divine process. It is not my ambition to shape Southern Baptist opinion, but instead to state Southern Baptist opinion — to empower our messengers to speak as Christ has laid it upon their hearts to speak.”
Other committee members named in today’s announcement include the following:
— Julio Arriola is director of Send Network with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and a member of Thompson Station Church, Thompson’s Station, Tenn. Arriola previously served as executive director for Hispanic relations and mobilization for the SBC Executive Committee.
— J.T. English is pastor of Storyline Fellowship in Arvada, Colorado, where Lifeway’s president, Mandrell, served as pastor.
— Kristen Ferguson is a member of 11th Street Baptist Church in Upland, California. Ferguson is the director of online education and associate professor of educational leadership at Gateway Seminary.
— Donna Gaines is a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, and the wife of former SBC President Steve Gaines.
— Mike Keahbone is pastor of First Baptist Church Lawton, Oklahoma, and is a trustee with the Executive Committee.
— Jon C. Nelson is pastor of Soma Community Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, and is president of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
— David Sons is pastor of Lake Murray Baptist Church, Lexington, South Carolina, and is a trustee with the Executive Committee.
— Jared Wellman is pastor of Tate Springs Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas, and is a trustee with the Executive Committee.
The Resolutions Committee will receive recommended resolutions from throughout the denomination for consideration and then will present a slate of resolutions for messengers to the 2022 SBC annual meeting. The committee may combine, title or retitle, and reword submitted resolutions, and it may also submit resolutions of its own making. The 2022 resolution submission window opens April 15 and concludes no later than 15 days prior to the annual meeting.
“A resolution has traditionally been defined as an expression of opinion or concern, as compared to a motion, which calls for action. A resolution is not used to direct an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention to specific action other than to communicate the opinion or concern expressed. Resolutions are passed during the annual Convention meeting,” sbc.net states. Resolutions are not binding on local churches.
At the 2021 SBC annual meeting, Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, made a motion that the denomination consider discontinuing the Committee on Resolutions. The motion was referred to the Executive Committee for consideration and report to the 2022 annual meeting.
To learn more on how to submit a resolution, click here. To see a related TAB Media Special Report video on the history and pros and cons of SBC resolutions, click here.
