Eddie Leopard, pastor of Millbrook Baptist Church, Aiken, was elected as president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention Nov. 14 in Florence.
2008 SCBC officers, from left: Terry Corder, Jefferson, registration secretary; Adrianne Smith, Greer, recording secretary; Brian Harris, Blacksburg, second vice president; David Little, Greenwood, first vice president; and Eddie Leopard, Aiken, president.Leopard received 326 votes of 552 votes cast, while Richard Porter, pastor of Branchville Baptist Church, received 223 votes.
A graduate of Southeastern Baptist Seminary, Leopard previously served as first vice president in 2002. He also has been a member of the Executive Board and Nominations Committee, and was a trustee of Charleston Southern University. In 2002, he was elected president of the South Carolina Baptist Pastor’s Conference.
Serving as first vice president will be David Little, director of missions for Lakelands Baptist Association. Little received 242 votes of 424 votes cast in a runoff election with Jim Oliver, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Roebuck, who received 182 votes.
Quinn Hooks, pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church, was the third nominee for first vice president.
Brian Harris, pastor of Rock Springs Baptist Church, Blacksburg, was elected as second vice president. Harris received 363 votes of 544 votes cast, while Hans Wunch, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Ware Shoals, received 181 votes.
Harris, a graduate of Spartanburg Methodist College, Gardner-Webb University and Southeastern Baptist Seminary who currently serves as discipleship training director for Broad River Baptist Association, is a member of the SCBC Executive Board.
Adrianne Smith, retired ministry assistant for First Baptist Church, Greer, was elected by acclamation as recording secretary, and Terry Corder, pastor of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Jefferson, was elected by acclamation as registration secretary.
Next year the state convention will meet in Columbia, Nov. 11-12. Tom Tucker, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Rock Hill, will deliver the convention sermon.