S.C. Baptists to convene Jan. 14 in Columbia to consider candidate for executive director-treasurer

Candidate’s name to be announced Jan. 11

South Carolina Baptists could elect a new executive director-treasurer Jan. 14 when messengers gather for a special called meeting at Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia.

In a Dec. 14 letter to the churches of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, SCBC president Tom Tucker called the 1:30 p.m. meeting for the sole purpose of considering a candidate offered by the search committee of the convention’s Executive Board.

Out of consideration for the candidate’s “privacy and current position of service,” his name will not be released until the week leading up to the called meeting, according to an SCBC news release.

The search committee was appointed in 2014 following the retirement of executive director-treasurer Jim Austin. Marshall Blalock, pastor of First Baptist Church of Charleston, chaired the search committee.

On Thursday, Jan. 14, the candidate will meet with the Executive Board from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The called meeting of the convention will be from 1:30-3:00 p.m., followed by a reception from 3:00-4:30 p.m.

In keeping with SCBC bylaws, messengers will be qualified for the convention meeting based on their churches’ 2015 cooperative giving. Churches wishing to send messengers to the special meeting may register at scbaptist.org.

The Executive Board learned of the search committee’s progress at its year-end meeting Dec. 10 at the convention building in Columbia.

At that meeting, in a prepared statement to the Executive Board, Blalock said the members of the search committee were of “one mind” in recommending a candidate. Blalock also thanked interim executive director-treasurer Richard Harris for his service and for meeting with the search committee. Blalock noted that Harris’ presence on the job afforded the search committee “great freedom without feeling the need to rush.”

Early on in the search, the committee established parameters regarding the qualities for a new state executive. “We made a list of over 20 essentials,” said Blalock, “and we all privately wondered if any one person could meet them all.

“We have met over the course of 12 months, prayed for God’s leadership, poured over information, debated qualifications, interviewed multiple candidates, and have prayed through every step of the process.”

The search committee met one last time with the candidate Dec. 11 at the convention building in Columbia before formally requesting that the Executive Board ask convention president Tom Tucker to call the January meeting.

“Without giving all the details,” Blalock said, “we do want you to know some of the character qualities and experience of the nominee. This man met or exceeded every major character quality we defined: visionary, humble, Spirit-filled, godly, transparent, and a person of impeccable integrity.

“He ascribes fully to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and is committed to the inerrancy of the Bible. The candidate has a proven record of excellence as a pastor, denominational leader and soul-winner. As a pastor, he has led his church to be a leader in reaching lost people at home and around the world [with] an outstanding record of missions giving through the Cooperative Program.

“Over his ministry, he has led large ministry staffs (one key experience factor) and multimillion-dollar budgets. His personality is winsome, he communicates extremely well with others, and he believes in the priorities the SCBC has set for our future.

“In short, the committee believes he is absolutely a great fit for the kind of person who can lead well as executive for the SCBC.”